Last Updated on April 6, 2010 by FERS Disability Attorney
It is one thing to provide an explanation of the process of filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS to the treating doctor; that is simply not enough. Providing an explanation “disarms” the health professional. While such explanation and helping the doctor to understand the process is certainly helpful, ultimately the treating doctor needs more than information; he or she needs guidance in order to “arm” one’s self with the tools necessary to help the patient.
Fortunately, most doctors are professional, compassionate, and eager to help. Writing medical reports are an administrative aspect of the practice of medicine which is not only a headache, but takes the doctor away from the valuable and limited time for actually treating the patient. It is therefore important for the Federal or Postal employee who is applying for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS to “arm” the doctor with the necessary tools needed in order to successfully prepare, formulate and construct a sufficient and effective narrative report in order to “pass muster” with the Office of Personnel Management. The first and primary rule in helping to prepare the doctor is to always protect and maintain the integrity of the doctor. Truth in every endeavor, and especially in filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS, should be the ultimate guiding light. How that truth is stated, however, is where the guidance, tooling and “arming” comes into play.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire