Question 1: How soon can I expect to receive retroactive or back pay?
Answer: Processing retroactive pay is DOI’s top priority. Timekeepers and supervisors will prioritize updating and certifying employees’ time within the Time and Attendance System. The Interior Business Center (IBC) will process “off-cycle” payments early this week, with pay disbursed to employees no later than Thursday, January 31, 2019. Payments this week will include owed pay for both missed pay periods (i.e., pay for December 23, 2018 through January 19, 2019) and will be made to employees in two distributions: One representing the first pay period and a second payment for the second pay period. Depending on your financial institutions direct deposit timeframes, the actual deposit dates may vary.
Question 2: Will I receive Leave and Earning Statements in Employee Express for the two missed pay periods (December 23, 2018 through January 19, 2019)?
Answer: No. Payment will go directly to your financial institution so you should regularly monitor your bank account. You will receive a Leave and Earning Statement (LES) for PP03, which will reconcile any remaining deductions or allotments that were omitted.
Question 3: I was supposed to work on December 22, 2018 (the day after the partial government shutdown began). When will I get back pay for that day?
Answer: For employees who were regularly scheduled to work on Saturday, December 22, 2018, and who were furloughed or excepted, back pay for December 22, 2018, will be processed during the PP03 payroll processing cycle (ending February 2, 2019) based on timecard amendments.
Question 4: Will my back pay received for the two missed pay periods (December 23, 2018 through January 19, 2019) be the same amount as my normal paycheck?
Answer: No, but it should be close. Our top priority is getting you paid as quickly as possible. In order to accomplish this, employees will receive “interim or off-cycle payments.” “Interim or Off Cycle” payments are calculated slightly differently than normal payroll payments. You can expect to receive payment for the number of hours that you normally would have worked, minus deductions for taxes, retirement, health benefits, etc. There will be additional pay corrections processed in the following pay periods to ensure your back pay is accurate.
Question 5: When can I expect my full and reconciled back pay payment?
Answer: We are currently in the midst of PP03. If all timecard amendments are inputted timely for the PP03 processing, your payment will include your regular pay for non-lapsed days within PP03, plus any remaining back pay that is due to you for the lapse period that falls in this current pay period (1/20/2019 through 1/25/2019. The official pay day for PP03 is Tuesday, February 12, 2019, although you may see your direct deposit as early as Friday, February 8, 2019, depending on your financial institution.
Question 6: Will the back pay affect my 2018 wages for tax purposes (e.g., W-2)?
Answer: No. Wages are calculated based on when an employees is paid, not when the wages are earned. You will be paid in calendar year/tax year 2019 (as you would have were we not lapsed) and back pay will be included in your 2019 taxable wages. You can access your 2018 W-2 in www.employeeexpress.gov