Medical Benefits for U.S. Fed. Government Employees and Postal Workers: Back Pay

Last Updated on March 19, 2021

In preparing, formulating and filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS, it is important to focus upon the first of the three — preparing.  Preparation often involves thought, reflection, and contemplation.  Formulation requires action; and filing and the time thereafter requires patience.

In preparing, one must address the issue of how best to survive the lengthy process — does one have sufficient accrued sick leave?  Can one survive without pay and take LWOP during the (potentially) 8 – 10 month process?  Will one be allowed to continue to work, even in a light-duty capacity?  If the latter, then it should be kept in mind that when a Federal Disability Retirement application is approved, such an approval will provide for back pay all the way back to the last time a Federal or Postal employee was paid by the agency — whether it is a dollar, a hundred dollars, or a full paycheck.

Thus, while acceptance and receipt of donated leave is often desirable, the time of having taken LWOP for any period of time will be negated with the last day of pay.  For example, if a Federal or Postal employee takes several months of LWOP, then accepts a pittance of donated leave, that time of LWOP is lost — for, again, back pay is paid only to the “last day of pay”.  Considerations to be reflected upon when preparing to formulate and file for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS.

Sincerely,

Robert R. McGill, Esquire

 

4 thoughts on “Medical Benefits for U.S. Fed. Government Employees and Postal Workers: Back Pay”

  1. Hi sir I need your assistance with my disability. I have been let go from the VA wrongfully and I have been on the OPM list for one year know and the HR dept really doesn’t care. I am a veteran 18 years of service for what? Please help.

  2. I have been accepted by OPM for Fers disability retirement, they have me down as October 5th, 2019, being my “commencement” date. However, they are stating that I will not receive back pay, all the way to Dec. 13, of 2018, with OWCP making the payments. I have been on OWCP since 2014, with Dec. 2018 as my last time of payment. I have not worked, and have been in LWOP status since then, actually that is what prompted to just file for disability. Any thoughts of why I wouldn’t receive back pay. Thank you.

  3. I was told that because I was on disability and fers OPM’s disability do stroke on the job at Syracuse NY veterans affairs hospital and had two grandchildren who were disabled and I was on fixed income that I should of been receiving disability benefits for both of them for the time I had custody of them is their way to find out if I was and am owed money back benefits for my grandchildren and how can I go about getting my son paid by someone as a caregiver by golly he is definitely taking good care of his old man and never complains about his old man being a burden but feel because he is a single father of his two children with no financial support and emotional nor physical from their so called mother who sees them maybe ones a year and he can’t get job because he takes care of me and them all by himself and I don’t want anyone but him would help or point in the right direction we already tried through socialism services and they wanted help themselves and try to make me lie about income just to get Medicaid

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