Top
Pines Federal Pines Federal
Don’t Face the Federal Government Alone 832-462-7655

OPM Disability Retirement Application Process

Navigating the OPM Disability Retirement Application Process


When your health starts getting in the way of the career you’ve dedicated your life to, you have options other than gritting and bearing it or facing crushing financial hardship. For federal employees, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Disability Retirement program can serve as a vital safety net. However, getting approved for OPM Disability Retirement is far from a simple feat. The process is complex, highly procedural, and riddled with the potential for mistakes that can undermine an otherwise valid claim.
 

If you’re struggling with a chronic illness or injury that prevents you from performing your federal job duties, we want to help. The federal employee attorneys at Pines Federal have decades of relevant experience, and federal employees are one of the select clientele we serve. Call Pines Federal today at (800) 801-0598 to learn how our federal employment lawyers can guide you through the OPM disability retirement process.

Key Takeaways - OPM Disability Retirement

  • OPM Disability Retirement is a federal benefit that provides income security for career employees who can no longer perform essential job duties due to a medical condition
  • Eligibility requirements for OPM Disability Retirement benefits include you being a federal employee with at least 18 months of creditable civilian service under FERS, or five years under CSRS, and your medical condition must be expected to last at least one year
  • The process of applying for OPM Disability Retirement requires extensive medical documentation, supervisor statements, and agency coordination before OPM even begins its review - an indication of how complicated the process is
  • If your initial application is denied, you can file for reconsideration or appeal before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), a process our attorneys have led many times
  • Approved applicants may receive a monthly annuity, continued health insurance (and possibly life insurance), continued credit towards standard retirement benefits, and retroactive payments for time during which they did not receive benefits, but should have
  • The earlier you consult an experienced OPM disability lawyer from Pines Federal, the sooner you get trustworthy advice and guidance—and advocates whose collective mission is to secure the benefits you deserve

The Basics of OPM Disability Retirement

OPM Disability Retirement is a federal benefit program designed to provide income and continued benefits to employees who can no longer perform the essential duties of their position due to a medical condition. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), this program is available exclusively to federal and postal employees covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).

These benefits are not mere handouts - they are a safety mechanism thoughtfully built into the federal employment system. Federal employees pay into this program through years of service, and it protects them when medical circumstances render them unable to work.

Who Qualifies for OPM Disability Retirement?

Many federal employees mistakenly believe they must be entirely unable to work to qualify, but that’s not true. The OPM’s standard is whether your medical condition prevents you from performing one or more essential functions of your current position - not whether you could do any job.

This standard means that, to qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Employment status: You must be a career federal employee covered under FERS or CSRS, the two primary retirement systems for federal employees.
  • Service length: You must have at least 18 months of creditable civilian service (if you are seeking benefits under FERS) or five years (if you are seeking benefits under CSRS).
  • A qualifying medical condition: Qualifying medical conditions are expected to last at least one year and substantially interfere with your ability to perform one or more of the essential duties of your federal job.
  • The absence of agency accommodation: Your agency must determine that it cannot reasonably accommodate you in your current position or reassign you to a suitable one—two points that can be subjective and, therefore, problematic barriers to successful OPM Disability Retirement claims.
  • Prompt filing of your application: You must file your application within one year of your official date of separation from federal service (if you have left), or at any point while the federal government actively employs you
  • Compelling medical evidence: You and your medical providers will need to provide substantial documentation about your disability and how the condition impedes your ability to perform your job. The attorneys at Pines Federal facilitate the collection and sharing of such medical documentation for our clients’ claims.

At Pines Federal, we have helped employees get approved for conditions ranging from chronic pain, depression, and PTSD to autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and degenerative back injuries. We establish that our clients’ service makes them eligible, and then we provide the necessary documentation to prove that their condition prevents them from working at the capacity their position demands.

Benefits Afforded to Federal Employees Approved for OPM Disability Retirement

When an applicant is approved, OPM disability retirement offers long-term financial stability and continuity of insurance coverage. These benefits remove much of the financial stress and liability that would otherwise come with injury-related early retirement because the benefits can include:

  • Monthly annuity payments: These payments generally equate to 60 percent of your “high-3” average salary for the first year, then 40 percent annually thereafter.
  • Continued health and life insurance coverage: You may keep FEHB and FEGLI coverage as if you were still employed. These coverages provide valuable payments and peace of mind for those who need medical care and want to see their loved ones taken care of in the event of their passing.
  • Credit towards standard retirement benefits: Time spent on disability counts toward your service for future regular retirement benefits that working Americans are entitled to.

In addition to these tangible benefits, OPM Disability Retirement Benefits can also offer tax advantages. Part of your annuity may be non-taxable, which can constitute significant savings.

You may even be able to pursue private-sector employment as long as you don’t earn more than 80 percent of your previous federal salary while receiving OPM Disability Retirement benefits.

The OPM Disability Retirement Application Process Can Be Rigorous, But Our Attorneys Make It Easy for Our Clients.

The OPM application process is detailed, document-heavy, and can be easily mismanaged by those unfamiliar with it. Because retirement is such a monumental step, most of our clients have not previously dealt with the OPM Disability Retirement process. This makes our experience and perspectives all the more valuable to federal employees like you.

We will prepare you for and guide you through each step of the application process, which includes:

The Initial Preparation

Before filing your application, we will gather:

  • Medical documentation of the condition that has you considering retirement
  • Your job description, performance evaluations, and any other relevant professional documents
  • Evidence of any accommodation attempts by your agency
  • Any other documentation that will benefit your claim application

Success begins with elite preparation, and our attorneys dedicate the necessary work to position claims like yours for success.

Submitting the Application

If you’re still employed, we will likely first file through your agency’s Human Resources office. The office must complete portions of the application verifying your position, duties, and any attempted accommodations. If you’ve already separated, you send your application directly to OPM.
 

Presenting Strong, Unambiguous Medical Documentation

Medical documentation can make or break an OPM Disability Retirement application. Your physician’s statement, referred to as SF-3112C, will be a critical component of your application. This statement:

  • Must clearly tie your medical condition to your inability to perform the essential functions of your position
  • Be free of ambiguous statements like “the patient cannot work under stress,” and instead contain more precise and detailed descriptions of how your disability interferes with your professional performance

Your attorney from Pines Federal will help your treating doctors phrase their findings in language that meets OPM’s evidentiary standards, which are unique from standard clinical language.

Completing OPM Review

The Office of Professional Management will review your entire application package, including:

  • Statements from the agency and medical providers
  • Your personal narrative (contained in form SF-3112A) describing your condition and how it has impacted your professional performance
  • Supporting evidence such as test results, medical imaging, and witness statements

This stage of the application process can span several months and sometimes take longer than a year to complete. Our team will keep you updated throughout, helping you exercise the patience necessary to endure such a prolonged but pivotal process.
 

The Decision (Approval or Denial)

If your application is approved, your annuity should begin immediately. You may also receive retroactive compensation from the date of your separation from the agency or the date you became eligible to receive benefits.

If your application is denied—an outcome we will seek to avoid but be prepared for - we will have 30 days to request reconsideration.
 

How Your Attorney from Pines Federal Will Make the Application (and Possible Appeals) Process a Seamless Experience

Even “Quick Guides” for federal employees planning to retire aren’t all that quick. In fact, they are pretty complicated.

At Pines Federal, we’ve built our entire practice around protecting the rights of federal employees. OPM disability retirement isn’t just a form-filling exercise - it’s a legal case that must be argued with precision and foresight.

Here’s how we support clients every step of the way:

  • Conducting a personalized case evaluation: We will speak with you empathetically, review your medical and personnel files to determine eligibility and potential roadblocks to your claim, and begin exploring potential strategies.
  • Developing the narrative that will drive your claim: We will help you write a personal statement that paints a clear, compelling picture of your disability’s impact on your work.
  • Handling communications on your behalf: We will manage correspondence with HR, supervisors, the OPM, and other parties involved in the claims process to minimize delays and ensure procedural compliance.
  • Drawing up an effective evidence strategy: We will secure all evidence supporting your claim, one of the primary determining factors of a claim’s success.
  • Representing you in any necessary appeals: If you’re denied, we will manage the reconsideration and MSPB appeal process with the same attention to detail we’d give a courtroom case.

Our mission is simple: help federal employees secure the benefits they’ve earned and restore their sense of peace and control during uncertain times. Disability retirement is just one type of retirement that federal employees may consider. Pines Federal is wholly dedicated to serving federal employees, and we will help you evaluate all possibilities and then execute the retirement strategy that best fits your circumstances.
 

Frequently Asked Questions - Applying for OPM Disability Retirement

We want to get out ahead of your questions so you can move forward as confidently as possible, and some questions you might have are:
 

Can I apply for OPM disability retirement while still working?

  • Yes. You can and should apply while still on the job if your condition is worsening or your agency is considering removal. Doing so helps preserve your benefits timeline and avoids missing the one-year filing window.

Do I have to resign before applying?

  • No. Many employees apply while still employed. However, if you’ve already been separated from your agency, you may be into your one-year filing deadline. This is one of several reasons to reach out to Pines Federal as soon as possible.

Can I work elsewhere after getting OPM disability retirement?

  • You can work in the private sector, but your annual income cannot exceed 80 percent of your prior federal salary. If you exceed that threshold, OPM may terminate your annuity.

Pines Federal Is Here to Fight for Your OPM Disability Retirement Benefits

Every step of the OPM disability process - from doctors’ visits to the final OPM review - is governed by complex rules and narrow interpretations. Most denials stem not from true ineligibility but from procedural missteps that could have been avoided. Our clients avoid those mistakes because they have our experienced federal employment attorneys guiding them.

Don’t risk losing your federal benefits because you tried to handle a complex process on your own. You’re dealing with health issues that require your full attention, and your application will receive our full attention.

Call Pines Federal today at (800) 801-0598 or contact us online. We understand the OPM disability retirement process inside and out—and we’ll fight to protect your livelihood, your benefits, and your future.