FERS Disability Retirement Calculator
Estimate your OPM disability annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System. Enter your high-3 average salary, years of service, and disability status to see your monthly and annual benefit.
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Estimates use OPM FERS disability computation rules. Actual benefit determined by OPM. Consult your HR office for official figures.
What Is FERS Disability Retirement?
FERS disability retirement is a benefit for federal employees who become unable to perform their job duties due to a medical condition. Unlike regular FERS retirement, disability retirement is available at any age with as little as 18 months of creditable service (or even under 18 months in certain cases). The OPM disability retirement guidelines detail how the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) calculates your annuity using one of two formulas — 40% of your high-3 average salary, or your earned FERS annuity — whichever is higher.
How to Use This Calculator
FERS Disability Retirement FAQs
Who qualifies for FERS disability retirement?
Federal employees covered by FERS who have completed at least 18 months of creditable civilian service and are unable to perform useful and efficient service in their current position due to a medical condition. The condition must be expected to last at least one year. You must also apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as a condition of receiving FERS disability retirement.
What is the 40% rule for FERS disability?
OPM guarantees a minimum annuity of 40% of your high-3 average salary for the first year of FERS disability retirement, regardless of your years of service. After the first year, OPM recalculates your annuity as 40% of your high-3 minus 60% of any concurrent SSDI benefit, or as your earned regular FERS annuity — whichever is greater.
How does SSDI affect my FERS disability annuity?
In the first year of FERS disability retirement, OPM deducts 100% of your monthly SSDI benefit (annualized) from your gross FERS annuity. Starting in year two, the offset drops to 60% of SSDI. This offset continues until you reach age 62, at which point OPM recalculates your annuity using the standard FERS retirement formula based on your actual years of service.
What happens to my FERS disability annuity at age 62?
When you turn 62, OPM converts your FERS disability annuity to a regular FERS retirement annuity. The new amount is calculated as: 1% × years of creditable service × high-3 salary (or 1.1% if you had 20+ years of service). This often results in a different benefit amount than your pre-62 disability annuity.
Does FERS disability retirement affect my TSP?
FERS disability retirement does not affect your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) balance directly. Your TSP account remains yours and you can begin withdrawals based on normal TSP rules. However, early withdrawals before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty unless you qualify for a disability exception. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.
How long does it take OPM to approve FERS disability retirement?
OPM typically takes 3 to 9 months to process a FERS disability retirement application, though complex cases may take longer. During processing, you may receive interim disability retirement payments — usually 80% of the estimated annuity. The interim payments are reconciled once OPM issues a final adjudication.