Federal disability retirement under FERS and CSRS

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

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

Of course, when a person is first employed by the Federal Government or the US Postal Service, it is rare that the latter two “benefits” are given much attention as part of the total compensation package. Because how many employees would ask their potential employers about the laws governing employee benefits available if they are injured on the job, or more rarely, the benefits allowed if a person becomes medically disabled from performing one or more of the essentials? From his job? ?

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

There are multiple issues that govern the preparation and submission of a Federal Disability Retirement Application, including: completing the appropriate and necessary Standard Forms; the collection of appropriate medical documentation to meet the legal eligibility criteria and demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that you are eligible; subpoena of 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” that the Federal Agency or the US Postal Service often allege that can create one of many obstacles in the way of obtaining federal disability retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS.