Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73
§5596 Back pay due to unjustified personnel action
Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart D— - Pay and Allowances › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - PAY ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IX— - SEVERANCE PAY AND BACK PAY › § 5596
Summary
If a federal worker loses pay, allowances, or pay differentials because of an unjust or unwarranted personnel action, and an appeal or administrative review finds the action was wrong, the worker must be paid back. The back pay equals what the worker would have earned during the time of the wrong, minus any money they actually earned from other jobs. The worker may also get reasonable lawyer fees in certain unfair-labor-practice or grievance cases under the fee rules in section 7701(g). For official purposes the worker is treated as having worked during that period. Restored annual leave that would push the employee past the leave limit goes into a separate leave account and must follow Office of Personnel Management (OPM) rules; unused excess leave that remains under OPM rules is paid out in a lump sum but cannot stay as leave credit. Back pay must include interest. Interest runs from the date the pay was taken away until no more than 30 days before payment. The interest rate is the rate(s) in effect under section 6621(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is compounded daily. Interest is paid from the same funds used for back pay. The rule does not cover proper reclassifications or valid promotions. The amount paid cannot exceed what the law, rules, or agreement allow, and pay cannot go back more than 6 years before a timely appeal or, if no appeal was filed, before the administrative decision. Defined terms (one line each): “agency” — executive agencies plus certain courts, the Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office, D.C. government, Architect of the Capitol (including Senate Restaurants employees), and the U.S. Botanic Garden; “grievance” and “collective bargaining agreement” — meanings in section 7103 (and for Foreign Service, sections 1101 and 1002 of the Foreign Service Act); “unfair labor practice” — meaning in section 7116 (and Foreign Service Act section 1015); “personnel action” — includes failing to take an action or give a benefit. OPM must write rules to carry out these payments, but those rules do not apply to the Tennessee Valley Authority or the listed judicial agencies.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §5596
Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)For the purpose of this section, “agency” means—
(1)an Executive agency;
(2)the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, and the courts named by section 610 of title 28;
(3)the Library of Congress;
(4)the Government Publishing Office;
(5)the government of the District of Columbia;
(6)the Architect of the Capitol, including employees of the United States Senate Restaurants; and
(7)the United States Botanic Garden.
(b)(1)An employee of an agency who, on the basis of a timely appeal or an administrative determination (including a decision relating to an unfair labor practice or a grievance) is found by appropriate authority under applicable law, rule, regulation, or collective bargaining agreement, to have been affected by an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action which has resulted in the withdrawal or reduction of all or part of the pay, allowances, or differentials of the employee—
(A)is entitled, on correction of the personnel action, to receive for the period for which the personnel action was in effect—
(i)an amount equal to all or any part of the pay, allowances, or differentials, as applicable which the employee normally would have earned or received during the period if the personnel action had not occurred, less any amounts earned by the employee through other employment during that period; and
(ii)reasonable attorney fees related to the personnel action which, with respect to any decision relating to an unfair labor practice or a grievance processed under a procedure negotiated in accordance with chapter 71 of this title, or under chapter 11 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, shall be awarded in accordance with standards established under section 7701(g) of this title; and
(B)for all purposes, is deemed to have performed service for the agency during that period, except that—
(i)annual leave restored under this paragraph which is in excess of the maximum leave accumulation permitted by law shall be credited to a separate leave account for the employee and shall be available for use by the employee within the time limits prescribed by regulations of the Office of Personnel Management, and
(ii)annual leave credited under clause (i) of this subparagraph but unused and still available to the employee under regulations prescribed by the Office shall be included in the lump-sum payment under section 5551 or 5552(1) of this title but may not be retained to the credit of the employee under section 5552(2) of this title.
(2)(A)An amount payable under paragraph (1)(A)(i) of this subsection shall be payable with interest.
(B)Such interest—
(i)shall be computed for the period beginning on the effective date of the withdrawal or reduction involved and ending on a date not more than 30 days before the date on which payment is made;
(ii)shall be computed at the rate or rates in effect under section 6621(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 during the period described in clause (i); and
(iii)shall be compounded daily.
(C)Interest under this paragraph shall be paid out of amounts available for payments under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3)This subsection does not apply to any reclassification action nor authorize the setting aside of an otherwise proper promotion by a selecting official from a group of properly ranked and certified candidates.
(4)The pay, allowances, or differentials granted under this section for the period for which an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action was in effect shall not exceed that authorized by the applicable law, rule, regulations, or collective bargaining agreement under which the unjustified or unwarranted personnel action is found, except that in no case may pay, allowances, or differentials be granted under this section for a period beginning more than 6 years before the date of the filing of a timely appeal or, absent such filing, the date of the administrative determination.
(5)For the purpose of this subsection, “grievance” and “collective bargaining agreement” have the meanings set forth in section 7103 of this title and (with respect to members of the Foreign Service) in section 1101 and 1002 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, “unfair labor practice” means an unfair labor practice described in section 7116 of this title and (with respect to members of the Foreign Service) in section 1015 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, and “personnel action” includes the omission or failure to take an action or confer a benefit.
(c)The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. However, the regulations are not applicable to the Tennessee Valley Authority and its employees, or to the agencies specified in subsection (a)(2) of this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Section of title 5Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5596(a)5596(b)5596(c)5 App.: 652a.5 App.: 652b.5 App.: 652c.Mar. 30, 1966, Pub. L. 89–380, §§ 2–4, 80 Stat. 94, 95. In subsection (a)(1), the term “an Executive agency” is substituted for “executive department of the Government of the United States”, “agency or independent establishment in the executive branch of such Government”, “corporation owned or controlled by such Government”, and “the General Accounting Office” to conform to the definition in 5 U.S.C. 105. In subsection (b), the word “employee” is substituted for “civilian officer or employee” and “such officer or employee” to conform to the definition in 5 U.S.C. 2105. The words “on or after the date of enactment of this Act” and “taken prior to, on, or after the date of enactment of his Act” are omitted as executed and unnecessary, since title 5 is restated prospectively and as any existing rights are preserved by section 7 of this bill. In subsection (c), the word “employees” is substituted for “officers and employees” to conform to the definition in 5 U.S.C. 2105.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(A)(ii), is Pub. L. 96–465, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2071. Chapter 11 of title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XI (§ 4131 et seq.) of chapter 52 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 3901 of Title 22 and Tables. section 6621(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii), is classified to section 6621(a)(1) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. section 1101, 1002, and 1015 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), are classified to section 4131, 4102, and 4115, respectively, of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Amendments
2001—Subsec. (a)(6), (7). Pub. L. 107–68 added pars. (6) and (7). 1998—Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 105–261 added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5). 1990—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–474, § 5(l)(1), substituted “Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, and the courts named by section 610 of title 28” for “Courts”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–474, § 5(l)(2), substituted “employees, or to the agencies specified in subsection (a)(2) of this section” for “employees”. 1987—Subsec. (b)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 100–202 added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively. 1980—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 96–465, § 2306(1), inserted in subpar. (A)(ii) “or under chapter 11 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980” after “chapter 71 of this title,”. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 96–465, § 2306(2), inserted “and (with respect to members of the Foreign Service) in section 1101 and 1002 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980” after “section 7103 of this title”, and “and (with respect to members of the Foreign Service) in section 1015 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980” after “section 7116 of this title”. 1979—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–54 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”. 1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–454 substituted provisions relating to corrective measures applicable to an employee who, on the basis of a timely appeal or an administrative determination, including a decision relative to an unfair labor practice or grievance, is found by an appropriate authority under applicable law, rule, regulation, or collective bargaining agreement to have been affected by an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action, for provisions relating to corrective measures applicable to an employee who, on the basis of an administrative determination or a timely appeal, is found by an appropriate authority under applicable law or regulation to have undergone an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action. 1975—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 94–172 struck out in introductory clause provision relating to prohibition on leave credit cumulated in excess of maximum allowed under law or
Regulations
, and added subpars. (A) and (B).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Government Publishing Office” substituted for “Government Printing Office” in subsec. (a)(4) on authority of section 1301(b) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note preceding section 301 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.
Effective Date
of 2001 Amendment Pub. L. 107–68, title III, § 309, Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 592, provided that the amendment made by section 309 is effective for all personnel actions taken on or after Nov. 12, 2001.
Effective Date
of 1987 Amendment Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(m) [title VI, § 623(b)], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–390, 1329–429, provided that: “(1) Generally.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 1987], and shall apply with respect to any employee found, in a final judgment entered or a final decision otherwise rendered on or after such date, to have been the subject of an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action, the correction of which entitles such employee to an amount under section 5596(b)(1)(A)(i) of title 5, United States Code. “(2) Exception.—“(A) Cases in which a right to interest was reserved.—The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall also apply with respect to any claim which was brought under section 5596 of title 5, United States Code, and with respect to which a final judgment was entered or a final decision was otherwise rendered before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 1987], if, under terms of such judgment or decision, a right to interest was specifically reserved, contingent on the enactment of a statute authorizing the payment of interest on claims brought under such section 5596. “(B) Method of computing interest.—The amount of interest payable under this paragraph with respect to a claim shall be determined in accordance with section 5596(b)(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code (as amended by this section). “(C) Source.—An amount payable under this paragraph shall be paid from the appropriation made by section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, notwithstanding section 5596(b)(2)(C) of title 5, United States Code (as amended by this section) or any other provision of law. “(D) Deadline.—An application for a payment under this paragraph shall be ineffective if it is filed after the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 1987]. “(E) Limitation on payments.—Payments under this paragraph may not be made before October 1, 1988, except that interest shall continue to accrue in accordance with [section] 5596(b)(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code.”
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–465 effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 3901 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Effective Date
of 1979 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1975 Amendment Pub. L. 94–172, § 1(b), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1025, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to any employee found, on or after
March 30, 1966, to have undergone an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action the correction of which entitled or entitles such employee to the benefits provided under section 5596 of title 5, United States Code.” Lump-Sum Payments for Former Employees not on the Rolls on
December 23, 1975 Pub. L. 94–172, § 2, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1025, provided that: “With respect to former employee (except a former employee referred to in section 3 of this Act) [set out as a note below] who is not on the rolls on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 1975], annual leave, which was not credited under section 5596 of title 5, United States Code, because it was in an amount that would have caused the amount of leave to the employee’s credit to exceed the maximum amount of the leave authorized for the employee by law or regulation, is subject to credit and liquidation by lump-sum payment only if a claim therefor is filed within three years immediately following the date of the enactment of this Act with the agency by which the employee was employed when the lump-sum payment provisions of section 5551 of title 5, United States Code, last became applicable to such employee. Payment shall be by that agency at the salary rate in effect on the date the lump-sum payment provisions became applicable.” Lump-Sum Payments for Postal Employees not on the Rolls on
December 23, 1975 Pub. L. 94–172, § 3, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1025, provided that: “(a) With respect to a former employee of the Post Office Department or a former employee of the United States Postal Service who had prior civilian service with the Post Office Department or other Federal agency, who is not on the rolls on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 1975], annual leave which was accrued before
July 1, 1971, but was not credited under section 5596 of title 5, United States Code, because it was in an amount that would have caused the amount of leave to his credit to exceed the maximum amount of the leave authorized for the employee by law or regulation, is subject to credit and, liquidation by lump-sum payment only if a claim therefor is filed within 3 years immediately following the date of enactment of this Act with the Postal Service. Payment shall be by the Postal Service at the salary rate in effect on the date the lump-sum payment provisions of section 5551 of title 5, United States Code, or comparable provisions of
Regulations
of the Postal Service, as appropriate, last became applicable to the former employee. “(b) With respect to a present employee of the Postal Service who had prior Federal civilian service with the Post Office Department or other Federal agency, annual leave which was accrued before July 1, 1971, but was not credited under section 5596 of title 5, United States Code, because it was in an amount that would have caused the amount of leave to the employee’s credit to exceed the maximum amount of the leave authorized for the employee by law or regulation, is subject to credit and liquidation by lump-sum payment only if a claim therefor is filed with the Postal Service within three years immediately following the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 1975]. Payment shall be by the Postal Service at the salary rate in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 5596
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73