Federal Employee Guide to FERS Disability Retirement and SSDI in 2026: Benefits, Calculations, Offsets, and Step-by-Step Application Process
⚕ Warrior Retirement · 2026 Complete Guide Federal Employee Guide to FERS Disability Retirement and SSDI in 2026 Two separate programs. Different rules, different standards, different calculations — but they interact in ways that can maximize or reduce your total income. This is the complete guide federal employees need before a crisis strikes. 18 mo Min. service to qualify 60% High-3 in Year 1 40% High-3 from Year 2 Age 62 Converts to regular FERS 65–75% OPM approval rate 📅 April 2026 ⏱ 20 min read 🛡 Warrior Retirement 📌 FERS · SSDI · FEHB · OPM · SF-3112 ⚡ Quick Answer FERS disability retirement requires 18 months of federal service and pays 60% of your High-3 in year one (minus 100% of SSDI), then 40% of High-3 from year two through age 62 (minus 60% of SSDI). At age 62, it converts to a regular FERS annuity calculated as if you worked until 62. You must also apply for SSDI — this i...