For feds: deferred resignation 2?

[ebella]

I posted earlier about being a fed manager and considering deferred resignation program (DRP).  Now that they've offered it again, I'm considering it more seriously.  I've run the numbers.  Assuming both go through according to the regulations and/or contract I'd get $41,000 in a reduction in force if it happens 4/15 (which I suspect it may for my agency) vs. $85000 if I accept deferred resingation (end 9/30).  I'm a lawyer so I've parsed regulations: in a RIF, I'm supposed to get 1 week pay per year of service and unused annual leave of which I have alot.  If I understand it correctly, under deferred resignaiton I'd obvuously get more weeks of pay plus continue to accrue leave which would get paid in lump sum. I'd also get TSP match and health insuracne until 9/30 plus potentially be able to take a 2nd job or focus on job search.  I'm trying to find ppl who took DRP to see their contracts and confirm what the payout totals comprise. 
I realize there's no certainty of anything, either with DRP or RIFs.  But people have gotten paid under DRP and I know personnel lawyers at other agencies who are considering DRP2 themselves. Also given leaked info, my agency may cut 50% in my division and said they'd follow RIF regs and, because I am less senior and not part of bargianing unit and most have longer service time than me, I'm more vulnerable. I'm also more vulnerable as a middle manager and to being reclassified under Schedule F. I also am not yet vested in the FERS retirement and dont anticipate staying in fed govt long term at this point. Honestly, I've been over my job since before the administation changed.  I've had no luck funding another job but I'd be happier focusing on other things right now and think, ultimately, it;d better for me and the world if I did.  Have any mustachians made this choice or are you wrestling with it? If so, what are you looking at to consider it?  I keep going back to "Your Money or Your Life" and this feels like it weight heavily on a better life decision.

[six-car-habit]

 The RIF payout formula is 1 weeks pay for each year employed-  for the 1st 10 years. 2 weeks pay for each year, starting at year# 11 and beyond. According to Fedweek dot com , and Govexec dot com.

  I would be surprised if your agency both announced RIF's on April 15th, and made them effective the same day - but maybe they will be efficient in this [?]

  My agency just announced VERA authority, but I am wary that;  carrying thru health insurance benefits, eventual FERS supplemental annuity, etc. - will get messed up in the period between the VERA acceptance and my actual Minimum Retirement Age.

 If they had announced VERA with SIP [ separation incentive pay ] it would be more tempting, but this does not seem likely.  For me, financially, it is better to hope for a RIF.  But my position is a hard to fill blue collar job, so I think a RIF is unlikely for me and co-workers.

[ebella]

Yea, as an attorney in dc with less tenure I know rifs are coming. I just dunno if I can trust this. I don't love contract language (includes a broad waiver that could be construed as waiving right to challenge it, which would be unenforceable but who knows what a court do3s)

[Catbert]

IANAL but rather a long retired HR Manager.  In your situation, what I would need to consider is  what post employment restrictions there might be as well as the difference between "post-employment" and "second job" restrictions.  For example, if I were a Contract Negotiator there are significant post employment restrictions.  IIRC you would be barred for one year post employment from working for a company you negotiated against.  With DRP you would still be on the Agency rolls so any employment would be a second job, right?  Is it even legal to collect a government paycheck while working a different job during the same hours?  In general it's unclear to me whether DRP is even legal at all since they'd be giving Admin Leave for months.

This all makes me glad I'm retired and not needing to try and answer employee questions.  I don't have any answers.