Q: My husband is a federal employee working for OPM under FERS. We cannot find any reference to long-term disability insurance. Is LTD standard with FERS? If so, is there a link to the policy description/handbook? Also, I heard that the program only kicks in after a year of disability and falls to 40 percent in second and subsequent years. Is there some sort of supplemental insurance that is recommended?
A: The federal government doesn’t provide short- or long-term disability insurance to its employees. What it does provide is disability retirement to anyone who qualifies. To find out who can apply and how, go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C060.pdf and scroll down to Section 60B. To see how disability annuities are computed, go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C061.pdf. and scroll down to Section 61B Note:Because your husband is a FERS employee, if he applies for disability retirement, he must also apply for Social Security disability benefits.
