Attorney Working Exclusively For Federal And Postal Employees From All Across
The U.S., Seeking To Obtain Disability Retirement Benefits Under FERS & CSRS
02/03/2012 by Federal Lawyer The problem of relying on "common sense" (as that term is often used and understood) is that such reliance not only reflects a presumption that one possesses that very quality that we deem [...]
02/02/2012 by Federal Lawyer In preparing, formulating, and filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits from the Office of Personnel Management, there is always the question of costs involved -- of the time frame [...]
02/02/2012 by Federal Lawyer There is, of course, the limited process of issues impacting a Federal Disability Retirement application, whether under FERS or CSRS -- of the actual paperwork; of obtaining and completing [...]
02/01/2012 by Federal Lawyer Mistakes made in preparing, formulating and filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS, from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, are usually correctable, [...]
01/30/2012 by Federal Lawyer It is often a necessity to be reminded that the preparation, formulation, and ultimately the filing of a Federal Disability Retirement application under FERS or CSRS, with the U.S. Office of Personnel [...]
01/29/2012 by Federal Lawyer To characterize the filing of a Federal Disability Retirement application under FERS or CSRS, from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, in terms of the percentage chances [...]
01/28/2012 by Federal Lawyer In preparing, formulating and filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, whether under FERS or CSRS, there is nothing to preclude [...]
Federal And Postal Workers: Things You Shouldn't Do When Filing For CSRS Or FERS Disability Retirement Posted on May 1, 2006
Deep in the woods, the mother rabbit and her bunnies passed by a dead fox. Curiosity overwhelmed the bunnies, and they began to hop in unison towards the corpse. "Stop!" shrieked the mother rabbit. The bunnies froze in their tracks. At about the same time, the corpse quivered, oh ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly. The mother rabbit gathered her bunnies, and hopped away hurriedly, whispering to them, "Remember, my lovelies, the mistake you make may cost you more than the satisfaction of your curiosity."
-- From "Fables Long Forgotten"
First, a quick clarification: I have had periodic calls concerning the time-frame in filing for disability retirement. The Statute of Limitations in filing for disability retirement is one year from the date you are separated from Federal Service -- not from the date you were injured, or from the time you stopped working, etc.
Next, many Federal and Postal Workers ask me to represent them in obtaining disability retirement at the Second Stage (OPM's Reconsideration Stage), after having filed without representation. I have no problems with that -- indeed, sometimes (though rarely), individuals have such a severe degree of medical disabilities that an attorney is not necessary. For the majority of Federal and Postal Workers, however, representation beginning at the initial stage of a disability retirement application is necessary. If, however, for financial or other reasons (including stubbornness), an individual insists upon filing for disability retirement without a qualified Attorney, the following are a few things which you should NOT do in preparing your application:
Do not become non-compliant in a treatment regimen, medication regimen, or any aspect of a reasonable medical regimen designed to treat the disease or injury. This is a sure way to have your disability retirement application denied. For, when an employee "is unable to render useful and efficient service because that employee fails or refuses to follow or accept normal treatment, it is wholly proper to say that the employee's disability flows, not from the disease or injury itself (as the statute requires), but from the employee's voluntary failure or refusal to take the available corrective or ameliorative action."Baker v. Office of Personnel Management, 782 F.2d 993, 994 (Fed. Cir. 1986) (A word of caution: this does not mean that all surgeries must be consented to).
Do not ignore the basis of a Notice of Removal. I have previously discussed the importance of obtaining the Bruner Presumption, whenever possible, in a disability retirement case. Beyond getting the Bruner Presumption, however, is the fact that any implication of misconduct or willful failure on the part of the Federal or Postal Employee should always be appealed, if not to have it completely amended, then to at least have such a basis for removal expunged, and instead to allow for the employee to resign, thereby nullifying misconduct as a basis for separation. Never give the Office of Personnel Management an additional reason to deny your disability retirement application.
Do not have your treating doctors send in medical documentation directly to the Agency Personnel Office. Always take charge of your own disability retirement application. Have the doctors send the medical documentation to you, and personally review and inspect each page of your submission for accuracy, relevance, and applicability to your medical condition. Never blindly submit medical documentation to the Office of Personnel Management. Again, never give the Office of Personnel Management an additional reason to deny your disability retirement application. This advice, of course, goes "hand-in-hand" with my policy of never signing the SF 3112C (Physician's Statement), which often releases all of the medical documentation directly to the Agency.
These are just three fundamental "Do Not" rules in preparing and filing for disability retirement. When a Federal or Postal Employee comes to me at the Reconsideration Stage for legal representation, I find that I must first correct several fundamental errors committed by the applicant. While I can almost always correct the mistakes already made, the damage can only be minimized, and never completely eradicated, because the error is already known to the Office of Personnel Management. Still, I am normally able to convince the Office of Personnel Management to approve the disability retirement application.
In the course of representing Federal and Postal Workers to obtain disability retirement benefits, I have always tried to emphasize the fact that, while it is each individual's choice as to whether or not to hire an attorney, you should always proceed with the greatest tool available -- knowledge. Disability Retirement is a benefit accorded to all Federal and Postal Employees under FERS and CSRS. However, as with all benefits, the right to it remains unclaimed unless one proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that one is legally entitled to it. To prove your claim, you must go at it from a position of strength -- and this requires knowledge. Like the Mother Rabbit who cautions her bunnies, do not allow lack of knowledge to be your stumbling block.
My name is Robert R. McGill. I am an attorney who specializes in disability retirement claims for Federal and Postal Employees. If you would like to discuss your particular case, you may contact me at 1-800-990-7932, or email me at federal.lawyer@yahoo.com.
