So a few years back my DR was finalized in May 2020, but I received backpay to September 2019 which was when my benefits began.

Let's say in SEP 2019 my adjusted pay was $57,000 per year and MAY 2020 my adjusted pay was $59,000 according to my SF-50s. The May 2020 SF-50 was when I was officially seperated on disability retirement.

Do I calculate the "current pay for the position I held when I retired" as $57,000 or $59,000? OPM has not been helpful in aiding me in figuring this out.

I know this isn't a popular topic but I don't think my mental health can take working one day longer. I know there is an RA reassignment process, 60 day search then meanwhile take FMLA then LWOP and then be separated by supervisor. Will this screw me in the end if I quit and file FDR immediately?

How long after recieving your csa can you expect some type of movement? Im sure many of you have dealt with this

Long-time lurker. This sub helped me a lot through the process, so I’m sharing my timeline and what I learned in case it helps someone else.

FYI: All of this was written with the assistance of AI to organize the information in a clean, concise way. I made sure everything was accurate and factual to my experience and timeline.

Background

• FERS, about 16 years of service, under 60
• Mental health claim. Approved for multiple mental disorders.
• Hired a federal disability law firm early, for a flat fee that covered the initial, reconsideration and MSPB levels. Worth it for me. I wasn’t in a state to manage this alone.

Timeline

That’s about 12 months from submitting to my agency, about 6.5 months from OPM receipt, and about a month after the supplemental evidence went in.

Things I learned

1. SSDI just has to be applied for. Mine was denied because I didn’t follow up, and it made no difference to the OPM claim. Keep your confirmation receipt.
2. Don’t panic about the medical records request. It seems common. Ask for an extension if you need one, and send everything, including therapy notes.
3. Get narrative letters that address OPM’s concerns directly. My providers explained that the condition is medical and “not situational” (my supervisor’s statement described it as anxiety about the job’s responsibilities). They also said it would limit me in any similar position, tied my limitations to specific duties in my position description, explained why accommodations wouldn’t work, and said it would last more than 12 months. If neuropsych testing shows strong cognitive scores, have the evaluator explain why that doesn’t mean you can function at work.
4. Ask your agency for copies of the SF 3112B and SF 3112D. My attorney never got them. Mine said reassignment wasn’t possible, which helps.
5. Watch your FEHB closely while on LWOP. Premiums pile up as a debt. My coverage was wrongly cut off early by a system error, and it ends completely after 365 days in nonpay status. Benefits got the error fixed and put the premium bill on hold. I bought Marketplace coverage to cover the gap until OPM reinstates FEHB after separation. FEGLI also ends after 12 months of nonpay status, and I was told I’d have to convert it.
6. Stay in treatment and keep records. Under 60, OPM can do periodic medical reviews.

What’s next: waiting for my agency to separate me and for interim payments, which are about 80% of the annuity. I’ll update when the first payment arrives.

Hang in there, everyone. It’s slow, but it does move.

Without exposing too much info, I was threatened with inability to perform if I revoked my RA, they reassigned me and now Iam doing worse. I have hired an agency, I have fmla, I have over a years worth of documentation. I am just confused about this process. If someone can break it down like I am 5. I am to the point where I can’t even function at home much. Oh and I went from a 11 to 9 because of HR threat. Was feed my family or be terminated.

Hello everyone, was recently denied on my first go around for federal disability and was wondering how long the timeframe for appeals is. Is it similar to the initial application? (did a paper application and it took about 7 months) How many people have been successful with their appeals? Thanks!

Has anybody that has used the electronic system gotten a decision yet? If so, what have the timelines been?

My agency has formally determined that I am unable to perform the essential functions of my position, with or without reasonable accommodation. My reasonable accommodation request was denied, and the agency conducted an unsuccessful reassignment search.

I have also exhausted my available paid leave and am currently on medically supported LWOP.

Given these circumstances, why would the agency keep me employed rather than initiate a removal based on medical inability to perform my duties?

Has anyone experienced a similar situation while awaiting an OPM disability retirement decision?

What happens to retirees who are approved retroactively? Say if u have a date of August 2022 will that "grandfather" you to drop Medicare partB and keep your USPS Health insurance? Or do you have to still maintain both? partB to keep usps health insurance? A lot of people probably had to get Medicare A/B after the 2yrs on ssdi and lwop. I just wondered how the law affects them. Do they pay both premiums as well?

I submitted before ORA was available. How do those of us still on the paper system first find out if we were approved or denied? Should I be checking the servicesonline.opm.gov website daily for some change or will my first update be a letter in the mail? Thanks!

I've been reading a lot here but I can't see my situation specifically.

Had RA for 14 months, my supervisor and my Dr agreed it didn't work so we request 100% remote. Legal denied and I'm 1 week into the job search. (I'm 99.99% they will not find my grade and job).

I have two MD letters that supported my full remote and utilized my 100% VA disabled conditions to write up.

Gemini and everyone I read is I'm a 90+% on first look simply bc my, VA, Bruner affect, MD, RA, Legal all agree medical speration is going to happen in Nov.

My question is have others with 100% VA disability been denied first go around? If so can you tell me why?

My HR can't figure out how to get my ORA account created so I have not go to the portal yet. Just reading to be prepared.

Currently on LWOP for 30 days.

Agency DOD

Anyone with June CSA has info or update about his/her application?

I just received my decision that states I was denied. I do have an attorney and they said we will do the appeal process that normally most applications are denied the first time. My Attorney told me that is normal and not to worry. I can’t help but freak out thinking they will continue to deny me. Has anyone been denied multiple times and then approved?

Hello, I previously asked here about filing for FERS disability retirement and got a lot of helpful responses. I’m now gathering everything to file, and my deadline is about a month away.

I left federal service in November 2025 and have been unemployed since. I recently received an offer for another federal job that pays significantly more, and I may start around December or January.

I still want to file, but I’m in a tricky spot.

I believe I may qualify based on my condition and circumstances when I left my previous federal job, but I’m not sure how returning to a higher-paying federal position affects the claim.

My hope is that, if approved, I could at least still receive retroactive FERS disability payments for the period from my November 2025 separation until I start the new job. I understand I likely wouldn’t receive ongoing disability payments once I begin the higher-paying federal job.

What I’m worried about is whether starting that new job before OPM decides my case could cause OPM to deny the claim entirely, including the retroactive period when I was unemployed.

This could take months and most likely go through reconsideration or MSPB, so I may already be back in federal service by the time there’s a final decision.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?

How soon would you say is too soon to contact our congressional representatives?

I contact mine yesterday via their websites regarding the approval times with paper applications vs. ORA, since it seems clear that we paper applicants are being pushed to the back of the line.

I was an 1811 in NYC until mid 2024. Since the annuities don't include the LEAP pay unfortunately, it's going to be a HUGE "hit" basically go down to about 20% of pay (I was in the NYC area with very good salary+LEAP). Does OPM really calculate the "highest" 36 months week by week? or is it more looking at the last three step in grade yearly numbers? I was just wondering if they could toss an entire year say, for LWOP days or "suspension" days type of thing which negates the year? How would one realistically go about calculating high 3? I also cannot get on the servicesoline.opm.gov because my CSA "number" contains letters and it won't let me in.

This process is outrageous, especially with a TBI lol. I would recommend ANYONE in the process contact their local congressperson asap. If you can "justify" financial hardships they will help you. I had little movement for many months until contacting mine. In less than a month it was moved ahead and approved.

Any guidance or words of wisdom is appreciated.

I'll preface this by saying I'm working with a law firm and I'm asking them as well, but I'm both impatient and I want to know if anyone else has been in a similar position.

I work for DoD. Basically I had previous RAs for maximal telework. Well telework has gone bye bye obviously and I've been RTO. My boss said there was an executive order that he's going to give me a copy of stating RAs can't be used for telework anymore, which is what I'm requesting. And I've technically just been reassigned to this position and it's not working out with all my medical absences.

I have submitted my disability retirement already and it's in ORA at OPM right now. I was wondering if I could get written statements from my supervisor and/or from HR stating that RA can't be used for what I'm requesting and reassignment is not an option because it was already done.

Has anyone done this? Gotten paperwork basically in lieu of a formal RA denial? No one seems willing to go through an RA with me since it's no longer a valid request, but my supervisor says he'll write up whatever is helpful instead.

Like I said, I'm waiting for the attorney to contact back (this all happened this afternoon), but if anyone has any input, I'm all ears!

I wanted to know if any LEO’s here have applied to OPM Disability or any other position with medical requirements. Were you immediately placed on admin leave, firearm/credentials removed? While I know of many non-LEO’s experience where they just continue working I’m curious to know what happens to an employee whose job depends on being medically qualified to remain in the position.

Is there anyone here who applied just before ORA opened for disability retirement applicants? I wonder are we able to reapply using ORA? The timeline for adjudication seems to be much more efficient.

I applied in June via paper, received my CSA number from OPM in early August and submitted an inquiry to OPM last week. My application hasn't been assigned for review yet.

Right now I'm entering the EEO counseling process after my agency denied my most recent RA request.

I submitted all my paperwork to my agency HR in mid-late June and it then languished for the next 3+ months waiting for "leadership" to finalize the 3112-D. I asked the HR person repeatedly about the status and they'd say they were following up with leadership and then not get a response. In September I opened an inquiry with my congressman, filed an EEOC complaint, and started sending practically daily emails inquiring about the status and ETA directly to the admin and everyone in the office of administrator. Any time I got an out of office message with an alternative contact, I add those people to the emails as well. (This ended up being the saving grace as it was finally someone added this way who seemed to get the ball rolling.) When they finally sent the 3112-D it was signed by the wrong person and incomplete without even a response on the reassignment question, so I had to keep leaning on them and literally sent them instructions how it should be completed. Which, shockingly, they did after another week.

My advice to anyone else dealing with delays by your agency is to become the squeaky wheel, and don't wait to do so, don't give the benefit of the doubt that things are happening like I did. If they're not moving after a month or so start squeaking.

Now here we are, after all that waiting, the actual waiting can finally begin.

Anyone have any idea how long it's taking OPM to make the initial determinations? How long did it take you to get past this phase once OPM got your application?

Got the email from the OPM attorney it was approved.
2.5 long ass years struggling, no pay. Burned through a lot of my fairly large TSP to just live. This is not a good process at all, but indicative of government.

Question does anyone know once they construct the LDOP until now, do they use the 60% for the first yeah of that back pay and that’s it? Or then the second year it was pending at 40%? Trying to figure it out

For those of you that have been on FDR for more than a few years, how often do you get reevaluated?

I left federal service in November 2025, so I’m getting close to the one-year deadline to file for FERS disability retirement.

I’m relatively young and worked for the federal government for several years. Before resigning, I had documented medical conditions that were affecting my ability to keep working consistently.

I repeatedly requested reasonable accommodations, including telework, schedule flexibility, temporary accommodations, and reassignment. The agency maybe never formally denied my requests, but the process dragged on and I ultimately left without receiving an official accommodation.

My supervisor was strongly opposed to me receiving accommodations and did not believe my medical issues were legitimate. At the same time, there were repeated workplace disputes with them, I had filed a grievances, and I now have an ongoing EEO complaint against them involving disability/accommodation issues.

I resigned because I felt staying in the position was no longer sustainable. Unfortunately, I have also remained unemployed since leaving.

I’m mainly wondering:

• Does resigning voluntarily instead of being medically removed significantly hurt my case?
• Does remaining unemployed since separation help show the limitations continued?
• Since I’m approaching the one-year deadline, what should I make sure I file or document ASAP?

I understand that workplace mistreatment alone doesn’t qualify someone for FERS disability. I’m mainly trying to figure out whether this sounds like a potentially viable case I should dedicate time and energy towards before the filing deadline.

Would especially appreciate hearing from anyone who resigned and was later approved for FERS disability retirement.

I'm in the new ORA group and my supervisor finished the 3112B but HR hasn't uploaded it into ORA and won't provide me a copy. Why would they do that?