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Form SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action

INSTRUCTIONS : NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL ACTION (Form SF 50)


A Standard Form 50, or SF50, is the form that provides a current or former federal employee with information regarding their work history with the government. The “Notification of Personnel Action” is a part of the federal worker’s complete employment record and includes information about promotions, appointments, pay increases,  and separation. 

In order to make a request for an SF 50, you must access the SF 50 form from your current or most recent department’s human resources division. In this case, we are reviewing the example of the SF 50 form used for the U.S. General Service Administration, obtained from their website. 


Once you have the form, your employer must fill out section 1.


1. You must provide your identification information in boxes 1 to 4, including your name, social security number, date of birth, and effective date.  


Next your department will identify what first and second actions you are requesting.   


2. Boxes 5 and 6 will provide you with the nature of the action and the legal authority that has authorized the action.  


If you are receiving a change of title, grade, promotion, or demotion, boxes 7 and 22 will be filled out.


3. Boxes 7 through 14 will describe your former position, the title, pay grades, and location of your position.


4. Boxes 15 to 22 will describe your new position obtained, the new title, applicable pay grades, as well as your new location.  


Before completion, your SF 50 must provide additional information regarding your personal data that is related to your federal employment. 


5. Veteran status, tenure, retirement plans, work schedules, and other personnel information will be provided.  


Finally, your SF 50 will provide you with additional agency data and departmental information, if any, determined by the legal authority causing the action to take place.  


6. Once your SF 50 is complete, you should review all information and keep a copy for your records, as you may need such information for future employment, pay, and qualification decisions made through federal employment.  

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