THE FERS/CSRS DISABILITY CLAIM PROCESS . . . Don’t Go It Alone

According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), a disability annuity is a benefit provided to protect employees who are no longer able to provide useful and efficient services in his or her grade or pay level.  Being disabled does not necessarily mean that you are bed-ridden or confined to a wheel-chair.  Rather, it means that because of a physical or psychological illness or injury you no longer are able to perform in your current capacity on-the-job.

If you have suffered such a disability, you may be eligible for a disability annuity.  However, in order to obtain your benefits, you must adhere to the requirements of the OPM.  The first thing to keep in mind is that the application process for a disability claim can be lengthy.  To avoid any disruption in the process, your application and paperwork should be complete and accurate, and should be submitted within the specific time frame of OPM.   Any error, omission or missed deadline can result in your benefits being much delayed, or even denied.

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