We get this question all the time! Pay attention here… this can be a little tricky and it is very important to fully understand if you are a federal employee who is considering OPM federal disability retirement because you need to act quickly.
You have one calendar year to apply from the date of separation of service, so act quickly! This is the most important rule that you must remember because if you neglect it and attempt to apply after one year, you will not be eligible for Federal Disability Retirement.
Our office we speak with thousands of injured and disabled federal employees from all across the country looking for help and answers and we are honored to do so. One of the hardest things to do is deliver the bad news to a potential client that they have already missed their deadline for their claim. It is heartbreaking for us because they may be very qualified for the benefit, but they may have been given bad information about the rules for applying and proving their case.
Again, you only have one year to apply for federal disability retirement benefits after you have been separated from service. I may sound repetitive in this post, but it is worth it. Please write this down folks.
A Common Misconception
Another commonly misunderstood concept is when a federal employee has an accepted OWCP federal workers compensation claim and they are receiving monthly wage loss benefits. The one year rule still applies here! If you have missed worked and been on OWCP wage loss for over a year, your employing agency can separate you from service. Many federal employees misinterpret the fact that they have been separated because they are still receiving their monthly wage loss benefits from OWCP and they accidentally let the one year slip by.
The biggest take away here is to always be aware of your date of separation from service. If you have any suspicion that you injury, disability or illness will kept you from fully performing your job as a federal employee, this date may affect you more than you realize.
We would be honored to help you through this process and answer any questions you may have about your benefits as a federal employee. Our office is here to help and offers Free Consultations. Call us today!
