What FERS disability retirement covers
This benefit concerns whether a disease or injury prevents useful and efficient service in your federal position. That standard includes critical or essential duties and satisfactory attendance and conduct; it is not the same as proving inability to do every possible job.
Check eligibility before gathering a large file
- At least 18 months of civilian service creditable under FERS.
- A disabling condition arising while employed in a FERS-covered position, expected to continue for at least one year from filing.
- The required accommodation and qualifying reassignment conditions.
- A timely application while employed or ordinarily within one year after separation.
- The Social Security disability application requirement; the regulation also addresses an official SSA statement that an applicant is not insured.
Reassignment concerns an appropriate vacant position in the same agency, at the same grade or pay level, within the same commuting area, for which you are qualified. Declining a qualifying offer can affect eligibility. OPM makes the determination.
The current filing process
Use OPM's Online Retirement Application. Current employees start through HR. Former employees select the former-employee disability option and apply directly to OPM. Obtain the required SF 3112 agency portions, medical evidence, and retirement information. The move online did not remove the need to establish the eligibility requirements.
Evidence connects your condition to your position
Your statement, the supervisor's statement, current medical documentation, and accommodation/reassignment certification should describe the same factual situation. Give the medical provider your position description. Explain which duties, attendance requirements, or conduct expectations are affected and how. A diagnosis alone does not decide the claim.
How the annuity is calculated
For an employee retiring under 62 without eligibility for an immediate voluntary annuity, the usual formula is 60% of high-3 average salary for the first 12 months, less the applicable SSDI offset; thereafter it is 40% with the applicable offset. An earned-annuity minimum and age/service exceptions apply. At 62 OPM recomputes the benefit using credited disability-annuity time and the required COLA adjustment to average salary. These are gross formulas, not guaranteed take-home payments.
After approval
Before age 60, earnings and medical-recovery rules can affect continued entitlement. Earnings reaching at least 80% of the relevant current basic-pay rate can trigger termination under the regulation. Insurance continuation has separate requirements. Follow OPM's reporting and medical-evidence requests, and use official guidance for your particular circumstances.
No fixed processing range or approval guarantee is offered here. See the processing-times explanation for the distinction between disability adjudication and payment processing.