If you become disabled during the course of your federal career, you may be entitled to a disability annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).

You must meet these requirements for CSRS disability retirement:

• You must have completed at least 5 years of federal civilian service.
• While employed in a position covered under the CSRS, you must have become disabled for "useful and efficient service" in both your current position and any other vacant position at the same grade or pay level for which you are qualified.

In addition:

• Your employing agency must determine that you are not qualified for reassignment to any other vacant position within your agency and your commuting area at the same grade or pay level of the position you currently occupy.
• You or someone acting for you must file an application for disability retirement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) either before you leave federal service or within 1 year after you leave. This time limit can be waived only when an employee is mentally incompetent on leaving the federal service or becomes mentally incompetent within 1 year after leaving. In such a situation, the application will be accepted by OPM if filed within 1 year from the date the employee is restored to competency or a guardian is appointed, whichever is earlier.

Important definitions and considerations:

You are "disabled" when the information submitted indicates that there is a service deficiency, caused by disease or injury, of sufficient degree to preclude useful and efficient service.

"Useful and efficient service" means:

• either acceptable performance of the critical or essential elements of the position or the ability to perform at that level; and
• satisfactory conduct and attendance.

Service which is not "useful and efficient" is a level of performance or attendance which, if it were to continue, would warrant denial of a within-grade increase, demotion, separation, or other remedial action.

If you refuse reassignment to a position at the same grade or pay level in the same commuting area, your refusal terminates the agency's obligation to identify any other vacant position and may disqualify you from further consideration for disability retirement.

A claim for disability retirement must include documentation that clearly and specifically establishes:

1. A deficiency in service with respect to performance, conduct, or attendance, or in the absence of any actual service deficiency, a showing that the medical condition is incompatible with either useful service or retention in the position;
2. A medical condition defined as disease or injury, including psychiatric disease;
3. That the medical condition caused the service deficiency;
4. The duration of the medical condition, both past and expected, and a showing that the condition, in all probability, will continue for at least a year;
5. The inability to provide useful and efficient service arose while serving under the Civil Service Retirement System;
6. The inability of the employing agency to make reasonable accommodation to the medical condition; and
7. The absence of another position, within the employing agency and commuting area, at the same grade or pay level and tenure, for which the employee is qualified for reassignment.

Your agency will provide assistance in obtaining the required forms to obtain statements from your supervisors and attending physicians and proof that your condition prevents you from performing useful and efficient service.

If you are found to be disabled as outlined above, you will be allowed to retire under  CSRS.  Up to the age of 60, you will be subject to periodic medical reevaluation to determine whether the disabling condition continues to exist, and an annual review of your earnings to determine whether you are "restored to earning capacity".

Source:  OPM RI 83-4