Understanding OPM Disability Retirement Benefits for Cancer
Are you a federal employee who was recently diagnosed with a form of cancer, and is your illness preventing you from working? If so, you could be eligible to seek Office of Personnel Management (OPM) disability retirement benefits. It is important to know that eligibility is based on medical factors, as well as details concerning your employment. When it comes to medical eligibility, rather than having a list of health or medical conditions that make a person eligible, medical eligibility is based on the severity of the condition. Many federal civilian employees who are diagnosed with cancer may be eligible for OPM disability retirement benefits, but our OPM eligibility lawyers can explain in more detail below.
Medical Eligibility for OPM Disability Retirement Benefits After a Cancer Diagnosis
In order to be medically eligible for OPM disability retirement benefits after a cancer diagnosis, you will need to be able to provide medical evidence from your doctor that shows your condition is expected to last at least one year, and it must be severe enough that it prevents you from performing one or more of the essential duties required of your job. According to the OPM, the severity must be such that you cannot provide “useful and efficient service” in your current position.
To be clear, what this means is that some cancer diagnoses will likely result in OPM disability retirement eligibility, but others may not. It will depend on the specific details of your cancer diagnosis, the limitations resulting from your illness, and whether or not your doctor expects that you will be dealing with your cancer for 12 months or longer.
Non-Medical Requirements for OPM Disability Retirement Following a Cancer Diagnosis
Following a cancer diagnosis, once you determine your medical eligibility, you will need to prove your non-medical eligibility. You will need to have worked for at least 18 months in a position under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
In addition, your federal agency must also certify that it is unable to accommodate your current condition based on your limitations, and that there is no vacant position to which you can be reassigned at your current pay level or grade. This is a certification that must come from your federal agency. Once these requirements are met, in addition to the medical requirement, you can seek benefits in connection with your cancer diagnosis.
Contact an OPM Eligibility Attorney for Assistance Seeking Disability Retirement Benefits Today Following a Cancer Diagnosis
Were you recently diagnosed with cancer, and is the illness such that you will need to find out about your eligibility for disability benefits? If you are a federal civil employee, you could be eligible for OPM disability retirement, as we explained above. It will be essential to have detailed medical documentation that shows your diagnosis and condition make you eligible for OPM disability benefits based on the medical requirements set forth — that your condition is expected to last at least 12 months and that it prevents you from doing your job in a recognized capacity. An experienced national OPM eligibility lawyer at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can begin working with you today on your OPM disability retirement application.
Source:
opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/eligibility/
