[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR842.304]

[Page 295-297]
 
                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
 
          CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)
 
PART 842_FEDERAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM_BASIC ANNUITY--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart C_Credit for Service
 
Sec.  842.304  Civilian service.

    (a) Except as otherwise provided under title III of the Federal 
Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986, an employee or Member is 
entitled to credit for all purposes under FERS for a period of civilian 
service with the Government or the U.S. Postal Service--
    (1) Performed after December 31, 1986, which is covered service 
under subpart A of this part and for which deductions required under 5 
U.S.C. 8422(a) have not been refunded;
    (2) That, other than service under paragraph (a)(1) of this 
section--
    (i) Was performed before 1989;
    (ii) Would have been creditable under 5 U.S.C. 8332 if the employee 
or Member were subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, 
United States Code, without regard to any deposit, redeposit, or 
coverage requirement under that subchapter; and
    (iii) Is covered by deductions or a deposit required by Sec.  
842.305 and the deductions or deposit have not been refunded after the 
employee or Member first became subject to FERS;
    (3) That was creditable under subchapter II of chapter 8 of title 1 
of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (Foreign Service Pension System), 
provided--
    (i) The employee or Member waives credit for the service under the 
Foreign Service Pension System; and
    (ii) The employee or Member makes the deposit required by Sec.  
842.305, and the deposit is not refunded;
    (4) While on leave of absence without pay, subject to a limit of 6 
months per calendar year, except that the 6-month limit does not apply 
while--
    (i) Performing military service; or
    (ii) Receiving benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, 
United States Code;
    (5) While on approved leave without pay granted to serve as a full-
time officer or employee of an organization composed primarily of 
employees, as defined by section 8331(1) or 8401(11) of title 5, United 
States Code, provided--
    (i) The employee elects, within 60 days after the commencing date of 
leave without pay, to pay to the employing agency the retirement 
deductions and agency contributions that would be applicable if the 
employee were in a pay status;
    (ii) Payments of the deductions and contributions begin on a regular 
basis within 60 days after the commencing date of leave without pay; and
    (iii) Payments of the required deductions and contributions are 
completed and not refunded; and
    (6) While assigned on detail or leave without pay to a State or 
local government under 5 U.S.C. 3373, provided--
    (i) The normal cost percentage (under subpart D of part 841 of this 
chapter) for the employee (who is deemed to continue in the same normal 
cost percentage category as applicable on the date of the assignment) is 
remitted to OPM for each pay period during the assignment; and
    (ii) The employee, or, if he or she dies without making an election, 
his or her

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survivor, does not elect to receive benefits under any State or local 
government retirement law or program, which OPM determines to be similar 
to FERS.
    (b) Cadet Nurse Corps. (1) Service credit is allowed under Pub. L. 
99-638 for a period of service performed with the Cadet Nurse Corps 
provided--
    (i) The service totaled 2 years or more;
    (ii) The individual submits an application for service credit to OPM 
no later than January 10, 1988;
    (iii) The individual is employed by the Federal Government in a 
position subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United 
States Code (other than 5 U.S.C. 8344) or chapter 84 of that title 
(other than 5 U.S.C. 8468) at the time he or she applies to OPM for 
service credit under this provision; and
    (iv) The individual makes a deposit for the service in accordance 
with Sec.  842.305(g) before the date of separation from service on 
which the individual's entitlement to annuity is based.
    (c) National Guard technician service before January 1, 1969--(1) 
Definition. In this section, service as a National Guard technician is 
service performed under section 709 of title 32, United States Code (or 
under a prior corresponding provision of law) before January 1, 1969.
    (2) Employees on or after November 6, 1990. Employees, subject to 
FERS retirement deductions, whose only service as a National Guard 
technician was performed prior to January 1, 1969, are entitled to 
credit under FERS if they--
    (i) Submit to OPM an application for service credit in a form 
prescribed by OPM;
    (ii) Are employed by the Federal Government in a position subject to 
FERS retirement deductions after November 5, 1990; and
    (iii) Complete the deposit for the service through normal service 
credit channels before final adjudication of their application for 
retirement or have the deposit deemed made when they elect the 
alternative form of annuity.
    (3) Former Federal employees. Former Federal employees who were 
subject to FERS retirement deductions and separated after December 31, 
1968, but before November 6, 1990, with title to a deferred annuity, may 
make a deposit for pre-1969 National Guard technician service provided 
they--
    (i) Submit a written application for the pre-1969 National Guard 
technician service to OPM before November 6, 1991; and
    (ii) Complete a deposit for the additional service in a lump sum or 
in installment payments of $50 or more. Payments must be completed 
before their retirement claim is finally adjudicated, unless the deposit 
is deemed made when they elect an alternative form of annuity.
    (4) Annuitants and survivors. (i) Individuals who were entitled to 
receive an immediate annuity (or survivor annuity benefits) as of 
November 6, 1990, may make a deposit for pre-1969 National Guard 
technician service provided they--
    (A) Submit a written application for service credit to OPM before 
November 6, 1991; and
    (B) Complete a deposit for the additional service in a lump sum or 
in equal monthly annuity installments to be completed within 24 months 
of the date of the written application.
    (ii) To determine the commencing date of the deposit installment 
payment period for annuitants and survivors, the ``date of application'' 
will be considered to be the first day of the second month beginning 
after OPM receives a complete written application from the individual.
    (iii) To be a complete application, the individual's written request 
for pre-1969 National Guard technician service credit must also include 
a certification of the dates of employment and the rates of pay received 
by the individual during the employment period. The individual may 
obtain certification of service from the Adjutant General of the State 
in which the service was performed.
    (d) Credit for service performed as an employee of a nonappropriated 
fund instrumentality. (1) Credit for service with a nonappropriated fund 
instrumentality is allowed in accordance with an election under 5 CFR 
part 847, subpart D or H.
    (2) Service under FERS for which the employee withdrew all 
deductions is

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creditable in accordance with an election made under 5 CFR part 847, 
subpart D.
    (3) An annuity that includes credit for service with a 
nonappropriated fund instrumentality under 5 CFR part 847, subpart D, or 
refunded service under paragraph (d)(2) of this section is computed 
under 5 CFR part 847, subpart F.
    (4) An annuity that includes credit for service with a 
nonappropriated fund instrumentality under 5 CFR part 847, subpart H, is 
computed under 5 CFR part 847, subpart I.
    (e) Certain Government service performed abroad after December 31, 
1988, and before May 24, 1998--(1) Definition. In this section, certain 
Government service performed abroad is service performed at a United 
States diplomatic mission, consular post (other than a consular agency), 
or other Foreign Service post abroad under a temporary appointment 
pursuant to sections 309 and 311 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 
U.S.C. 3949 and 3951).
    (2) Conditions for Creditability. Service credit is allowed under 
section 321 of Pub. L. 107-228 for certain Government service performed 
abroad after December 31, 1988, and before May 24, 1998, provided--
    (i) The service in the aggregate totaled 90 days or more;
    (ii) The individual performing the service would have satisfied all 
eligibility requirements under regulations of the Department of State 
(as in effect on September 30, 2002) for a family member limited 
noncareer appointment (within the meaning of such regulations, as in 
effect on September 30, 2002) at the time the service was performed, 
except that, in applying this paragraph, an individual not employed by 
the Department of State while performing the service shall be treated as 
if then so employed;
    (iii) The service would have been creditable under FERS had it been 
performed before 1989 and had the deposit requirements of Sec.  842.305 
been met;
    (iv) The service is not otherwise creditable under FERS or any other 
retirement system for employees of the U.S. Government (disregarding 
title II of the Social Security Act);
    (v) The individual applying for the service credit submits a written 
application to make a deposit with the department or agency where the 
service was performed, and completes the deposit, in accordance with 
Sec.  842.305(j); and
    (vi) The department or agency where the service was performed remits 
Government contributions for the service to OPM in accordance with Sec.  
842.305(j).
    (3) Departments or agencies no longer in existence. If the 
department or agency where the individual performed certain Government 
service abroad no longer exists, the Department of State must process 
applications for service credit under this section. Government 
contributions for the service will not need to be remitted to OPM.

[52 FR 18193, May 14, 1987, as amended at 56 FR 6554, Feb. 19, 1991; 56 
FR 55596, Oct. 29, 1991; 61 FR 41720, Aug. 9, 1996; 68 FR 2178, Jan. 16, 
2003; 70 FR 50953, Aug. 29, 2005]