We all know, or have heard of, Such people — people who “name drop” the names of other people, or make reference to others as a way of showing (A) by naming someone else, their own status is somehow elevated by mere association, (B) by making reference to someone else, it makes them look intelligent, sophisticated, important, etc., or (C) by dropping a name, some relevant implication is to be discerned.
In a Federal Disability Retirement case, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management consistently engages in choice C above. They will state, in various forms: “You filed for Social Security disability benefits and, as of this writing, you were denied by Social Security.”
Yes, well…everyone who is filing for OPM Disability Retirement benefits is required by statutory law to file for SSDI and, since almost everyone filing for FERS Disability Retirement is still employed by the Federal government or the U.S. Postal Service, an automatic denial is almost guaranteed. Thus, to be denied by Social Security should have no relevance. However, by name dropping “Social Security”, OPM wants you to walk away with the following implication: You were denied by the Social Security Administration; therefore, you are not disabled.
Contact an Federal Disability Attorney who specializes in Federal Disability Retirement Law and consider the relevance of any name dropping in preparing, formulating and filing an effective Federal Disability Retirement application with OPM.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Lawyer
OPM Disability Retirement, Et Cetera… 