What Documents Do I Need to Apply for OPM Disability Retirement?
Federal employees who sustain injuries or receive medical diagnoses that prevent them from working may be eligible to seek OPM disability retirement benefits. These benefits come through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the OPM ultimately receives all required forms and documentation and makes a decision on any submitted claims. If you currently work for a federal agency and have been diagnosed with a disability, it is important to work with an OPM disability retirement lawyer to ensure that you meet all requirements and provide all necessary forms and documentation. In the meantime, we can provide you with more information about some of the key documents that you will need to complete and to submit.
What forms and documents will you ultimately need to apply for OPM disability requirement? Consider the following information.
Standard Form (SF) 3107, Application for Immediate Retirement
This required form has two major sections:
- Section A, which includes your identifying information;
- Section B, which includes details about your federal service;
- Section C, which includes your marital information;
- Section D, which includes your annuity election;
- Section E, which contains your insurance information;
- Section F, or “other claim information;
- Section G, which is an optional section if you have unmarried dependent children;
- Section H, payment instructions; and
- Section I, your certification.
There are also additional Schedules A, B, and C that pertain to military service, military retired pay, and federal employee compensation. Your spouse also may be required to complete information. And there are additional components that will need to be completed by your employer.
Standard Form (SF) 3112, Documentation in Support of Disability Retirement
This required “form” is actually a package of forms that you will need to complete. It contains five separate forms, which require specific information from you, your supervisor, your agency, and your health care provider. The package of forms includes the following:
- SF 3112A, Applicant’s Statement of Disability;
- SF 3112B, Supervisor’s Statement;
- SF 3112C, Physician’s Statement;
- SF 3112D, Agency Certification of Reassignment and Accommodation Efforts; and
- 3112E, Disability Retirement Application Checklist.
Each of the above forms is relatively extensive, and it is important to go over each of them with your attorney.
As the OPM further explains, it is your responsibility to provide the necessary medical evidence for your application to be approved. Based on the evidence you submit, the OPM must be able to “decide that your disease or injury is so severe that you can no longer perform useful or efficient service, or that you have a medical condition that requires restrictions from critical duties of your job.” The OPM also explains that you should submit medical information that “contains diagnosis, prognosis, and a treatment plan dated no more than 60 days before the date your application is filed.”
Contact Our OPM Disability Retirement Attorneys for Assistance
Before you begin taking any steps to complete required forms or documentation, it is important to seek advice from an attorney about your eligibility for benefits. Do you have questions about your eligibility for OPM disability retirement, or do you need assistance with your application? One of the experienced national OPM disability retirement lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can assist you. Contact us today to find out more about your eligibility or to begin working on your application.
Sources:
opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/sf3107.pdf
opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf3112.pdf
