Author Archives: Jay Butchko
SSDI Eligibility with Schizophrenia
Whether you were recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, or you have known of your diagnosis for quite some time but the condition has worsened significantly in recent time, you may be wondering about your eligibility to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) if your condition prevents you from… Read More »
Could the Compassionate Allowances Program Speed Up Your Social Security Disability Claim?
If you have applied for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you already know that the waiting period can stretch from several months to well over a year. For most applicants, that wait is simply part of the process. However, if you have been diagnosed with one of the most severe medical conditions recognized by… Read More »
Denied OPM Disability Retirement? A Second Review Could Change Everything
Federal employees who apply for OPM disability retirement often assume that a denial letter is the end of the road. It is not. The Office of Personnel Management reviews thousands of applications every year, and a first denial is frequently based on missing documentation, unclear medical language, or an incomplete picture of how a… Read More »
Could a Reassignment Offer Derail Your OPM Disability Claim?
Federal employees pursuing OPM disability retirement often assume that a medical diagnosis alone will carry their claim. It will not. One of the lesser known pitfalls in the process involves what happens if your agency offers you another job instead of supporting your retirement application. If you turn down that offer, or if you… Read More »
What Can I Do If the OPM Denied My Federal Disability Retirement Claim?
When a federal civilian employee with a sufficient service record becomes disabled, they may be eligible to apply for and to receive disability retirement benefits through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). In order to be eligible for OPM disability retirement benefits, you must have worked in your FERS-eligible position for a sufficient length… Read More »
Do I Need a Specific Type of Medical Condition to Qualify for Disability Benefits?
Determining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can be complex, and it is often confusing for a person who has recently been diagnosed with a serious illness or a debilitating injury to understand if they are eligible. The question of eligibility is often complicated further when a person with a disability realizes… Read More »
Skin Disorders and SSDI Eligibility
The Social Security Administration (SSA) handles applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which can be paid out to individuals who have a very wide range of impairments that qualify them medically for benefits. To be eligible for SSDI payments, you must meet two separate requirements: 1) medical requirement, and 2) non-medical requirement, which… Read More »
Can I Be Eligible for SSDI Benefits for Hearing Loss After Cochlear Implantation?
Hearing loss, and the varied forms it takes, can be a reason for a person to seek Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). In order to be eligible for benefits based on hearing loss, you must show that your condition, based on medical evidence, is expected to last… Read More »
COPD and SSDI Eligibility
Were you recently diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is the disease preventing you from being able to work? If so, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). In order to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must meet two different… Read More »
Does OPM Disability Retirement Have Its Own “Blue Book” of Eligible Medical Conditions?
Are you a federal employee who has recently been diagnosed with a serious injury, disease, or other medical condition that has resulted in your inability to work for an extended period of time? If so, you may be wondering about your eligibility for Office of Personnel Management (OPM) disability retirement benefits, and whether there… Read More »
