After what? After the vacation has ended; after the Holidays have dissipated; after the family has dispersed; after…. Or: After the crisis has passed; after an uplifting move has been watched; after the dog has jumped upon the bed and snuggled beside you; after…. After a period of elation has ended, there comes the “after”, just as after the period of anxious moments has ceased, there is the “after” as well.
It is the after that must always be contended with, and the period where distraction of the “event” itself continues to maintain our focus, it is the “after” that is often the more difficult period.
After a person has come to accept a medical condition and its aftereffects, the question for the Federal or Postal employee is often whether or not the medical condition itself remains compatible with continuation in one’s Federal or Postal job. After the diagnosis; after the various treatment regimens; after the physical therapy; after the surgery — Can one continue to perform all of the essential elements of one’s Federal or Postal job?
If the question remains unanswered, you may want to consult with a FERS Attorney who specializes in Federal Disability Retirement Law, and not allow the unanswered query lead to a termination from the Federal Government, after which — while you may still file for Federal Disability Retirement benefits within 1 year after the date of termination — the law may present some unique legal barriers which will have to be looked after.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
OPM Disability Retirement, Et Cetera… 