Q. Can you tell me if my time on workers compensation is credited to my retirement at age 62 as it is if I were collecting my OPM disability benefit. I was approved for OPM disability retirement and Social Security and I elected to receive workers compensation benefits in lieu of OPM disability retirement.
A. According to OPM, “If workers’ compensation benefits terminate, or the former employee elects to receive an annuity in lieu of compensation, the time spent in receipt of workers’ compensation after the date of retirement is not counted in computing the disability annuity or, if eligible, an annuity based on age and service. Instead, the annuity computed based on the individual’s service and high-3 average salary as of the date of separation, plus all applicable cost-of-living adjustments, may be reinstated.”
