5 CFR § 550.202 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s550.202"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 550.202 - Definitions."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "550.202"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "550"
part_name: "PAY ADMINISTRATION (GENERAL)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
regulatory_source: "33 FR 12458, Sept. 4, 1968, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "550"
---


# 550.202 Definitions.

In this subpart: *Agency* means an Executive agency, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105.

*Employee* means an individual employed in or under an agency who is appointed to a position with a scheduled tour of duty.

*Head of agency* means the head of an agency or an official who has been delegated the authority to act for the head of the agency in the matter concerned.

*Newly appointed* means—

(a) The first appointment, regardless of tenure, as an employee of the Federal Government;

(b) A new appointment following a break in service of at least 90 days; or

(c) A permanent appointment in the competitive service following termination of employment in an Internship Program (as described in 5 CFR part 362, subpart B), provided such employee—

(1) Was separated from the service, in a nonpay status, or a combination of both during the entire 90-day period immediately before the permanent appointment; and

(2) Has fully repaid any former advance in pay under § 550.205.

*Offset* or *setoff* means repayment in installments of an advance in pay by payroll deductions or an administrative offset under subpart K of this part to collect a debt under 5 U.S.C. 5514 from an indebted Government employee.

*Pay period* means the pay period established by an agency for an employee under 5 U.S.C. 5504.

*Rate of basic pay* means the rate of pay fixed by law or administrative action for the position held by an employee, excluding additional pay of any kind except the following, as applicable:

(1) Any locality payment under 5 CFR part 531, subpart F; special rate supplement under 5 CFR part 530, subpart C; or similar payment or supplement under other legal authority;

(2) Annual premium pay under 5 U.S.C. 5545(c) or availability pay under 5 U.S.C. 5545a;

(3) Straight-time pay for regular overtime hours for firefighters under 5 U.S.C. 5545b (as provided in § 550.1305(b));

(4) Night differential for prevailing rate employees under 5 U.S.C. 5343(f); and

(5) An overtime supplement for regularly scheduled overtime within a Border Patrol agent's regular tour of duty under 5 U.S.C. 5550 (as allowed under 5 U.S.C. 5550(d)(1)(B)).

[56 FR 12837, Mar. 28, 1991, as amended at 57 FR 2435, Jan. 22, 1992; 58 FR 41625, Aug. 5, 1993; 59 FR 66153, Dec. 23, 1994; 61 FR 3543, Feb. 1, 1996; 63 FR 64592, Nov. 23, 1998; 64 FR 69176, Dec. 10, 1999; 70 FR 31313, May 31, 2005; 73 FR 66156, Nov. 7, 2008; 77 FR 28223, May 11, 2012; 80 FR 58111, Sept. 25, 2015]