Disability Retirement For Federal Workers - The Importance of a Coherent and Consistent Application

Federal and Postal employees either fall into one ofSchizophrenia; Asperger's Syndrome; and multiple
two possible retirement systems: FERS (an acronymother psychiatric conditions. Whether attempting to file
for Federal Employee Retirement System) or CSRSfor Federal Disability Retirement benefits based upon a
(Civil Service Retirement System). Whichever systemphysical medical condition or a psychiatric medical
the Federal or Postal employee falls under, the benefitcondition, it is important to prove that one is eligible for
of Federal Disability Retirement is an option which isthe benefit.
available, in the event that a Federal GovernmentWhich brings us to the first question: How does one
worker is no longer able to perform at least one of theprove that he or she is eligible for Federal Disability
essential elements of one's job. Remember that, inRetirement benefits, either under FERS or CSRS? In
order to qualify for Federal Disability Retirementany application for Federal or Postal Disability
benefits, the medical condition or injury does not haveRetirement benefits, one must make sure that the
to be job-related. Indeed, one could have incurred aapplication is both coherent, as well as consistent.
career-ending spinal injury while on a skiing trip, and stillCoherence of an application results when all of the
qualify for Federal Disability Retirement benefits undervarious components of the application "fit" together.
either FERS or CSRS.Thus, for example, in preparing the Applicant's
The Agency which determines that a Federal orStatement of Disability (SF 3112A), Block 4 asks the
Postal Employee is entitled to Federal Disabilityapplicant to "Fully Describe Your Disease or Injury". If
Retirement benefits is the Office of Personnelthe disease or injury is a physical one, then the focus
Management (OPM). They are empowered byof the narrative should be to describe the pain, the
statutory authority to scrutinize each application forphysical restrictions and limitations, etc. Then, when one
approval or disapproval. In order to be eligible for thecomes to Block 5, where it asks how your disease or
benefit of Federal Disability Retirement, one mustinjury interferes with the performance of "your duties,
prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, threeyour attendance, or your conduct," the focus should
basic components:have a coherence with the previous answer - meaning
(A) a Federal or Postal employee under FERS orthat, if the narrative described physical issues, the
CSRS has a medical condition;impact upon one's job should therefore focus upon the
(B) the medical condition prevents him or her fromphysical aspect of the job. Thus, by way of example,
performing one or more of the essential elements ofto say that you "cannot concentrate or focus" upon a
one's job; andcertain aspect of the job, would only be coherent if
(C) that the Agency is unable to accommodate theeither (A) the job required cognitive-intensive work and
individual or, alternatively, to reassign the individual to athe severity of the pain impacted one's cognitive
position in the same pay or grade.faculties, or (B) the medications prescribed to alleviate
In order to successfully prepare and submit anthe physical condition impacts one's focus or
application for Federal Disability Retirement benefits,concentration. Conversely, if the narrative concerning
two overarching elements should always be kept inone's medical condition entails primarily psychiatric
mind: Coherence and Consistency. "Coherence" has toissues, then the impact upon one's job should
do with the form of the application, while "consistency"encapsulate cognitive issues (i.e., focus, concentration,
has to do with the content, or substance of theability to analyze, evaluate, etc.). As you can see,
application. Both elements are important in preparing ancoherence in an application for Federal Disability
effective Federal Disability Retirement application. Thus,Retirement benefits is an important component.
an effective Federal Disability Retirement applicationFurthermore, an effective application for Federal
will make logical sense and "fit together" withDisability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS
everything (coherence), as well as have an internalshould be consistent. Each element of the application
structure of information which agrees with one anothershould "agree", wherever possible, with all of the other
(consistency).components. Where inconsistencies occur - for
How does one prove that he or she is eligible forexample, between what the treating doctor says and
Federal Disability Retirement benefits? Is there a tablewhat the applicant states in his or her explanation on
or schedule of accepted medical conditions? As to theSF 3112A - a red flag may arise, providing an
latter question, the general answer is "No". Qualifyingopportunity for a denial from the Office of Personnel
medical conditions have more to do with theManagement. Thus, don't try to "oversell" the
symptoms of a medical condition, rather than thedescription of the medical condition. Remember how,
formal diagnosis. Thus, physical conditions can rangewhen you were deathly ill but your voice sounded
from Cervical & Lumbar diseases, Degenerative Discperfectly normal over the telephone? You had to call in
Disease, Spondylolisthesis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Failedsick, and you had to "sound like" you were sick, even
Back Syndrome, Chronic Pain; Fibromyalgia; to total hipthough you were in fact deathly ill. In preparing a
replacements which limit and restrict flexion andFederal Disability Retirement application, this is not the
mobility; cardiac issues; migraine headaches; Chronictime to "sound like" something more than what the
Fatigue Syndrome; Chemical Sensitivity issues; Asthma;treating doctor states.
Hypothyroidism; Plantar Fasciitis; Carpal TunnelUltimately, the success or failure of a Federal Disability
Syndrome; shoulder problems, often referred to asRetirement application under FERS or CSRS as
bursitis or shoulder impingement syndrome; trochantericsubmitted to the Office of Personnel Management will
bursitis; lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, as well as a greatdepend upon the coherence and consistency of the
many other conditions which are not named here, andapplication. Preparation is the key to success, and it is
which are too numerous to catalogue. As forimportant to always remember that coherence and
Psychiatric conditions, the list can be just as long: Majorconsistency are two elements which must always
Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Bipolar Disorder,guide the formulation, preparation and submission of a
Agoraphobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,successful Federal Disability Retirement application.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ADD & ADHD; Paranoia;