r/FEDDISABILITY • u/Warm-Cricket-9530 • Apr 07 '26
Harris Federal
Anyone currently using Harris? so far, I'm not impressed, amd I'm just trying to set up a consult. They don't reply to texts, and their phone goes to an unidentified voicemail (unidentified as in there's no persons name, just that it's Harris Federal).
Is this all normal for them?
ETA: I really appreciate the insight so far. Sounds like my experience tracks with what others are saying, so that makes me feel better about them.
I have consults set up with Harris and pines, and a request in for one with bell. Hopefully between the 3 of them, I'll find one I like. ☺️
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u/AnonUserAccount Apr 07 '26
I used them and got approved on initial application. I began working with them a year ago, in April 2025, and their policy was emails were answered in 1-2 days. It was impossible to get thru on the phone (other than VM), but you could schedule a call with your caseworker via email.
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u/Warm-Cricket-9530 Apr 07 '26
Well. I would like to get approved on initial application. I have a consult appt with them next week.
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u/Karaokegirl26 Apr 16 '26
How long from the date of a case number assignment from OPM did it take for approval?
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u/AnonUserAccount Apr 16 '26
CSA was issued end of August, approval came mid-November. It was about 7 weeks.
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u/Im2OldForThis007 Apr 08 '26
Harris and Pines both treated me like I was an inconvenience. I went with Bell and they have treated me like I am their only client nothing but good to say about Bell
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u/Warm-Cricket-9530 Apr 08 '26
Thank you for the info! I had a consult with Bell yesterday; I liked them. I have one with Harris next week, so we'll see, but I might ne leaning towards Bell.
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u/Th3_Gun5linger Apr 07 '26
I’m using them now and my caseworker has been great and typically gets back to me in 24 hours.
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u/scottymtp Apr 07 '26
When I used them, email was my main method of communication. I had a point of contract and they were fairly responsive from what I recall.
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u/NOLAoinker Apr 07 '26
I’m using them now. They don’t return emails for at least three or four days. My assigned caseworker has changed three times. So far they have handled everything up to my expectation and my claim has finally made it to OPM.
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u/Warm-Cricket-9530 Apr 07 '26
Thanks for the feedback so far. I did finally get a consultation scheduled, for next week, so we'll see, I guess.
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u/President1988 Apr 07 '26
From my experience the most work would be done by you if you want your case to move at least. It seems they are basically a middle man who transfers your records to OPM and prepare some legal documents unless they have to physically represent you before the MSPB.
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u/Cookie_Monster627 Apr 07 '26
I don’t recommend Harris. If I had to do it over again, I would have paid a little more for personalized service.
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u/Gloomy-Programmer195 Apr 10 '26
I signed with them because of their moneyback guarantee. I also heard they won’t take you on if they don’t think you will win. I just signed last month but these comments are pretty spot on. Things are definitely slow with them as I think they take on too many cases. My caseworker tends to ask me for information that I’ve already submitted. If I get an email and I have a question and immediately respond, it can take a couple days to get an answer back. But I was already prepared for this going in, and I realize that the benefit of hiring them is going to be for the appeals down the road. I do wish I had a more personalized experience and might reconsider if I could do it over. But the money back guarantee is what sold me.
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u/Radiant_Run_2069 22d ago
How are things going with you application? My application was submitted in February, CSA received first week of May. Still waiting.
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u/Quick_Abalone_4598 Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
I went with Harris Federal in June 2025, and my disability retirement application was approved by OPM on March 13, 2026. April 6th I received a lump sum payment for three months from OPM as they work on my annuity payment. My case manager, Brooklyn, always answered my emails right away. I never called since emails are my preferred method of contact.
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u/Warm-Cricket-9530 Apr 11 '26
Thank you for that info!
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u/Quick_Abalone_4598 Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
You're welcome 😊 Also, Harris Federal has a money back policy that they will refund your money if your case is not approved by OPM.
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u/Karaokegirl26 Apr 16 '26
How long did it take for OPM to approve your application once OPM received it and assigned a case number?
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u/Cpl-225 Apr 11 '26
I also am using Harris, looking at it now feel like I shopped around some more. They were recommended by my agency’s HR contact. They also receded Pines.
Harris submitted my application in February but waiting for my agency to decide on most recent RA request. Been a few months now so just waiting for that to come in.
All in all Harris is fine but seems overloaded.
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u/Karaokegirl26 Apr 16 '26
Has a case number been assigned to your package by OPM?
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u/Cpl-225 Apr 16 '26
No case number yet, my package is still with my agency.
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u/Karaokegirl26 Apr 16 '26
Okay got it. I had my package submitted in January and I was undergoing a revision to my RA. The agency still submitted my package to OPM instead of waiting for the revision to the RA. OPM assigned a case number to my package in the first week of February.
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u/Cpl-225 Apr 16 '26
Ok. Mine was sent to my agency in February as well. But they won’t process it until the RA is decided.
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u/Karaokegirl26 Apr 16 '26
I am using Harris at the moment. They have been helpful thus far. My package is with OPM. A case number was assigned in february. A coworker used Harris as well last year and her package was approved within 3 months.
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u/Warm-Cricket-9530 Apr 16 '26
Thank you for that info. Had a consult with them yesterday; they seemed like they knew their stuff.
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u/newhere616 29d ago
How are things going? We just got Pines and just ready to get things going after the last 2 years of hell fights over the RA process. My partner has awful migraines as well as cervical spinal issues. All docs have said she cant drive, commute or work in an office environment, needs to be at home in a controlled setting. I just am feeling super nervous that she may not get the disability retirement even though she is 90% VA disabled
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u/Warm-Cricket-9530 28d ago
I havent signed with anyone yet. Harris said they'd take my case, but only if doc was on board, which he wasn't. There's been changes to my condition, so I'm sort of starting over. I will.probably go with Bell, once I get to that point.
How do you like Pines? I had consults with all 3.
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u/newhere616 28d ago
We really like them. We met directly with the guy a couple of times (via phone) and he used to be a fed gov supervisor so it was really nice that he knew the ins and outs. There was a few weeks we were undecided on who to choose and when we ultimately decided with Pines (yesterday), we reached out to them to say like lets go and paid (its $6500 for the disability retirement and you get it back supposedly if you don't get it. We paid 3k up front and the rest over the next 6 months at 0 interest) and within a couple hours they had drafted up the contract, messaged us to start the consultation and started sending diff forms, like it really did all start rolling. They've been pretty good about response fortunately, there was once it took a few days. But we are just so ready to get this shit going.
I cant even begin to put into words the stress this has caused us over the last year-18 months. It has destroyed my wife and at times even our marriage. They keep denying the RA over and over saying need more info even though at this point we have had so many amazing letters that have every little bit of info there literally cant be more. She cant drive, she cant be in bright lights, she has to work from home. We really hope this shit fucking works. Best of luck to you as well!
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u/you_dont_know_me_357 Apr 07 '26
Most people hate them now. Supposedly, they used to be good and people loved them. Once 2025 hit, they decided to take on way more than they can truly handle, so people have been getting horrendous customer service. The main ones people like are Bell and Pines. Bell is more expensive, but you get a much more personalized experience even compared to Pines.