5 USC § 4505 - Awards to former employees

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s4505"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 4505 - Awards to former employees"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "4505"
section_name: "Awards to former employees"
chapter_number: 45
chapter_name: "INCENTIVE AWARDS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "AWARDS FOR SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "EMPLOYEES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 443; Pub. L. 97–35, title XVII, § 1703(b)(2), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 756.)"
---


# § 4505. Awards to former employees

An agency may pay or grant an award under this subchapter notwithstanding the death or separation from the service of the employee concerned, if the suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, other personal effort, or special act or service in the public interest for which the award is proposed was made or performed while the employee was in the employ of the Government.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 443; Pub. L. 97–35, title XVII, § 1703(b)(2), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 756.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 2123(c). | Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208 § 304(c), 68 Stat. 1113. |

The words “or grant” are added for clarity.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1981— substituted “subchapter” for “chapter”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set as a note under .