The Firm assists federal sector employees who have questions, concerns, or have the need to take further action with respect to their federal retirement plans, typically through their federal agency, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or in appeals before various courts.

While federal employees can have very unique retirement issues with which they need legal advice and/or representation, we often handle a number of OPM Disability Retirement matters, Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act (FERCCA), and legal advice on issues related federal retirement (CSRS/FERS) benefits.

OPM Disability Retirement

The Firm represents and advises federal employees throughout the federal employee disability retirement process. Often times we are called upon to advise a federal employee on his or her eligibility for federal disability retirement benefits.

The disability retirement process can be initiated while employed by your federal agency or for a limited time (usually 1 year) after your separation from your federal government position. The Firm represents individuals in the preparation of their disability retirement packages with their individual federal agencies or for submission to OPM (depending on the federal employee’s employment status). Often times it is important to work with a client’s physician(s) to best facilitate the process.

Following submission of the disability retirement package, we represent federal employees in appeals before OPM, the MSPB and the federal courts. The key to a successful disability retirement application is to appropriately document the significant medical issues that have created the necessity for disability retirement.

FERCCA Retirement Errors

The Firm represents individuals who have been placed in the wrong retirement system or have faced other types of federal retirement errors under FERCCA. The FERCCA legislation was designed to provide a remedy to federal employees who were placed in the wrong federal retirement system, for at least 3 years of service, after December 31, 1986.

FERCCA has provided federal employees and annuitants placed in the wrong federal retirement system with the opportunity to choose between the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the offset provisions contained within the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). FERCCA can also provide (1) reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses paid as a result of a coverage error (attorney fees, costs, etc); (2) an ability to benefit from certain changes in the rules about how some federal service is credited towards retirement; and (3) make-up contributions to their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and receipt of lost earnings on those contributions.

The Firm represents clients in FERCCA related matters before their federal agencies, OPM, the MSPB and in the federal courts in an attempt to resolve these retirement errors that arise.

CSRS/FERS Retirement Issues

Federal sector retirement issues are wide-ranging, and vary between the distinct types of federal retirement plans that exist. The Firm provides legal advice and representation on all sorts of legal issues associated with the CSRS/FERS retirement process, including, but certainly not limited to:

• Federal Employee Spousal/Beneficiary Benefits Issues (Survivors Benefits)
• Federal Retirement General Benefit Issues
• General FERS/CSRS Legal Advice

Given the different issues and complexity of federal employee retirement plans, we recommend that federal employees obtain legal advice prior to planning and initiating the retirement process.