Federal Daily - September 29, 2009

NSPS Employees to Get GS-Equivalent Raises in 2010

National Security Personnel System (NSPS) employees with ratings of “2” or higher will receive the same across-the-board Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 raises as those under the General Schedule (GS) system, according to the NSPS program office. In a typical year, NSPS employees rated above “unacceptable” or who do not have a rating of record receive at least 60 percent of the GS increase. DoD then allocates an amount equal to the other 40 percent of the GS increase to NSPS pay pools for performance-based salary increases. DoD will not make that allocation this year, according to an NSPS fact sheet released last week. The actual amount of the January increase will not be known until President Obama signs an executive order implementing the FY 2010 federal pay adjustment. NSPS performance-based salary increases have been criticized by employee unions as unfair, and DoD has suspended converting employees into NSPS while it looks at ways to revamp the system. Given the ongoing review of NSPS, using an across-the-board GS pay increase in 2010 was “the most prudent course of action,” the fact sheet  said. To see more, go to: www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps/docs/FAQs2010JanuaryPayout.pdf.

:: Back to Top ::

VA to Distribute Emergency Checks to Eligible Vet Students

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this week will begin distributing emergency aid checks of up to $3,000 to veterans who have applied for educational benefits and have not yet received their government payment. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting Oct. 2, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a statement. Although VA does not know how many students will request emergency funds, it has approximately 25,000 claims pending that may result in such checks. The money represents advance funding of benefits veterans have earned for education, and the checks will be deducted from future education payments. With the start of the fall semester, “students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties,” Shinseki said. To get their money, students can go to one of VA’s 57 regional benefits offices with a photo ID and a course schedule to request advance payment.  However, because not all VA offices are located near students, the department also will send representatives to schools with large numbers of student vets and work with veteran service organizations to help students with transportation needs. VA noted that more than 27,500 students already have received benefits for housing or books under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. To see more, go to: www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1783.

:: Back to Top ::