FERS Disability
Retirement.
If a medical condition prevents you from performing your job, FERS provides a disability retirement benefit. Understanding the eligibility requirements, the application process, and how your benefit is calculated is the first step.
When to consider
disability retirement.
Disability retirement is a last resort, not a first option. OPM advises applying only after your agency has exhausted all reasonable attempts to keep you in a productive capacity — through accommodation or reassignment.
OPM suggests that you consider applying for disability retirement only after you have provided your employing agency with complete documentation of your medical condition and your agency has exhausted all reasonable attempts to retain you in a productive capacity — through accommodation or reassignment.
If those paths have been exhausted and your condition is expected to last at least one year, FERS disability retirement may be the appropriate next step. The benefit is structured differently depending on your age and years of service at the time of retirement, and is recalculated at key milestones.
You must also apply for Social Security disability benefits — FERS disability retirement requires it, and your FERS benefit is offset by any Social Security disability benefit you receive.
All six conditions
must be met.
FERS disability retirement is not automatic. You must satisfy every one of the following requirements — a partial match is not sufficient. Review each condition carefully before beginning the application process.
18 months of FERS creditable service
You must have completed at least 18 months of federal civilian service creditable under FERS.
Disabled while in a FERS-covered position
You must have become disabled — because of disease or injury — while employed in a position subject to the FERS retirement system.
Disability expected to last at least one year
The disabling condition must be expected to prevent useful and efficient service for a minimum of one year.
Agency certifies it cannot accommodate or reassign you
Your agency must certify that it is unable to accommodate your disabling medical condition in your current position and that it has considered you for any vacant position at the same grade or pay level, within the same commuting area, for which you are qualified.
Application filed within one year of separation
You, your guardian, or another interested person must apply before your separation from service, or within one year after separation. The application must be received by OPM or your former employing agency within that window. This limit may be waived only if you were mentally incompetent on or within one year of the date of separation.
You must also apply for Social Security disability benefits
FERS disability retirement requires a concurrent application for Social Security disability benefits. If the Social Security application is withdrawn for any reason, OPM will dismiss your FERS disability retirement application upon notification by the SSA.
Applying for FERS
disability retirement.
Required forms
SF 3107 — Application for Immediate Retirement
SF 3112 — Documentation in Support of Disability Retirement
If you are under age 62: documentation that you have applied for Social Security disability benefits after separating from your agency.
Separated 31 days or less — work through your agency
If you have been separated from federal service for 31 days or less, your employing agency will help you complete the required forms and forward the completed package to OPM. However, it remains your responsibility to obtain all information necessary for OPM to make a decision on your claim — including all required forms and supporting documents.
Separated more than 31 days — submit directly to OPM
If you have been separated for more than 31 days, submit your application directly to OPM. Your former agency may no longer have your personnel records and may not be able to recover them in time to meet the one-year deadline.
U.S. Office of Personnel ManagementRetirement Operations Center
Post Office Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017
Also ask your former supervisor and agency to complete SF 3112B, SF 3112D, and SF 3112E and give them directly to you so you can send them to OPM.
Running out of time? Submit a partial package
If you think you will not have the completed package in time to meet the one-year deadline, send OPM the completed SF 3107 and SF 3112A, along with the name, address, and telephone number of the person(s) you have asked to complete the remaining forms. This preserves your claim while the rest of the package is assembled.
How your disability
benefit is computed.
FERS disability benefits are calculated differently depending on your age and years of service at retirement. If you are under 62 and not yet eligible for voluntary retirement, the benefit goes through three distinct phases.
If you are age 62 or older at retirement — or meet voluntary retirement requirements
You receive your standard "earned" annuity based on the general FERS annuity computation: 1% of your high-3 average salary × years of service (or 1.1% if age 62+ with 20+ years of service). No disability-specific formula applies.
Under age 62 and not eligible for voluntary retirement — three phases
First 12 months
After the first 12 months
Phase 3 — Recomputation at age 62
At age 62, your annuity is recomputed as if you had continued working until the day before your 62nd birthday, then retired under FERS. The time you spent as a disability annuitant is added to your actual service, and your high-3 average salary is increased by all FERS cost-of-living adjustments paid during that period.
If total service (actual + disability period) is less than 20 years: 1% × high-3 × total years
If total service is 20 years or more: 1.1% × high-3 × total years
Periodic medical
exams.
Approval of your disability retirement is not permanent by default. OPM may require periodic proof that you remain disabled in order for benefit payments to continue.
When OPM approves your disability retirement application, it may determine — based on your medical condition — that you will periodically need to provide current medical information in order to continue receiving benefits.
You are responsible for paying for any medical exams that are required. If you do not fulfill a request for evidence of continuing disability, your benefit payments may be suspended until your continuing eligibility is re-established.
Related
resources.
Official OPM publications, forms, and additional tools for FERS disability retirement applicants and annuitants.