Preparation in anticipation of a process, as opposed to filing the proper paperwork to receive an entitlement, constitutes a different mindset and approach.
In preparing, formulating and filing a Federal Disability Retirement application under CSRS or FERS, where the Federal or Postal employee may be subject to undergoing the process of the initial stage of the application, then potentially the Request for Reconsideration stage; if denied at the Request for Reconsideration Stage, then the process involves an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board; then, if denied at the MSPB, a Petition for Full Review, and an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Because the entire process may involve multiple forums, the extent of support requested from the outset should be understood to potentially involve such extensive time frames and stages.
Filing for FERS Disability Retirement benefits must be understood as potentially involving the entirety of the process, and not just a single-event occurrence.
Now, as to whether to inform the treating doctor at the outset the details of such potential support needed, is another matter. Such a full disclosure may, if presented wrongly, indicate such a daunting process that no one in his right mind would want to undergo such a process. Most doctors, however, already have an inkling of what an administrative process might involve, through contact with Social Security, which is the benefit most medical doctors have been involved with. In any event, it is important to secure the support of the treating doctor and to have the comfort of knowing that he or she will continue such support through the entirety of the process, and not abandon you halfway through it.
That is why the mindset of understanding that preparing, formulating and filing a Federal Disability Retirement application under FERS or CSRS is important to obtain from the outset, that it is a process, and not an entitlement.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
Filed under: Pre-Application Considerations | Tagged: anticipation of a potentially long fers disability process, attorney representing federal workers for disability throughout the united states, considerations before and after the disability application, considering future issues from the beginning, CSRS disability retirement federal attorney, disability retirement at the USPS, doctor supporting disability fers, ensuring a supportive physician even after opm application, factors to consider before filing for opm disability, federal disability retirement application and process, fers disability claims process, FERS disability retirement, making a pragmatic consideration on disability issues, OPM disability retirement, opm disability retirement and pre-application considerations, owcp disability retirement, representing federal employees from any us government agency, support to a physician's medical narrative, the administrative process to get medical disability, the approval/disapproval process, the disabled federal worker's supportive physician, thinking process, time/process issues in OPM disability retirement, understanding the decision-making process, USPS disability retirement |
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