If you are a federal employee or U.S. postal worker and are considering filing for disability retirement benefits, then you should know more about the role of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The OPM is the agency that will be reviewing your claim and verifying your eligibility for disability retirement. It is crucial that you know what the agency is looking for and how you show your proof of disability to the OPM.
The following are six important things to know about dealing with the OPM:
- All federal disability benefits claims go through OPM.
The OPM is the federal government agency that processes disability retirement claims as well as all forms of retirement. The agency determines eligibility requirements, annuity payments, service credit and other benefits. OPM personnel are on the frontline of the retirement system.
- OPM wants complete, accurate applications.
The OPM will scrutinize your application for disability retirement benefits. You need to make sure that you have medical documentation of your disability and that your other paperwork is complete and ready before filing. Federal Agencies deal with regular retirement applications all the time, they are familiar with the forms and the process. However, your agency may not be familiar with the application for disability retirement, which can cause some snags for the OPM. It is recommended to hire an OPM Disability Retirement Attorney in order to ensure your application is as strong as possible before submitting to the OPM. The agency has a job to do. So, take careful steps that can help to make the agency’s job easier.
- The OPM offers helpful information.
You can find retirement planning resources, guidelines and general advice on the OPM website for all types of retirement, including disability retirement. Please speak with your agency representative and review the OPM’s website for further information on disability retirement and eligibility requirements.
- You can appeal OPM decisions.
If your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). If the OPM made a mistake in your federal disability retirement determination, you have the right to appeal the OPM’s determination.
- A Professional can help you work with the OPM.
While you do not have to have a representation to file for federal retirement disability benefits, having an experienced professional gather documents, fill out paperwork and deal with the government agencies can greatly assist you in getting your claim approved and maximized to the appropriate level of compensation.For example, the legal team at Harris Federal Law Firm has helped thousands of federal and U.S. Postal Service employees from all 50 states. We can put our experience and knowledge to work for you so that you understand the process and achieve the best possible results for your situation. We only handle federal employee and postal worker benefits. This is what we do and who we are.If you would to learn more about dealing with the OPM, please feel free to contact us.
