Federal disability retirement under FERS and CSRS

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Federal and postal employees sign a “compensation package” when they become employees of the Federal Government or the United States Postal Service. Regardless of which federal government agency a person works for, an employee of the federal government or the US postal service falls under one of two basic systems: FERS, an acronym for “Federal Employees Retirement Systems,” essentially those employees hired for the first time after December 31, 1983; o CSRS – which stands for “Civil Service Retirement System” – those employees prior to 1983. There are some interlocking “crossovers”, referred to as “CSRS Compensation”, etc., but for our purposes when discussing federal disability retirement benefits , it is sufficient to simply identify the two main generic designations.

Whether under compensation from FERS, CSRS, or CSRS, each Federal and Postal employee has multiple benefits when they become an employee of a Federal Agency or the United States Postal Service: salary; health insurance options; life insurance options; Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP); Rights of FECA (Federal Employees Compensation Act) – essentially, the Federal Form of Workers’ Compensation; and federal disability retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS.

Of course, when an individual is first employed by the Federal Government or the United States Postal Service, it is rare that much attention is paid to the last two “benefits” as part of the total compensation package. Because how many employees would ask their potential employers about the laws governing the employee benefits available if injured on the job, or more rarely, the benefits allowed if a person becomes medically disabled from being able to perform one or more of the items? essentials of your job?

However, it becomes of great importance when a medical condition begins to affect one’s ability to perform the job for which it was hired, with the Federal Government or the United States Postal Service. In which case, what one does not know, it can actually hurt you. Since you only have one (1) year from the time you separate from the Federal Service to apply for federal disability retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS, it is important that you know your rights. In addition, since it is not your agency that determines whether or not you are eligible for Federal Disability, but the Office of Personnel Management that reviews and determines whether you are approved or disapproved, it is important to have adequate legal representation to ensure your financial future.

There are several issues that govern the preparation and submission of a Federal Disability Retirement Application, including: completing the appropriate and necessary Standard Forms; gathering appropriate medical documentation to meet legal eligibility criteria and to prove by preponderance of the evidence that you are eligible; summons the corresponding legal authorities to persuade the Office of Personnel Management that it meets the necessary criteria; and overcome any objections related to “reasonable accommodations” frequently alleged by the Federal Agency or the US Postal Service that may create one of the many obstacles in the way of obtaining federal disability retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS.

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