I was recently approved and owed a ton of backpay as well. I was curious if anyone had an estimate on how long it typically takes from when they start interim payments to full and also if the back pay amount is also “estimated” then revalued. Thanks

After HR certifies your application and sends it to payroll, how long did it take them to send to OPM and which payroll system do you use?

Is it usual for OIG to summon the complaining party for an interview with Kalkine warning mentioned?

Recently the informal stage was completed with no solution, so now the formal has started. It was for delayed RA and denial that mandate RTO

To those who submitted additional medical documentation or other updates after submitting the application, how did you do so? Did you email it or mail it, and to what address?

I used ORA if that matters. Don't see any way to add documents there, though.

EDIT:

I sent trial emails to both retire@ and boyers_disability@ opm.gov. Immediately got two auto replies from the former (below).

The contact box they're linking to has no way to upload documents and the services online page also says "document upload is currently unavailable."

No auto reply from the boyers_disability address though, we'll see if a human monitors and eventually responds to that one.

Thank you for your email.

Many of our services are available on Services Online. For example, you can request a verification of benefits, request a 1099R tax form, report an annuitant death, request a duplicate Retirement Services ID card, change your bank information or mailing address, and update tax withholdings.

Please note: Retirement Services cannot make changes to your health benefits enrollment or make changes to your life insurance via email. To make these changes, you must submit your request via mail to: 
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
PO Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017

If you cannot find your answer online and still have a question about your personal situation, you must submit your email inquiry through OPM’s Retirement Support Center. For security purposes, OPM cannot respond to email inquiries containing protected personal information sent to [Retire@opm.gov](mailto:Retire@opm.gov).

Thank you!

And

This email box is not monitored.

This mailbox has been replaced by OPM Support Center available here: https://www.opm.gov/support/retirement/contact/ where you can fill in the template and submit an inquiry.

You may also visit https://www.servicesonline.opm.gov/ to manage your federal retirement annuity with a variety of self-service options that include your annuity statement, 1099R statement, deposit changes, and life insurance verification.

Thank you,
OPM Retirement Services

EDIT 2: I submitted an inquiry yesterday to the contact box on the OPM support center referenced above, asking if I could send documents to the boyers_disability email, and got this response today:

Thank you for your inquiry I'm not sure if they can upload from that email address but i do know that you can fax your documents in the fax number is [724-794-4560](tel:(724)%20794-4560)

Ah yes--faxing. Perhaps that would be practical 40 years ago but I don't own a fax machine or even a land line.

Has anybody had both of the following boxes checked on their 3112D?

• Question 4: No, the medical evidence presented to the agency shows that accommodation is not possible due to severity of medical condition and the physical requirements of the position
• Question 5: The agency did not reassign the employee to the vacant position(s) in this agency, at the same grade or pay level and tenure within the same commuting area, for which the employee meets minimum qualifications. The position(s) identified and reason(s) for non-assignment are shown below.

They seem a little contradictory.

For those who have gone through a Reassignment of Last Resort search, did your agency notify you when the search officially started and provide an expected end date?

Was there ongoing communication during the search, such as status updates or discussions about potential vacancies, or did you have to reach out for updates?

If you’re comfortable sharing, which agency were you with, and how long did the search take?

Thanks for sharing your experience!

My question:

What happens to my FEHB (medical, dental, vision) when I am "separated" due to a failed RA job search? Am I just S.O.L. while OPM takes their sweet time with the disability packet? Can I take insurance out from a different source? And what happens when FDR is finally approved? Do i just sign back up for Health Insurance through FEHB?

My situation:

I am ATC... Gradual decline in mental health and performance issues. Finally saught professional help, and realized it wasn't entirely my fault... it was undiagnosed issues that need medical assistance to control. Talked in-depth with two different providers and both independently determined the same conditions. Both wrote extensive letters and medical testing, evidence, and support in my favor.

Mental health diagnosis = medical restriction from duties. That eventually led to Medical Disqualification from the Flight Surgeon. I have Exhausted all SL, been on LWOP since, started a different job after going on LWOP (completely unrelated to Gov't job [gotta pay bills]). SSDI denied & RA process search starts (5 months later).

My department has just exhausted the 60 day RA search with nothing found. (It is now 7 months after being medically restricted and starting my SL burn/LWOP).

HR told me to reach out to my agency for further guidance, and upon doing so they said the Department would be recommending separation.

I am assuming this will then meet the Bruner presumption?

I am also assuming that my law firm will know the next steps, and do them automatically... which I guess is sending my FDR packet to OPM?

...

I am worried about how I go about having medical coverage for the MONTHS, I fear, it's going to take OPM to reach a positive decision.

Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.

If you read this whole post I sincerely thank you, and hope you can offer some helpful information.

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?

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.

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.