Working while totally disabled is possible, but you will have to stick to a strict earning limit set by the Social Security Administration. This limit is called substantial gainful activity and it changes every year. If you are approved for SSDI, you may also qualify for Federal Disability Retirement, which can provide you with even more money in retirement.
Federal Employee Benefits
Using Leave Can Support Your Disability Retirement
Utilizing your sick and annual leave can help support your federal disability retirement application by showing an attendance deficiency. If you have run out of sick and annual leave, you may be able to use FMLA, LWOP, reasonable accommodations, or disability benefits. Federal Disability Retirement is an option if you can no longer fully perform your job.
Locality Pay Could Change Your Retirement
Raises and salary increases are something that catches every employee's eye and federal employees in particular have a lot of benefits available to them throughout their service. One of those benefits is Locality Pay, which provides an increase to your salary based on...
The Bruner Presumption: What Federal Employees Need to Know
The Bruner Presumption is enacted if you are separated from your federal agency for a medical inability to perform your job. If you are applying for Federal Disability Retirement, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will have to prove that you are NOT disabled. The Bruner Presumption switches the burden of proof from you to the OPM.
What to Expect: Processing Time for Federal Disability Retirement Applications
Update (7/16/25): Right now, the wait time between receiving your CSA letter and getting your initial decision is about 2-6 months, though each case is different and this timeframe can vary. If you're a federal employee considering retirement due to a disability,...
Maximizing Your Retirement with VA Disability Benefits
Many veterans are injured during their service and find it difficult or impossible to work with the injuries they sustained while on duty. Veterans risked their lives for our country and VA Disability is an option for them to get the compensation they deserve for...
Veterans’ Health Administration: Navigating Federal Disability Retirement
Applying for Federal Disability Retirement from the Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA) can be a difficult process. This article will provide an overview of the process and offer some tips on how to improve your chances of success. Veterans' Health Administration...
Applying for SSDI as a Federal Employee
If you are a disabled federal employee, you may be wondering how to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance. SSDI is a government program that provides benefits to employees who are unable to work because of a disability. You will also need to apply for Social...
Applying for Federal Disability Retirement After Separation
If you are separated from federal service, there are a few things you need to know about applying for Federal Disability Retirement. The process is a little different, and there are strict deadlines that must be followed. In this article, we will walk you through...
The Early Retirement Option You Didn’t Know Existed for Postal Workers
As a federal position, being a United States Postal Worker comes with a lot of perks. There are a few early retirement options for federal employees, but the most unknown and underutilized option is USPS Disability Retirement. USPS Disability Retirement (also known as...
What Happens to Your Benefits if You Leave Federal Service?
People leave jobs all the time, for various reasons. Those who work in the federal government are no different. As with any job move, you must think about what will happen to your benefits, and if you’ll get to keep them. Federal employees have access to several...
How COLAs Affect Federal Disability Retirement
If you are a disabled federal employee receiving Federal Disability Retirement, you may be wondering if Cost-of-Living Adjustments or COLAs affect your annuity. The good news is that you will be able to receive cost-of-living adjustments after the first 12 months you...
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