Navigating a medical condition is tough enough, but if you’re looking into applying for Federal Disability Retirement, the requirements may feel like too much to handle. It can be easy to make mistakes – most people aren’t used to detailing their medical condition for the federal government.
But any errors you make during this application process can stand in the way of the support you deserve. Mistakes can cost you precious time and energy when you need it most.
Let’s break down the most common pitfalls, so you can focus on your health, not the paperwork.
Mistake #1: Using the Incorrect Date of Disability
One mistake we’ve seen federal employees make is using the incorrect date of disability on your application.
The SF3112 is the form you’ll fill out to apply for Federal Disability Retirement, and the first section asks for the approximate date you became disabled for your position. “Disabled for your position” can be a confusing phrase. The OPM isn’t asking when your disability began, only when it started stopping you from performing all the functions of your current federal job.
For some people with an injury or traumatic experience, these dates may be the same. But for those with chronic conditions, who’ve struggled with the same issue for years, the date you became “disabled for your current position” may be different from the date your condition began.
The OPM often denies cases because the date of disability does not align with your diagnosis or worsening performance. So even though this may seem like a small part of your application, it’s still important.
Mistake #2: Not Having a Supportive Medical Professional on Your Side
Having a doctor’s support makes this process significantly easier and makes your case stronger.
It will be difficult to get the medical records needed to support your application if your medical provider isn’t willing to work with you through this process.
A lot of doctors shy away from disability cases or workers’ compensation cases, so it’s important to explain that Federal Disability Retirement is different from workers’ comp and the medical requirements aren’t as involved.
Our medical records team will help collect the evidence needed for your application. If your doctor is ready and willing to help, it makes this step a lot easier for everyone.
Mistake #3: Including the Wrong Information in Your Application
You want to include as much information as possible to support your claim, but not all your documents may be helpful.
Avoid including any contradictory information or irrelevant documents. If you’ve got an unrelated medical condition, or an earlier condition that has healed, you probably won’t need to include any documents for that. The OPM is focused on what medical condition(s) are currently keeping you from doing your federal job.
Mistake #4: Using the Wrong Wording About Your Condition
The OPM is very strict on making sure your condition is a long-term one.
Words like “chronic” may not be enough to convince the OPM your condition will continue affecting your performance. Instead, you should clearly state that your medical condition will last for “at least one year.” This seems like an unimportant change, but the OPM is looking for the most clear and direct language.
It can be difficult to prove that a mental health condition will last long-term, so having official diagnoses, treatment history, and consistent medical records can help in this case.
Mistake #5: Not Connecting Your Condition to Your Federal Position
It’s important to prove that your medical condition is affecting your ability to work. In your application, you’ll need to give specific examples of tasks you can’t do because of your condition. You should be referencing your official position description to clearly show how you can no longer perform your federal job. You can ask your HR representative for your position description.
If your doctor has given you medical restrictions, it can make this step easier if the restrictions stop you from doing certain tasks.
Again, this can be difficult with a mental health condition. But an experienced Federal Disability Retirement law firm can help guide you through this step.
Bonus Tip: Having Multiple Doctors Can Strengthen Your Case
While only having one supportive doctor isn’t bad, having multiple medical professionals to back up your claim may strengthen your case.
Supportive medical professionals could be:
- VA Doctors
- General Practitioners
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Oncologists
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
We always recommend seeking medical care as early and as often as possible. If your general practitioner recommends you see a specialist, you should see a specialist – they can help your case.
Our firm has a full medical records team to help you through this difficult part of the process and we’ll work with you to gather the most supportive evidence for your application. We know the forms and medical requests can be difficult to navigate, and we don’t want you to lose out on a benefit that could change your life for the better.
We’ve helped 10,000 other federal workers get the support they deserve. Give our office a call today and schedule a free consultation.
