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 is a specific way in which you can research your eligibility based on the details of your medical condition. You may be aware that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a “Blue Book,” which has multiple sections with clear listings and details about medical conditions that can make a person eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Is there a document similar to the Blue Book that you can use for purposes of proving your OPM disability retirement eligibility?

There is no analogous Blue Book for OPM disability retirement benefits, but our OPM eligibility lawyers can explain the medical eligibility component in more detail.

Office of Personnel Management Does Not Have a Blue Book or List of Impairments

According to the Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies (WAEPA), the OPM does not have a specific list of impairments that it uses, or that employees can refer to, in order to determine whether their medical condition makes them eligible for OPM disability retirement.

However, while the SSA does have the Blue Book and detailed listings of impairments, it is important to know that SSD applicants can be eligible for benefits even if their specific impairment is not listed in the Blue Book — as long as they meet the specific definition of a disability that the SSA uses. Similarly, the OPM uses a specific definition of a disability in order to determine whether a federal employee that is otherwise eligible for benefits can receive OPM disability retirement benefits.

OPM Disability Retirement Medical Eligibility

What will you need to show in order to prove that you are medically eligible for OPM disability retirement benefits? OPM disability retirement benefits can be paid for physical and mental disabilities alike, and there is no specific preset list of conditions that the OPM refers to when determining a person’s eligibility and approval. Instead, you will need to provide the OPM with medical evidence that proves the following:

• Due to your medical condition, you are unable to perform the service required of your specific federal position; and
• Your medical condition is expected to last for at least one year.

You will also need to show that the federal agency where you are employed cannot reasonably accommodate your medical condition in your current job, and that there are no other equivalent positions available that could accommodate your medical condition.

Contact a National OPM Disability Retirement Eligibility Attorney for Assistance Proving Your Medical Eligibility for Benefits

If you currently work for a federal agency as a civilian employee and believe you may be eligible for OPM disability retirement based on your medical condition and your time of service, it is important to discuss all eligibility questions and to confirm your eligibility with assistance from an experienced national OPM eligibility lawyer at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. We have years of experience representing federal employees who are seeking OPM disability retirement benefits, and we can work with you on any eligibility issues as well as completing all components of your disability benefit application today. Contact our firm to have your questions answered and to begin working with us on your OPM disability retirement case.

Sources:

waepa.org/resources/federal-disability-retirement-conditions/

opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/types-of-retirement/#url=Disability