Does the loss in salary affect my retirement calculations?
Retirement annuity benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are generally not impacted during an Administrative Furlough of 30 days or less. Both FERS and CSRS retirements are based on an employee's high-three average pay and their years of creditable service. Both CSRS and FERS allow service credit for up to 6 months of non-pay status in any calendar year. Therefore, furlough days of 30 days or less do not affect an employee's creditable service for retirement purposes.

How does the furlough affect my TSP contributions?
Employees will experience a reduction in their TSP contributions where their contributions are based on a percent (%) of pay. Employees will also experience a reduction in agency automatic (1%) contributions and may experience a reduction in employer matching contributions, depending on the amount that the employee contributes. The following link has more information on how TSP is affected by furlough and also details alternatives for accessing your TSP funds should you face financial hardship as a result of being furloughed: https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/oc13-7.pdf

Am I allowed to get a part-time job during the furlough?
Yes. You must notify your supervisor that you are working a part-time job and that job must not conflict with your government employment obligations.

Am I allowed to get a part-time job during the furlough?
Yes. You must notify your supervisor that you are working a part-time job and that job must not conflict with your government employment obligations.

Am I still allowed Physical Fitness time during the furlough?
This is up to each supervisor and the needs of each work center

Are TDY travel days affected by the furlough?
Furlough rules prohibits any kind of work to be done on an employee's furlough time; this includes traveling to or from a TDY or training location on a furlough day. Employees are legally prohibited from performing work or acting as an unpaid volunteer. This includes coming to work, telework, attending training, using their Air Force issued laptops, or checking e-mail or Blackberries while on furlough. Working during furlough time off violates Federal law and may result in disciplinary action against supervisors and employees.

Can employees be furloughed for half days or for specific hours in a day?
Yes. Supervisors have discretion to schedule an administrative furlough in a variety of ways. The furlough time does not have to be taken in whole day increments -- it can be spread out over a week as long as the furloughed time equals 16 hours per pay period.

Can I take my furlough days all at once or do they have to be spread?
The Air Force elects to implement administrative furlough as discontinuous. This means furlough days or hours are spread out over the maximum pay periods to mitigate negative financial and personal impact to employees.

Is compensatory time authorized for TDY travel days?
Compensatory time for travel is authorized and applies only to FLSA Exempt employees. However, travel may NOT be taken on a furlough day.

What is the leave type code used in ATAAPS to show our Furlough days?
Use the code "KE" to denote Furlough.

Where can I find additional furlough information?
Follow the link below for the most frequently asked questions regarding furlough throughout the Air Force.

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/guidance-for-administrative-furloughs.pdf

Admintrative Furlough Q&A

Who will decide the furlough schedule?
Furlough schedules are up to each Commander, who may then choose to delegate this task to supervisors of work centers.

Will high-three salary calculation for retirement be affected?
No, there is no effect on the high-three average pay unless the furlough causes the employee to be in a non-pay status (which includes furlough, leave without pay, absence without leave, and suspension) for more than six months during the calendar year.

Will I qualify for Unemployment Compensation during the furlough?
In the state of Texas, you must have 4 consecutive days of unemployment to qualify for these benefits. You may go to the following link for more information: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/unemcomp.asp Please consult your local unemployment office with further questions and guidance.

Will we be able to take Annual Leave in conjunction with our Furlough?
Yes, it is acceptable to take leave in conjunction with Furlough.

Will we be able to take Annual Leave in conjunction with our Furlough?
Yes, it is acceptable to take leave in conjunction with Furlough.