Checking on Status with OPM

A question for the attorney or anyone with experience with this - does calling OPM and checking on your status anger them?  Have you seen a correlation between phone caqlls and denials? 

It shouldn't, although in most cases they would have nothing to say to you, and can offer limited information.

Since OPM never answers their phones anyway, it really doesn't make any difference.  I have made hundreds of calls over the last 8 months and have actually gotten through to someone maybe 5% of the time.  I tried calling again last week and got a "busy" signal 12 times in a row over a two hour period, so I gave up.  In other words, they probably just leave the phones off the hook so they don't have to listen to them ring.  Not that I am bitter or anything, but the people at OPM need to be taught "Customer Service"!  I have never experienced anything like their lack of caring for disabled persons.  Even my Congressional Representative can't get anything out of OPM.

Call them and courteously asking them for a status does not "anger" them, but it seems to have little to no impact on the decision-making process.

Sincerely, Robert R. McGill, Esquire

JanAnd:

Since OPM never answers their phones anyway, it really doesn't make any difference.  I have made hundreds of calls over the last 8 months and have actually gotten through to someone maybe 5% of the time.  I tried calling again last week and got a "busy" signal 12 times in a row over a two hour period, so I gave up.  In other words, they probably just leave the phones off the hook so they don't have to listen to them ring.  Not that I am bitter or anything, but the people at OPM need to be taught "Customer Service"!  I have never experienced anything like their lack of caring for disabled persons.  Even my Congressional Representative can't get anything out of OPM.

I think I see a problem as I get through all the time except for Monday, and they tell you that in advance. You mention

"Start by calling OPM's 800 number  (888)606-1800"

This is NOT the OPM number as they don't have an 800 # available. They do have a 606-1800 if you are in the D.C. area code (202).  Why not try Retirement Services@ (888)-767-6738, open from 7A to 7P ET?

I call every about 3 times a week and I wasn't getting the responce I wanted.  I received my CSA number on August 24, 2010 and assigned to my case worker on October 1, 2010.  I did receive a call from my case worker today who ensured me she was working on my case as of today.  She explain that they're very overwhelmed and she was out sick and no one to pick up her case load.  I explain to her that I didn't want to come across as a pain however I haven't worked in over a year and had no money.  She was very understanding so i don't believe your calls are making them angree and besides you're the only one who can fight for you.  I am sure they're overwhelmed and not getting additional people to help with the work load.  I have the number to the disability section and 9 out of 10 times a person answers. its 202-606-0280.  I know its so frustrating and seems to be taking along time for a decision.  Call and ask to speak to your case workers Supervisior.

Scully_Foxx:

 Call and ask to speak to your case workers Supervisor.

May I suggest that you don't ask for your case workers supervisor. I did so, and that was the last time I ever spoke with my second case worker, post approval. She did mention she had been doing her job for many years, so that type of request is taken as an insult. Plus correct me if I'm wrong, it has been 90 days or so, you haven't  been approved, and are calling on a regular basis. What could you possibly need to talk to that unit about? 

IM Free you seem to be offended by my comment.  It has been 120 days since my case was assigned and I don't have a attorney fighting for me so I can only fight for myself.  Its crap that I have been given the run around and told a hundred different things when I did call OPM. Therefore I called my case workers supervisor and found out my case worker has been out of work for a month.  When I talked to her today she was not upset nor took offence.  I don't know when you got approved but I haven't recieved a paycheck for over a year and believe me if I could work I would be working right now.

No please, not offended at all. However my doctor was very offended when he read the initial OPM denial reasons, and yes I had an attorney. My doctor was very offended a matter of fact!  My fear is many people here read how easy it is to obtain your disability benefits and that simply is not so. My attorney calls this the "quiet period", and there is almost absolutely nothing that needs to be done at this time.  My process took 15 months from start to finish so I know what having little to no money is. I will tell you when I was approved, due to a hardship like yours, I was put on immediate interim payments, and spoke with the woman who was cutting me a $13,000 back pay check. However until you are approved, unless you have any additional information which you feel is necessary to submit, therefore holding up the decision that much longer, I would  be careful in what you say at this point. The OPM is known to use some outrageous statements of alleged fact during stage 1, and that is where a skilled attorney assists, along with so many other things they do. I hope things work out!

I never said it was easy to obtain disability benefits nor do I believe it is easy.  Also I didn't know that I should have to hire an attorney.  I might be naive to how OPM operates however I think if you're entitled benefits you should get them. I was merely giving my experience that I called and wasn't getting a response and finally got a hold my case workers supervisor who explain my case worker was out sick for a month.  Now I am not one to sit back and wait.  I am the only one that cares about me and if I want something done then I need to be the one that will get it done.  I wasn't getting anywhere when I asked to have my claim expedited for financial hardship after waiting 90 days from the time my case was assigned. If my application gets denied then I will deal with that and do what I need to get done to get it approved. I wish everyone filing for disability benefits the best and hope this forum helps.

You do not need to retain a lawyer. You need to have massive patience though. After approval it even can get worse. I didn't know we were assigned to a case worker until being approved. I thought it went to the examining delegation unit. If approved you are assigned a case worker, and your case is finalized. While you can still obtain an attorney if needed for stage 2, or for a telephonic hearing with an Administrative Judge at stage 3,  again this is the 'quiet period'. Even the lawyer does not get involved at this point unless there is a procedural problem.  You should get an answer from the OPM soon!

The 888 number I cited was what was provided to me within the paperwork I received when my OPM DR case was first approved in 2008. Upon calling that number I was given another (202) number to call, which was to a wrong case worker.  After numerous calls and transfers (about 8) I was finally given the number I call now.  This number is for my District and Service Group.   The number I currently call is (202)606-4289, however as I stated previously, this number is seldom answered directly and if a message is left, no one responds.

I think it is interesting that so many of the people handling the DR cases seem to take extended sick-leave.  I was given this same excuse for two different workers that were supposedly handling my case, only to finally be told that my files had been "lost".

The number you show for Retirement Services is in Boyers, PA and they do not handle Disability Retirement.  They will tell you to call the (202) number.  I find that calling any (202) number is a ridiculous situation, as the caller has to pay to make this call, and since those calling are disabled and trying to get money to live on, having to pay for the call, especially when it has to be done over and over and over, is an unnecessary hardship. 

 JanAnd

Maybe some day OPM will join the 20th century and allow us to check our status online.  Who knows what will happen if they ever take it a step further and join this century!