OPM DISABILITY RETIREMENT
Federal employees do not to be totally disabled to receive OPM disability retirement benefits. If you are disabled from performing one or more of the essential elements of your job you may be entitled to benefits. Here are the usual requirements for OPM Disability Retirement:
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18 months of service under FERS or
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5 years of service under CSRS
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disabled by a medical condition
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the condition is expected to last at least one year
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the employer cannot accommodate the disabling medical condition
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claimant did not decline reasonable offer of reassignment
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If you receive OPM disability retirement you can earn up to 80% of what your former position currently pays and continue to receive your disability benefits.
For example, you can earn up to $40,000 per year and continue to receive OPM disability retirement if your former position currently pays $50,000 per year.
OPM benefits are paid at 60% of your wages the first year and at 40% for each year thereafter. The rate of pay is based on the average of your "high three" years of wages. FERS recipients must also apply for Social Security Disability since they paid into the system and may be entitled to draw from the Social Security system as well.
In order to receive OPM disability retirement, you must effectively present the following to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for consideration:
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Your statement of disability
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Your supervisor's statement
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Your physician's statement explaining your disability
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Your agency's statement regarding reassignment or accommodation
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The completed disability retirement application checklist
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** WARNING **
You have 1 year from the date of your termination or separation from federal service to apply for OPM disability retirement.
If you do not to apply for OPM Disability Retirement within one year you will be forever precluded from receiving OPM disability retirement benefits.
Some Handy Information Regarding OPM Disability Retirement
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you can include all work-related and non-work-related conditions for consideration by OPM
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you can be working when you apply for OPM disability retirement
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you don't have to be totally disabled to receive OPM disability retirement
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you can receive OPM disability retirement and a scheduled award from OWCP at the same time
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COMMON PROBLEMS WITH OPM DISABILITY RETIREMENT APPLICATIONS
Federal employees are routinely denied OPM Disability Retirement for many reasons. The following is a brief list of some of the usual problems:
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the doctor's narrative does not delineate an accurate, detailed, medical history
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the doctor's narrative does not fully explain your previous and present medical findings
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the doctor fails to provide a specific diagnosis of your current disabling condition/s
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the doctor does not provide a clear explanation of why you are unable to perform your specific job duties
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the doctor fails to provide OPM with detailed restrictions and limitations and fails to delineate how they apply to your inability to perform your job duties
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the employing agency fails to provide OPM with the required documents
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the employing agency fails to properly complete the required documents
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the employing agency falsely states to OPM that a job position was open, available and within your medical restrictions and limitations
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the employing agency falsely states to OPM that you refused to accept a reassignment within your medical restrictions and limitations
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