There are a lot of people working in the federal government who, due to a physical injury or mental issue, can no longer work in their current positions. When this happens, the employer or the agency will usually try to help out the employee and place them in a different job where they can still be effective and still receive an income.
However, there are times where the employee simply cannot continue working in any capacity. These are the most extreme of situations but they do occur and in these cases, these particular employees are entitled to federal disability retirement benefits.
In some cases an employee can receive what is known as a disability retirement annuity that will pay them a portion of their salary for the rest of their lives. This particular benefit only applies to those who are enrolled in the CSRS or FERS retirement plan. Therefore, it is important to know which, if any, retirement plan you are enrolled in before you try to obtain federal disability retirement benefits in this manner.
This disability retirement program also imposes no stipulations on the recipient. If your condition improves, or you begin working in the private sector to supplement the funds you are receiving, it won’t affect your eligibility to receive federal disability retirement benefits.
There is one major qualification that must be met to receive these benefits, which is that you must be subject to your condition, whether mental or physical, for at least one year. A recipient will find it hard to collect any benefits for a condition that only lasts for a short time.
And just because you may need or even deserve these benefits, there is no guarantee that you will receive them. There are many instances where the requests for federal disability retirement benefits are denied. There might be a good reason for it, or it might have been an error. Either way, it’s a good idea to go seek assistance from a professional who understands the law.
The reality is that dealing with the Office of Personal Management and quite possible going before the Merit System Protection Board is no place for a person to be without an expert in the field of getting entitled benefits. These situations can require a skilled and experienced touch that most non-federal lawyers simply do not have. While no one is forced to hire a federal attorney, it would be wise to do so if you are at all interested in getting the benefits you deserve.
It can be hard to keep track of all the rules and regulations that surround federal disability retirement plans. You have to know your rights and, if possible, you should get the help of an industry professional. It may not be easy, but you don’t want to take shortcuts when it comes to protecting your future income.
