The OPM Federal Disability Retirement Policies

If, as a federal employee, you are hurt or otherwise disabled while working for an agency, you may not be able to perform your duties anymore. Often, these agencies will just move the employee to a new position that doesn’t require as many heavy jobs, but sometimes an employee will be hurt enough that they simply have to stop working. In these cases, they can submit an OPM federal disability retirement claim.

The OPM, of Office of Personnel Management, has a number of policies that are not always the easiest to navigate. The OPM federal disability retirement conditions require that documents are submitted according to certain rules that must be strictly followed. Even as a federal employee, you may want to consider consulting with a layer to make sure everything is done right.

If you are enrolled with the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), you may be eligible for OPM federal disability retirement benefits. These programs were put in place to pay a portion of your salary the rest of your life, regardless of how the condition occurred.

It is also important to note that employees are eligible for these programs even if the condition occurred prior to employment. You simply have to show that you have satisfactorily performed your job for’ months for FERS or five years for CSRS.

There is also a social security disability program, but it differs from how the OPM federal disability retirement program works. Federal employees don’t have to prove “total disability.” They simply have to show that they are disabled from performing one or more of their essential duties. That means you’ll be covered if you sustain an injury that prevents you from working that particular job.

The Office of Personnel Management also allows the employee to continue working while their claim is awaiting approval. You can even get another job and still receive your retirement annuity. However, the income from your new job cannot exceed more than 80% of what your current job pays.

No one likes to think about the unfortunate things that may happen to us, but we have to prepare for any eventuality. As a federal employee, you can know that you’ll be covered in these circumstances if you are part of those programs.

It’s important to get all the basics right from the very beginning when you file a claim with the OPM. Federal disability retirement benefits will only be awarded if all the regulations are followed and the proper documents and proof of disability is provided. If you need a lawyer to help you get things sorted out, don’t hesitate to seek their assistance.

Stephanie Martin federal worker having worked in the OPM office. She understands thoroughly Federal Disability Retirement and OPM disability retirement.

categories: OPM retirement,federal disability retirement,federal,government