loan repayments, special payments, or benefits related to the employment of the individual by the Department. (8) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall provide to the Merit Systems Protection Board such information and assistance as may be necessary to ensure an appeal under this subsection is expedited. (9) If an employee prevails on appeal under this section, the employee shall be entitled to backpay (as provided in section 5596 of title 5, United States Code). (10) If an employee who is subject to a collective bargaining agreement chooses to grieve an action taken under this section through a grievance procedure provided under the collective bargaining agreement, the timelines and procedures set forth in subsection (c) and this subsection shall apply. (e) Whistleblower protection (1) In the case of a covered individual seeking corrective action (or on behalf of whom corrective action is sought) from the Office of Special Counsel based on an alleged prohibited personnel practice described in section 2302(b) of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary may not remove, demote, or suspend such covered individual under subsection (a) without the approval of the Special Counsel under section 1214(f) of such title. (2) In the case of a covered individual who has made a whistleblower disclosure to the Office of Management of the Department of Education, the Secretary may not remove, demote, or suspend such covered individual under subsection (a) until— (A) in the case in which the Deputy Secretary determines to refer the whistleblower disclosure under section 3(a)(1)(D) to an office or other investigative entity, a final decision with respect to the whistleblower disclosure has been made by such office or other investigative entity