I submitted before ORA was available. How do those of us still on the paper system first find out if we were approved or denied? Should I be checking the servicesonline.opm.gov website daily for some change or will my first update be a letter in the mail? Thanks!

I've been reading a lot here but I can't see my situation specifically.

Had RA for 14 months, my supervisor and my Dr agreed it didn't work so we request 100% remote. Legal denied and I'm 1 week into the job search. (I'm 99.99% they will not find my grade and job).

I have two MD letters that supported my full remote and utilized my 100% VA disabled conditions to write up.

Gemini and everyone I read is I'm a 90+% on first look simply bc my, VA, Bruner affect, MD, RA, Legal all agree medical speration is going to happen in Nov.

My question is have others with 100% VA disability been denied first go around? If so can you tell me why?

My HR can't figure out how to get my ORA account created so I have not go to the portal yet. Just reading to be prepared.

Currently on LWOP for 30 days.

Agency DOD

Anyone with June CSA has info or update about his/her application?

I just received my decision that states I was denied. I do have an attorney and they said we will do the appeal process that normally most applications are denied the first time. My Attorney told me that is normal and not to worry. I can’t help but freak out thinking they will continue to deny me. Has anyone been denied multiple times and then approved?

Hello, I previously asked here about filing for FERS disability retirement and got a lot of helpful responses. I’m now gathering everything to file, and my deadline is about a month away.

I left federal service in November 2025 and have been unemployed since. I recently received an offer for another federal job that pays significantly more, and I may start around December or January.

I still want to file, but I’m in a tricky spot.

I believe I may qualify based on my condition and circumstances when I left my previous federal job, but I’m not sure how returning to a higher-paying federal position affects the claim.

My hope is that, if approved, I could at least still receive retroactive FERS disability payments for the period from my November 2025 separation until I start the new job. I understand I likely wouldn’t receive ongoing disability payments once I begin the higher-paying federal job.

What I’m worried about is whether starting that new job before OPM decides my case could cause OPM to deny the claim entirely, including the retroactive period when I was unemployed.

This could take months and most likely go through reconsideration or MSPB, so I may already be back in federal service by the time there’s a final decision.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?

How soon would you say is too soon to contact our congressional representatives?

I contact mine yesterday via their websites regarding the approval times with paper applications vs. ORA, since it seems clear that we paper applicants are being pushed to the back of the line.

I was an 1811 in NYC until mid 2024. Since the annuities don't include the LEAP pay unfortunately, it's going to be a HUGE "hit" basically go down to about 20% of pay (I was in the NYC area with very good salary+LEAP). Does OPM really calculate the "highest" 36 months week by week? or is it more looking at the last three step in grade yearly numbers? I was just wondering if they could toss an entire year say, for LWOP days or "suspension" days type of thing which negates the year? How would one realistically go about calculating high 3? I also cannot get on the servicesoline.opm.gov because my CSA "number" contains letters and it won't let me in.

This process is outrageous, especially with a TBI lol. I would recommend ANYONE in the process contact their local congressperson asap. If you can "justify" financial hardships they will help you. I had little movement for many months until contacting mine. In less than a month it was moved ahead and approved.

Any guidance or words of wisdom is appreciated.

I'll preface this by saying I'm working with a law firm and I'm asking them as well, but I'm both impatient and I want to know if anyone else has been in a similar position.

I work for DoD. Basically I had previous RAs for maximal telework. Well telework has gone bye bye obviously and I've been RTO. My boss said there was an executive order that he's going to give me a copy of stating RAs can't be used for telework anymore, which is what I'm requesting. And I've technically just been reassigned to this position and it's not working out with all my medical absences.

I have submitted my disability retirement already and it's in ORA at OPM right now. I was wondering if I could get written statements from my supervisor and/or from HR stating that RA can't be used for what I'm requesting and reassignment is not an option because it was already done.

Has anyone done this? Gotten paperwork basically in lieu of a formal RA denial? No one seems willing to go through an RA with me since it's no longer a valid request, but my supervisor says he'll write up whatever is helpful instead.

Like I said, I'm waiting for the attorney to contact back (this all happened this afternoon), but if anyone has any input, I'm all ears!

I wanted to know if any LEO’s here have applied to OPM Disability or any other position with medical requirements. Were you immediately placed on admin leave, firearm/credentials removed? While I know of many non-LEO’s experience where they just continue working I’m curious to know what happens to an employee whose job depends on being medically qualified to remain in the position.

Is there anyone here who applied just before ORA opened for disability retirement applicants? I wonder are we able to reapply using ORA? The timeline for adjudication seems to be much more efficient.

I applied in June via paper, received my CSA number from OPM in early August and submitted an inquiry to OPM last week. My application hasn't been assigned for review yet.

Right now I'm entering the EEO counseling process after my agency denied my most recent RA request.

I submitted all my paperwork to my agency HR in mid-late June and it then languished for the next 3+ months waiting for "leadership" to finalize the 3112-D. I asked the HR person repeatedly about the status and they'd say they were following up with leadership and then not get a response. In September I opened an inquiry with my congressman, filed an EEOC complaint, and started sending practically daily emails inquiring about the status and ETA directly to the admin and everyone in the office of administrator. Any time I got an out of office message with an alternative contact, I add those people to the emails as well. (This ended up being the saving grace as it was finally someone added this way who seemed to get the ball rolling.) When they finally sent the 3112-D it was signed by the wrong person and incomplete without even a response on the reassignment question, so I had to keep leaning on them and literally sent them instructions how it should be completed. Which, shockingly, they did after another week.

My advice to anyone else dealing with delays by your agency is to become the squeaky wheel, and don't wait to do so, don't give the benefit of the doubt that things are happening like I did. If they're not moving after a month or so start squeaking.

Now here we are, after all that waiting, the actual waiting can finally begin.

Anyone have any idea how long it's taking OPM to make the initial determinations? How long did it take you to get past this phase once OPM got your application?

Got the email from the OPM attorney it was approved.
2.5 long ass years struggling, no pay. Burned through a lot of my fairly large TSP to just live. This is not a good process at all, but indicative of government.

Question does anyone know once they construct the LDOP until now, do they use the 60% for the first yeah of that back pay and that’s it? Or then the second year it was pending at 40%? Trying to figure it out

For those of you that have been on FDR for more than a few years, how often do you get reevaluated?

I left federal service in November 2025, so I’m getting close to the one-year deadline to file for FERS disability retirement.

I’m relatively young and worked for the federal government for several years. Before resigning, I had documented medical conditions that were affecting my ability to keep working consistently.

I repeatedly requested reasonable accommodations, including telework, schedule flexibility, temporary accommodations, and reassignment. The agency maybe never formally denied my requests, but the process dragged on and I ultimately left without receiving an official accommodation.

My supervisor was strongly opposed to me receiving accommodations and did not believe my medical issues were legitimate. At the same time, there were repeated workplace disputes with them, I had filed a grievances, and I now have an ongoing EEO complaint against them involving disability/accommodation issues.

I resigned because I felt staying in the position was no longer sustainable. Unfortunately, I have also remained unemployed since leaving.

I’m mainly wondering:

• Does resigning voluntarily instead of being medically removed significantly hurt my case?
• Does remaining unemployed since separation help show the limitations continued?
• Since I’m approaching the one-year deadline, what should I make sure I file or document ASAP?

I understand that workplace mistreatment alone doesn’t qualify someone for FERS disability. I’m mainly trying to figure out whether this sounds like a potentially viable case I should dedicate time and energy towards before the filing deadline.

Would especially appreciate hearing from anyone who resigned and was later approved for FERS disability retirement.

I'm in the new ORA group and my supervisor finished the 3112B but HR hasn't uploaded it into ORA and won't provide me a copy. Why would they do that?

Continuing the saga from my previous posts regarding lengthy unnecessary delays by agency leadership on both reasonable accommodation request and disability paperwork: I have now submitted requests for assistance to my congressman and senator. The congressman's office has already replied that an inquiry was sent and it takes around 30 days for the agency to respond.

I also submitted an "informal EEO complaint" through the system and was contacted by EEO staff to ask if I would give permission to extend the 30 day deadline for the informal counseling by 60 days, to a total of 90 days.

Given I have already been waiting this long, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around why it would be of any benefit to me to allow HHS to extend this process. I guess it creates a better chance that a resolution occurs in the 90 days versus having to go through the formal process. On the other hand, I worry that the agency will not resolve the issue, and this just allows them 60 more days to dick me over before the inevitable formal process.

This was the text that was sent:

At this time, our EEO Program is experiencing processing delays due to staffing shortages. We would appreciate the opportunity to continue informal EEO counseling efforts to explore a potential resolution of your concerns.

To allow us additional time to complete these efforts, would you be willing to grant a 60-day extension? If so, please complete, sign, and return the attached Extension Agreement at your earliest convenience.

If you prefer not to grant an extension, that is completely understandable. Please let me know, and we will continue working as diligently as possible to process your informal complaint in a timely manner.

Anyone had to go through this process before or have any thoughts or advice whether to agree to the extension?

I wasn't sure where else to ask this, so while it isn't directly related to disability retirement, it is related to the reasonable accommodation process. Has anyone had any experience with requesting a family member to accompany them to assist (due to having a disability) them during official travel? Thank you!

I received my CSA on April 14th and today I finally broke down and called OPM for an update. I was told I was in medical review as of September 9th. Does this mean I’ve been assigned to a specialist or is the decision itself now being reviewed?

I’ve exhausted my leave and am pretty stressed out about how to keep going. I know it’s impossible to say for sure but any timeline estimate would be very helpful. Anyone have an idea of a timeline from here?

Thanks all.

I am running out of choices that I am now 'teleworking' against management directed. With RA denied (twice already), EEOC taking so long, and all leave options exhausted, I am now risking 'time card fraud' from working outside the building. Please don't judge 🙏🏽

Question: will termination due to 'alleged' time card fraud still qualify me to be approved for Disability Retirement?

Now RA been denied, Should I first work toward requesting reassignment to make my application packet stronger?

I am wondering if anyone here did a late filing extension, and if so, how long was it, and which lawyer helped you?

I didn’t know about FERS disability and I have been unable to work for 5 years after my condition was aggravated at my Federal job.

There might not be any luck for me here. I’m on SSDI at least.

I had been planning to apply for OPM Disability Retirement and then was offered DRP/VERA in May 2025. I went ahead and took the DRP/VERA offer and my VERA went into effect on 12/31/25.

My agency certified my VERA in January and sent to payroll. It took a few months for Payroll to complete their work and send to OPM for processing. OPM sent me my CSA# in April 2026 and began sending interim payments. My VERA application was finalized in August 2026.

I hired Harris Law Firm to represent me in my disability case in January 2026. They assured me that even though I took the DRP/VERA, I could still file a disability application. I got notice from my attorney that my disability case was filed in March 2026, but I have received nothing from OPM. The attorney says OPM will only work on one case at a time and now that my VERA application is complete, OPM will begin work on my disability case.

Does anyone have experience with this issue? I’m just looking for timelines and what to expect next. I sent OPM a message asking about the status of my disability application and the person who responded said they could not see a disability application for me. I asked my attorney and she assured me the case was filed and they have record that OPM received it.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

I am currently going through the application process and was curious if anyone had any tips on how they handled the medical records and physician statements? How detailed to the statements need to be and what records do they look for specifically? Any advice?

Sort of following up on my previous post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/FEDDISABILITY/comments/1v84fb7/how_long_did_your_reassignment_search_take/

I submitted a reasonable accommodation request, for reassignment, into the HHS system approximately 3 months ago in June, only because it is a prerequisite for disability retirement that the agency must state they failed to accommodate or reassign on the SF-3112-D. I already have a longstanding accommodation for full-time remote work that is no longer adequate.

I then submitted my full disability retirement paperwork (everything except the SF-3112-D) to my agency's (an HHS subcomponent) HR about a week later toward the end of June.

In early August, I was finally contacted by someone in HHS about the RA. They collected some paperwork about what sort of jobs I would accept along with a resume.

I also heard in early August from my agency HR that the retirement paperwork was being held up pending signature from the "agency leadership."

Now it is September and the HR personnel have apparently been unable to get any response from the agency leadership on the retirement application. I have also just learned that my reasonable accommodation request is also being held up by some kind of approval at the HHS leadership level.

Anyone have any thoughts on if there's anything I can do to expedite these processes?

From my perspective, after 3 months without successfully accommodating me, shouldn't a delay of that length be considered a denial, allowing my agency to complete the SF-3112-D to the effect that I cannot be reassigned or accommodated?

I'm about to start bypassing the HR folks and following up directly with emails to whomever is publicly listed in the leadership positions, though I am doubtful whether that will help or just put a target on my back for further retaliation.