The FEDMER process is an agreement between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to share information on disability claims filed by Federal employees covered under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). Federal employees covered under FERS are required to file an application for Social Security disability insurance benefits (DIB) when they file for FERS disability.

Major objectives of FEDMER are to:

• •

  reduce or eliminate duplication in obtaining medical evidence;

• •

  coordinate the disability application process for applicants filing for FERS disability and Social Security disability benefits; and

• •

  reduce or eliminate FERS overpayments.

When a FERS employee files for FERS disability, the employee is responsible for obtaining the medical evidence of record (MER) needed to process the FERS disability claim.

The federal employee, covered under FERS, files for FERS disability and completes the FEDMER Social Security Disability Eligibility Statement.

This statement provides the FERS disability applicant with basic instructions for initiating the Social Security disability application process.

1. 1. 

   If the employee checks block #1 (receiving Social Security disability benefits) or block #2 (filed for Social Security disability benefits), the FEDMER process does not apply. The FERS employee only needs to sign the statement and present proof of filing with SSA to the agency personnel office.

2. 2. 

   If the employee checks block #3 (not filed for Social Security disability benefits, or filed and we denied the claim), the FEDMER process does apply and the FERS employee begins the Social Security disability claims process by:

   • •

     using the internet link shown on the FEDMER Eligibility Statement to complete the iClaim application and i3368 (Internet Adult Disability Report); or

   • •

     contacting the Social Security toll free 800 number or the local field office to request an appointment to file for Social Security disability benefits.

     IMPORTANT: The FERS employee must submit a copy of the FEDMER eligibility statement and a copy of the MER to SSA when filing the SSA disability application. The applicant will provide his or her agency personnel office with a copy of the receipt for the Social Security disability claim.

     Agency personnel offices must provide employees covered by the FEDMER process with a copy of the MER submitted with the FERS application.

   • •

     Social Security will send a copy of the disability determination notice to OPM.

The FO will:

1. 1. 

   Secure the disability applications;

2. 2. 

   Secure Form SSA-827s (Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration);

3. 3. 

   Complete all Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS) screens and required forms following current procedures in DI 11005.016;

4. 4. 

   Annotate the receipt of claimant supplied medical evidence on the SSA-3367-F5 (Disability Report – Field Office) and list each medical source provided in remarks;

5. 5. 

   Add the message “FEDMER Claim” via the Flags/Messages folder in EDCS. If the case is an EDCS exclusion, add the remark “FEDMER claim” to the paper Form SSA-831-C3/U3 (Disability Determination and Transmittal);

6. 6. 

   Import data from the i3368 (Internet Adult Disability Report);

7. 7. 

   Add the FEDMER Social Security Disability Eligibility Statement and applicant-submitted MER to the disability folder;

8. 8. 

   Provide the applicant with a receipt for the DIB claim;

9. 9. 

   Enter OPM as a third party in the “Check/Notice 1” (NOT1) screen in the Modernized Claim System (MCS), so that we can send a copy of the notice to OPM if we award disability benefits. Enter the name and address as follows:

   Attn: FEDMER
   U.S. Office of Personnel (OPM)
   Claims 1 Group, Room 4458
   1900 E St. NW
   Washington D.C. 20415
10. 10. 

    Complete a Form SSA-5002 (Report of Contact), requesting that the Disability Determination Services (DDS) send a copy of the disability determination notice to OPM.

When the FO completes these actions, the FO transfers the DIB claim to DDS for a disability determination.

NOTE: If insured status or substantial gainful activity (SGA) is an issue, normal processing rules apply. The FO must prepare a notice using the Document Processing System (DPS) and release it to OPM per DI 11010.345. OPM informs the FERS disability applicant to recontact SSA when his or her situation changes, so that SSA can process a disability claim.

FEDMER has no effect on an SSI claim. FERS disability benefits are not offset by any SSI payments. There is no need to send OPM a copy of any SSI notice.