how much to fight for social security disability

Of course one must file for SSDI (Social Security Disability benefits) when a Federal or Postal employee under FERS (the Federal Employees Retirement Systems, as opposed to CSRS, the Civil Service Retirement System) files for Federal Disability Retirement benefits. If approved by Social Security, there is a 100% offset of benefits in the first year, and a 60% offset of benefits every year thereafter until age 62.

The real underlying question for most people, is how aggressively one should, or one wants to, pursue Social Security benefits. This is often determined by what one plans to do after becoming a Federal Disability Retirement annuitant. For, if you plan to work part or full time, and think that you will be earning more than the yearly ceiling allowable under SSDI, which is around $12,000.00 per year, then it is probably not worthwhile to pursue it very aggressively. On the other hand, if you plan on relying exclusively on your disability annuity, it is probably a good idea to pursue it with the intent of obtaining it.

Sincerely,

Robert R. McGill, Esquire

Issues revolving around the initial application stage, during the application stage, and after the approval, are often of equal importance. This is because the approval of a Federal Disability Retirement application under FERS or CSRS will ensure the financial and economic survival and viability of the Federal or Postal employee. Thus, in the pre-approval stage of the process, it is often good to engage in some future planning: How hard will I fight for Social Security Disability? Will I be getting a part-time job to supplement my income? Where will I live? During the process of obtaining disability retirement, there is the long wait, and the ability to remain financially afloat while receiving little or no financial support. Post-approval, there are issues of the potential for receiving a Medical Questionnaire from the Office of Personnel Management. Whether the current doctor will continue to be supportive, or will I move and need to find another doctor? Because getting Federal disability retirement benefits is a life-long process, it is important to get sound legal advice from a competent attorney throughout the process — pre, during, and post process.

Sincerely,

Robert R. McGill, Esquire