Q: I am a federal employee covered under FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System). My agency regularly offers VERAs (Voluntary Early Retirement Authority). I am having difficulties finding accurate information pertaining to FERS VERA and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). I have numerous disabilities resulting from my military service. Can I do a FERS VERA with 25 years of service at age 45 and claim SSDI?
I am trying to avoid FERS Disability Retirement and SSDI offset.
A: The issue is that VERA and SSDI are not related.
Some may jump to Federal Disability and SSDI. There is no single judge. You have two different courts.
Consider this strategy:
- Do the VERA. Time is an important factor!
- Then do the SSDI.
If you do SSDI first, then Social Security may make you do a FERS disability retirement.
