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.
Even if your condition occurred previous to your employment, you are still eligible to receive benefits from these programs. All you have to do is show that you performed your job satisfactorily for five years for CSRS and only' months for FERS.
The OPM federal disability retirement policy is also different from the social security disability program. Under the CSRS and FERS programs you don't have to prove "total disability." You simply have to show that you are disabled from performing one or more of your essential duties. That means you'll be covered if an accident on the job causes you to lose your income.
Once a claim has been filed with the OPM, an employee can continue to work in a lighter job if they need the income to make ends meet. It can take a while for a claim to be processed, so this might be necessary. You can even receive the retirement annuity and get another job, as long as the new income does not exceed 80% of the current income.
No one likes to think about the unfortunate circumstances that could lead to a sudden loss of income because of a disabling condition. That is why federal employees can register with these programs and make sure that they will be covered no matter what happens.
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. - 29969
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.
Even if your condition occurred previous to your employment, you are still eligible to receive benefits from these programs. All you have to do is show that you performed your job satisfactorily for five years for CSRS and only' months for FERS.
The OPM federal disability retirement policy is also different from the social security disability program. Under the CSRS and FERS programs you don't have to prove "total disability." You simply have to show that you are disabled from performing one or more of your essential duties. That means you'll be covered if an accident on the job causes you to lose your income.
Once a claim has been filed with the OPM, an employee can continue to work in a lighter job if they need the income to make ends meet. It can take a while for a claim to be processed, so this might be necessary. You can even receive the retirement annuity and get another job, as long as the new income does not exceed 80% of the current income.
No one likes to think about the unfortunate circumstances that could lead to a sudden loss of income because of a disabling condition. That is why federal employees can register with these programs and make sure that they will be covered no matter what happens.
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. - 29969
About the Author:
Stephanie Martin is a federal worker having worked in the OPM office. She understands thoroughly Federal Disability Retirement and OPM disability retirement.
