Q. I retired in 2004 after 21 years of federal employment on disability. Now that I’m 63 years old, I’m being told I am considered eligible for regular retirement. Has my age and time of service been used to calculate a different pay schedule?
A. Because you were a FERS employee, at age 62 your disability annuity was converted to a regular annuity. That annuity was computed as if you had worked to age 62. Thus, your actual service was added to the time you spent on the disability roll. Because you had at least 20 years of actual service, the total time was multiplied by 0.011. That product was multiplied by your high-3 on the date you went on disability, increased by all FERS cost-of-living adjustments payable from that time to age 62.
13 Comments
I worked for the Dept of Veterans Affairs for 20 years under Fers and retired on disability at the end of 2008. Are there special reconsiderations in place for rehire since my health has improved and I desire to regain federal employment?
Yes. For more information, go to http://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c060.pdf and scroll to Section 60A7.1-1D, which applies to both CSRS and FERS disability retirees.
I was told by a OWCP disability lawyer that OPM will NOT change my disability retirement unless I close my OWCP disability claim and then apply for OPM regular retirement. Is this correct? I am 62 and 3 months. How do I change from owcp disability to OPM FERS regular retirement, I live overseas. Thank you in advance.
I’ve referred you question to OPM and asked them to get in touch with you.
OPM replied to me rather than you. Here’s what they had to say:
To change from OWCP disability to OPM FERS regular retirement 026245759@bezeqint.net will need to apply for a FERS retirement. The link below will provide all the information 026245759@bezeqint.net will need to apply for a regular FERS retirement. 026245759@bezeqint.net does not have to stop his/her OWCP benefits prior to applying for his/her FERS annuity; however, he/she will need to notify OWCP in writing so they can notify us that the benefits have stopped and the date. If 026245759@bezeqint.net is receiving a Scheduled Award from OWCP, then he/she can receive both benefits.
If 026245759@bezeqint.net already applied for a FERS retirement, then we need to receive a notice from OWCP showing his election of our benefits stating the date benefits stopped. All correspondence should have either his SSN or claims number on it so we can identify his/her case.
Hi REG JONES , Thank you so much for posting what OPM said. However, there is no link to apply for a FERS retirement. All the best, Ron.
Info about applying:
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/csrs-information/planning-and-applying/#url=Apply
FERS Application for Immediate Annuity (SF3107):
https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf3107.pdf
Thanks for sharing that with us.
Hi, Do you know if OWCP pays for a medical translation for those FERS disability retirees that live outside the USA? If the medical translation has to be notarized?
No, I don’t. You’ll have to check with them.
Hello, I was on FERS disability, but found I could return to full time work when I married. My husband was able to handle the activities of daily living. He has passed away and I now find it very difficult to continue full time. I would like to request reinstatement of my previous disability status. Will the previous years in disability still count as years of service as they would have with uninterrupted disability?
Yes.
Would the high three be recaluculated?