Movement Possible Soon on Special Rate Case

A judge’s order approving the settlement in the special rate back pay suit is due to become final February 18, which would set in motion to process for actually paying amounts due to more than 129,000 current and federal employees under the two decade-old class action suit. Barring further legal complications-and this case has experienced a long series of them-once the judge’s order becomes final the government will have 60 days to pay the agreed-on $173 million into a settlement fund. Several weeks after that event, the settlement administrator will mail to class members claims forms that will include the amounts they are due-in most cases, between $1,000 and $3,000, but in a few cases, much more–and that will describe procedures for challenging their amounts.