Misunderstandings Remain on Case

Despite-or perhaps because of-the length of time the special rate suit was pending, there remains wide confusion regarding who is eligible for payments and how much money is involved. The case bounced among various levels of the courts for two decades before reaching a settlement that is producing payments to an estimated 129,000 current and former special rate employees who had annual raises improperly capped or denied in fiscal 1982-1988 under policies in effect at that time (special rate employees receive higher salaries for being in high-demand positions). The typical payment-including back pay, interest and an adjustment for diminished retirement benefits in some cases-is several thousand dollars, well below the windfall that many employees (or their survivors) were anticipating. However, payments for some are much higher, depending on their salary level and how their raises were handled during the years in question.