Discontinued Service Retirement Because of an Involuntary Separation

The term "involuntary separation" means any separation

against the will and without the consent of the employee, other than "for cause"

for misconduct or delinquency. The most common cause of an involuntary

separation is a reduction in force (RIF).  Employees who decline reasonable

offers of other positions are not eligible for discontinued service

annuities.

A "reasonable offer" is defined as the offer of another

position in your agency and commuting area for which you are qualified and which

is no more than two grades or pay levels below your current grade or pay

level.

"Commuting area" means the geographic area that usually

constitutes one area for employment purposes. It includes any population center

(or two or more neighboring ones) and the surrounding localities in which people

live and reasonably can be expected to travel back and forth daily in their

usual employment.

If your agency makes you an offer of reassignment to another position at the

same grade and pay in the same commuting area or to another position no more

than two grades below your current position and you choose to decline such an

offer and resign, you will not qualify for discontinued service retirement.

In addition, if your agency separates you by adverse action procedures for

not complying with the directed reassignment order, your separation would not be

qualifying for discontinued service.

Source:  OPM RI 83-6