FERS sick leave conversion chart: turn unused sick leave into service credit

Published October 31, 2026 · By the OnPAR Federal Retirement Education editorial team · Last updated October 31, 2026

Short answer: At retirement, your unused sick leave is added to your service for computing your FERS annuity. OPM converts hours to time using a 2,087-hour year: 2,087 hours = 1 year, about 174 hours = 1 month and about 6 hours = 1 day. Find your hours in the chart below. If your exact number isn't listed, OPM says to use the next higher number.

How OPM's chart works

• Find your hours of unused sick leave in the chart (use the next higher number if yours isn't shown).
• Read the column heading for the months and the left column for the days.
• 2,087 hours or more? Each 2,087 hours is one full year; chart the remainder.
• Add the result to your actual service. OPM's Retirement Facts 8 pamphlet (written for CSRS, which uses the same 2,087-hour method) says only years and full months count in the annuity computation; leftover days are dropped.

OPM's own examples: 2,000 hours = 11 months, 15 days, and 1,500 hours (not on the chart, so use 1,501) = 8 months, 19 days.

OPM notes this chart assumes your leave system charges 8 hours of sick leave per day's absence. If your regular tour of duty isn't an average of 8 hours a day, ask your personnel or payroll office how your sick leave converts (OPM RI 83-8).

FERS sick leave conversion chart (2,087 hours = 1 year)

Hours of unused sick leave. Columns are months; rows are days.

Source: OPM CSRS/FERS Handbook, Chapter 50, Chart 2, Sick Leave Chart 2087 Hours, reproduced as published.

Worked example

You retire with 30 years, 4 months of service and 1,000 hours of sick leave. 1,000 isn't on the chart, so use the next higher, 1,003 = 5 months, 23 days. Your total is 30 years, 9 months, 23 days; the 23 days are dropped, so your annuity is computed on 30 years, 9 months. Those extra months add a little to your pension under the FERS basic formula. Try it in our FERS pension calculator.

Rules to know

• Annuity computation only. OPM's FERS creditable service page says unused sick leave can increase total creditable service for annuity computation purposes only. It doesn't help you meet the minimum service for retirement eligibility, and OPM's pamphlet says it isn't used to compute your high-3.
• Your final balance comes from your agency. It appears on your final leave statement, and OPM's Online Retirement Application pre-fills your sick leave balance from records.

More detail: our sick leave credit guide.

Education only, not financial advice. Your official credit is determined by OPM. Sources: OPM CSRS/FERS Handbook Ch. 50; OPM FERS creditable service; OPM Retirement Facts 8 (RI 83-8).

Questions and answers

How many hours of sick leave equal one year of service?

OPM uses a 2,087-hour year: 2,087 hours of unused sick leave equals one year of service credit.

What if my hours are not on the chart?

OPM says to use the next higher number on the chart. For example, 1,500 hours uses 1,501 hours, which equals 8 months and 19 days.

Does unused sick leave count toward FERS retirement eligibility?

No. OPM says unused sick leave increases creditable service for annuity computation purposes only.