The following is a question submitted by a Federal Times readers about retirement and other issues facing the federal workforce. It is answered by Reg Jones, a charter member of the senior executive service and a Federal Times columnist.

“I am on FERS Disability via OPM. and recently turned 62. When will the process of conversion start for my movement from disability to regular retirement? Will this process start now? Will I receive a letter and new retirement booklet?

Reg’s Response

Your disability annuity will be converted to a regular annuity in an amount that represents what you would have received if you had continued working until the day before your 62nd birthday and then retired under FERS non-disability provisions. The total service used in the computation of your annuity will be a combination of your actual service and the time you spent on the disability roll. Your high-3 when you retired on disability will be increased by all FERS cost-of-living increases that were effective during the time you were receiving disability benefits.

If you became eligible for a regular FERS annuity in September, for example, you would have been entitled to that first annuity payment on Oct. 1. OPM will provide you with all the necessary paperwork, including a full explanation of what as taken place.

Got a question for the Federal Times expert? Send inquiries to: fedexperts@federaltimes.com.

Reg Jones, a charter member of the senior executive service, is the resident expert on retirement and the federal government at Federal Times. From 1979 until 1995, he served as an assistant director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management handling recruiting and examining, white and blue collar pay, retirement, insurance and other issues. Opinions expressed are his own.

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