OPM Disability Retirement
A FERS benefit for employees who can no longer perform useful and efficient service in their position due to a medical condition.
OPM Disability Retirement is a benefit available to FERS employees who can no longer perform useful and efficient service in their current position due to a medical condition. It is not workers' compensation, it is not regular retirement, and it is not the same as SSDI — it is a specific OPM-administered benefit with its own rules, timelines, and consequences.
Understanding the eligibility requirements, the one-year filing deadline, and how your medical documentation connects to your specific job duties is what makes the difference between a rushed, incomplete application and one that is organized while you still have time.
The Systems Involved
FERS Disability Retirement
18+ months creditable service; condition expected to last 12+ months
SSDI Filing
You must apply for SSDI — approval is not required
FEHB Continuation
Health insurance continues if enrolled 5+ years before retirement
High-3 Annuity
60% of High-3 (minus SSDI) year one, then 40% (minus 60% SSDI)
How This Connects to Other Benefits
Federal benefits do not operate in isolation. The same facts can matter across multiple programs.
If your condition is work-related, you may preserve your right to disability retirement while receiving OWCP — but the one-year filing deadline runs from your separation from federal service, not from when OWCP ends. The two benefits are not simply added together; an offset may apply depending on your circumstances.
FMLA-protected leave gives you a window to gather medical documentation and request accommodation before any separation decision is made.
A documented reasonable accommodation history strengthens your application — OPM expects your agency to certify it cannot accommodate you.
Key Facts to Understand
File with OPM within one year of your separation from federal service. The deadline is tied to separation — not to your last day of actual work or your last day on payroll. Confirm current rules with official OPM guidance (opm.gov) and your agency HR.
Your agency must certify it cannot reasonably accommodate you in your current position or a vacant one.
At age 62 your annuity is recalculated with all years of service, the SSDI offset ends, and the 80% earnings cap is removed.
Konexo offers a Strategy consultation and three levels of paid OPM Disability Retirement application support based primarily on how much of the preparation and administrative process Konexo manages for the client. All services are administrative consulting and document-preparation services. Konexo is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, does not provide medical advice, cannot make medical determinations, cannot control third-party response times, and cannot guarantee an OPM or MSPB outcome.
Included at every level
Federal Benefits Review
A one-on-one educational consultation covering the federal benefit systems that connect to your OPM Disability Retirement decision — so you understand the full picture before choosing your next step.
FEHB / PSHB
Federal Employees Health Benefits and the Postal Service Health Benefits Program — how your health coverage interacts with retirement, disability retirement, and continuation options.
FEGLI
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance — understanding your coverage levels, continuation into retirement, and how it fits your protection picture.
TSP
Thrift Savings Plan — access rules, in-service withdrawal considerations, early-withdrawal implications, and how TSP connects to a disability retirement decision.
FERS
Federal Employees Retirement System — the three-part structure (basic annuity, TSP, Social Security), eligibility requirements, and how disability retirement differs from regular retirement.
Social Security
Social Security retirement and SSDI — how these programs interact with OPM Disability Retirement, the SSDI offset, and coordination considerations.
Related Federal Benefits
OWCP, FMLA, reasonable accommodation, and other federal benefit systems that may overlap with or precede a disability retirement decision.
Included whether you start with free education or choose hands-on OPM Disability Retirement support.
The Federal Benefits Review is educational and informational only. It does not require the purchase of any insurance, annuity, or financial product. Insurance, annuity, and financial products, where discussed, are offered through licensed persons or entities and are separately regulated services.
Start Here
Understand your situation before you choose.
Begin with free education or a personalized strategy consultation — no application preparation yet.
Learn Free
Understand the process.
No purchase required
Konexo Helps You
- Understand OPM DR basics & eligibility
- Learn key deadlines & process steps
- Understand the medical evidence / job-duty connection
- Identify general questions before choosing your next step
Learn Free provides general education. It must not become an individualized OPM DR case analysis.
Konexo Strategy™
Know where you stand. Know what comes next.
$295
Konexo Helps You
- Review your situation and timing at a high level
- Discuss OPM DR eligibility indicators based on what you share
- Connect medical limitations to job duties at a high level
- Identify apparent evidence or process gaps before you commit
- Create a personalized next-step action plan
Your Role
Provide accurate information and available background so Konexo can understand your situation.
What you receive
Personalized OPM DR Strategy Summary: Your Situation → Key Considerations → Apparent Gaps → Priority Actions → Next Steps.
Not included
Detailed medical-record review. · Application-document review. · SF 3112A editing or revision. · Applicant narrative drafting. · Full SF 3112 package review. · Physician letter preparation. · Application-readiness audit. · Evidence-package organization. · OPM response preparation. · Reconsideration preparation. · Case management. · Direct provider or agency coordination.
$295 credit toward Konexo Build™ or Konexo Complete™ within 30 days of your Strategy session. Not applicable toward Konexo Review™.
Federal Benefits Review included
Starts your guided readiness flow with this tier noted as your interest. No payment until scope is agreed.
Hands-On OPM DR Support
Add hands-on support when you need it.
Three levels of paid application preparation — the difference is how much of the process Konexo manages for you.
Konexo Review™
You lead. We audit.
$1,000
Konexo Helps You
- Review eligibility, timing & case structure
- Analyze your position & job duties
- Review your applicant statement & evidence
- Identify gaps & provide physician guidance
- Perform a final application-readiness review
Your Role
Manage records, communications, submission, deadlines & OPM follow-up.
$1,000 Pay in Full
Federal Benefits Review included
Starts your guided readiness flow with this tier noted as your interest. No payment until scope is agreed.
Konexo Build™
We build the application with you.
$2,000
Konexo Helps You
- Develop case strategy & applicant narrative
- Analyze job duties, limitations & evidence
- Prepare individualized physician guidance
- Organize evidence & prepare for submission
- Support OPM requests & reconsideration if needed
Your Role
Provide evidence, work with providers & complete required personal actions.
$2,000 Pay in Full
or $2,100 Konexo Payment Plan — 4 × $525
Federal Benefits Review included
Starts your guided readiness flow with this tier noted as your interest. No payment until scope is agreed.
Konexo Complete™
We manage the case for you.
$3,500
Konexo Helps You
- Manage case strategy & administrative workflow
- Prepare documents & track evidence needs
- Coordinate authorized third parties as appropriate
- Manage submission preparation & OPM follow-up
- Handle reconsideration & initial MSPB filing if needed
Your Role
Provide evidence, accurate information, required signatures & personal actions.
$3,500 Pay in Full
or $3,700 Konexo Payment Plan — 4 × $925
Federal Benefits Review included
Starts your guided readiness flow with this tier noted as your interest. No payment until scope is agreed.
The Konexo Approach
Understand the full picture before making the next decision.
We Educate
Explain the process and benefits in plain language.
We Connect
Put OPM Disability Retirement in context with the employee's broader federal benefits.
We Organize
Create structure when the selected service includes case preparation.
We Clarify Roles
Keep clear what Konexo handles, what requires client action, and what remains with agencies, providers, OPM, or other third parties.
The Konexo approach stays the same. What changes from Learn Free and Strategy to Review, Build, and Complete is the level of individualized OPM Disability Retirement support Konexo provides.
Konexo Consulting Group provides education, administrative consulting, document-preparation support and case organization. Konexo is not a law firm and does not provide legal or medical advice. No service guarantees approval, processing time, or outcome. OPM and, when applicable, MSPB determine case outcomes. The Federal Benefits Review is educational and does not require the purchase of financial or insurance products.
Full scope detail by tier
Expand any section to see exactly what each tier includes, what you remain responsible for, and what falls outside the scope.
Konexo Strategy™
· Know where you stand. Know what comes next.Konexo Review™
· You lead. We audit.Konexo Build™
· We build the application with you.Konexo Complete™
· We manage the case for you.Master Responsibility Matrix
The distinction among tiers is primarily who is responsible for managing each part of the process — not simply the number of documents produced.
| Responsibility | Review™ | Build™ | Complete™ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic case strategy | Konexo advises | Shared | Konexo manages |
| Gather medical records | Client | Client | Client provides/assists |
| Provide other evidence | Client | Client | Client |
| Analyze Position Description | Konexo | Konexo | Konexo |
| Applicant disability narrative | Client drafts / Konexo audits | Konexo + Client | Konexo manages |
| General physician guidance | Included | Included | Included |
| Customized physician materials | Limited/not standard | Included | Included |
| Deliver materials to physician | Client | Client | Konexo may coordinate |
| Routine physician communication | Client | Client | Konexo may manage |
| Medical-records follow-up | Client | Client | Konexo may coordinate |
| Agency HR communication | Client | Client | Konexo may coordinate |
| Supervisor communication | Client | Client | Konexo may coordinate when appropriate |
| Review SF 3112B/D information | Review within scope | Included | Included |
| Evidence organization | Client with guidance | Shared | Konexo manages |
| ORA guidance | Included | Included | Included/managed to permitted extent |
| Applicant-only ORA actions | Client | Client | Client |
| Submission readiness review | Included | Included | Included |
| Submission management | Client | Shared | Konexo manages within permitted process |
| OPM follow-up | Client | Shared/limited | Konexo manages |
| Requests for additional evidence | Guidance | Shared | Konexo manages response process |
| OPM reconsideration | Not included | Included | Included |
| Initial MSPB appeal filing | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Post-filing MSPB work | Not included | Not included | Separate engagement as applicable |
| Federal court litigation | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Legal advice | Not provided | Not provided | Not provided |
| Approval guarantee | Never | Never | Never |
Universal Scope Rules
These five rules apply to every tier.
Client Evidence Rule
Regardless of service level, the client remains responsible for providing Konexo with accurate information and the medical, employment, and other evidence necessary to perform the contracted work. A higher service level increases Konexo's involvement in managing the process; it does not transfer control over medical evidence or third parties to Konexo.
Third-Party Control Rule
Konexo cannot control the actions, response times, cooperation, documentation, or decisions of treating physicians, medical facilities, agency HR, supervisors, employing agencies, SSA, OPM, MSPB, unions, or other third parties. Third-party delay does not automatically expand the purchased service scope.
No Outcome Guarantee
Fees purchase professional services, preparation, administrative support, and the defined level of case management. Fees do not purchase or guarantee an approval. OPM and other government adjudicative bodies make their own determinations.
Scope-Control Rule
When a client requests work outside the purchased service level, Konexo will: (1) identify that the request falls outside the existing scope; (2) explain the included alternative, if one exists; (3) offer an appropriate service upgrade or separate engagement when available; and (4) obtain client authorization before performing separately billable work.
Service-Level Principle
The distinction among Konexo Review™, Konexo Build™, and Konexo Complete™ is not simply the number of documents produced. It is primarily who is responsible for managing each part of the process. Review™: Client manages; Konexo audits. Build™: Client and Konexo share execution. Complete™: Konexo manages the administrative case while the client supplies evidence, information, authorization, and required cooperation.
Your Next Step
Understand first. Decide second.
A short, free conversation — no pressure, no products, no obligation. Just a clear picture of where you stand and what your options are.
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