Uniform Allowance Increased

By: fedweek

OPM has increased the annual uniform allowance available to civilian federal employees who are required to wear a uniform on the job, raising the maximum payable from $400 to $800. Many agencies provide uniform allowances to employees such as police officers, firefighters, customs and border patrol officers and medical personnel, while others provide uniforms at the agency’s cost. OPM finalized the increase in the allowance in the April 26 Federal Register. Proposed rules that OPM published last year would have raised the limit to only $500, but in the final notice OPM said it agreed with comments to the proposal that more expensive specialized clothing may be required for certain categories of employees. OPM said that although agencies will now be permitted to pay up to $800 a year, “it is not anticipated or expected that every employee who is required to wear a uniform will receive the maximum rate.”