Federal Employees (FERS) Civil Service Employees (CSRS)

If you are a Federal Employee or a Civil Servant, you may be entitled to Disability Benefits under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). That means that in addition to coverage through your Basic Benefits Plan, you can receive a disability retirement annuity should you experience a debilitating physical or mental illness or injury that renders you unable to perform your occupation as you had always performed it.

What Does It Mean To Be Disabled?

Disabled does not necessarily mean you are bed-ridden or confined to a wheelchair. Rather, being disabled means you have suffered an injury or illness that prevents you from performing in your current job position. For example, a Postal Employee who suffers from a leg injury may no longer be able to walk door-to-door delivering mail. Or, an Internal Revenue Service Employee with a back injury may no longer be able to sit at a desk for hours at a time. In either case, the injury may not prohibit the employee from leading an otherwise normal life. However, the injury or illness does impede upon his or her ability to continue normally in his or her job function.

Some Background On FERS & CSRS

The Civil Service Retirement System was officially formed in 1920. As it pre-dates the Social Security System, CSRS was intended to provide financial assistance to Civil Servants when they left the civil service workforce for retirement. The Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), on the other hand, is a late 20th century system that was created to be more compatible with private sector retirement plans.

Is This Workers Compensation?

No. There is a difference between Disability Retirement Annuity/Civil Service Retirement Annuity and Federal Workers Compensation. Federal Workers Compensation are benefits paid to you when you have experienced an on-the-job injury. However, Disability Retirement Annuity Benefits (for both FERS and CSRS) are paid to you whether or not your injury or illness is job-related. While you may be eligible for either program, you cannot receive both simultaneously. Before you make this important decision that will affect you and your family, seek the advice of an attorney experienced in disability law.

Call DeHaanBusse LLP today for a free case evaluation. Phone: 631-528-1200