Separation Payment An ASF Member shall be compensated at the final rate of pay for all unused, accumulated vacation, leave time upon separation from state service, or movement to a vacation ineligible position. An employee on an unpaid leave of absence of more than one (1) year for a purpose other than accepting an unclassified position in state civil service, or an employee on layoff that results in separation from service, may elect to be compensated at the final rate of pay for unused accumulated vacation leave. This accumulated vacation payout shall not exceed two hundred and seventy-five (275) hours, except in the case of the ASF Member's death. Calculation of an ASF Member's hourly rate for purposes of computing vacation separation payment shall be based upon a base of two thousand eighty-eight (2,088) working hours per year. Appointment periods of less than one (1) year in duration shall be prorated on this basis. Except as provided in Article 16, Section C, Subdivision 4 which pertains to the separation payment to retirees, the separation payment will be made in cash.