National Reassessment Program

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       Postal Workers call me daily inquiring about the viability of filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS. Often, it is in response to the U.S. Postal Service’s initiation of actions resulting from the NRP. The “National Reassessment Program” (which is neither a “program” designed with any rational basis, nor a “reassessment” of anything but an attempt to shed all workers from the rolls of the U.S. Postal Service who are not fully productive and capable; but, alas, at least the term “National” does seem true) is designed to, in a heartlessly methodical manner, do the following:

A. Inform the targeted Postal Worker of the unavailability of work.

B. Force the Postal Worker to begin receiving benefits from FECA (OWCP) .

C. Begin a process of “vocational rehabilitation” – a euphemism for trying to locate a private sector job – any job – that you might qualify for.

D. Get you off of OWCP rolls once you are determined to be “suited” to the private sector job.

      The above applies on the assumption that you have a FECA (OWCP) accepted claim. If you do not have an OWCP-accepted claim, then only “A” above applies to you, and you will essentially be sent home without the “benefit” of “B – D”.

       All sectors – Federal and State Government, and private sector jobs – “downsize” during economically challenging times. In this economy, where job growth is stagnant and budgets are being squeezed more and more each fiscal year, the U.S. Postal Service is attempting to shed its payrolls of all workers who are not “fully productive”. With the latest numbers showing that the first quarter of 2010 left the U.S. Postal Service with a revenue decline of 3.9% resulting in a net loss of $297 million, the onerous steps as envisioned under the National Reassessment Program will only accelerate.

      The NRP is a “controlling” mechanism. The methodology of the program is to make the Postal Worker financially dependent upon OWCP payments and once dependent, to dictate the terms of the “vocational rehabilitation” such that you have no choice in the matter. In comparison to Federal Disability Retirement benefits, it certainly pays more (with a dependent, 75% tax free; without a dependent, 66 2/3% tax free, as opposed to Federal Disability Retirement benefits which pays 60% of the average of one’s highest three consecutive years the first year, then 40% every year thereafter under FERS, all of which is taxable). But the freedom which one gives up by submitting to the NRP Program is precisely what is intolerable.

       Many Postal Workers turn to Federal Disability Retirement benefits in lieu of FECA – or, at the very least, file for and obtain an approval for Federal Disability Retirement benefits as a “back-up” system to FECA. In comparison to the “benefits” under FECA (OWCP), Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS (and, similarly, under CSRS, although the percentage of benefits under CSRS remains static) provides the following:

A. It is a retirement system – so that one is actually separated from Federal Service, and further, except for the potential of a Medical Questionnaire every two years (if you are randomly selected), the disability annuitant is not under constant scrutiny

B. An individual Federal Disability Retirement annuitant is allowed to become employed in the private sector and make up to 80% of what one’s former Federal or Postal position currently pays, in addition to the disability annuity

C. An individual under Federal Disability Retirement is not dependent upon the often arbitrary and capricious decision-making process of OWCP. It allows one to decide and determine the future course of one’s life.

       Ultimately, the National Reassessment Program will impact you, the injured Postal Worker, whether today, next week, or a year from now. If self-determination is an important element of your life, then it is wise to take steps today, and to affirmatively make choices soon, before you attempt to go to work one day and are sent home with a letter stating, “There is no work available for you”. Or, you may not even receive the courtesy of a letter.

       The Postal Worker is probably unaware of one additional fact: all these years while the Postal Worker has been in a “Modified” light-duty position, while the U.S. Postal Service “accommodated” the worker by allowing for temporary positions at less than full duty requirements – all these years, that Postal Worker was eligible and entitled to Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS. You may simply have not known this, but being allowed to work in a “light duty” status, or in a “Modified Position”, was never a legally-sufficient accommodation under the law. (See Bracey v. Office of Personnel Management, 236 F.3d 1356 , Fed. Cir. 2001, as well as my related articles on the subject¹). During these years, the system worked in a crippled way — injured workers were allowed to continue to work, and the economy allowed the U.S. Postal Service to trudge along – albeit at a yearly loss.

       Today, however, choices must be made. The National Reassessment Program is here in your neighborhood, and it is no longer allowing for the old system to continue unabated. If you are contemplating filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS or CSRS, now is the right time. To wait is to delay the inevitable; to ignore the inevitable is to allow the circumstances to dictate your future.

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¹ The Bracey Decision and other resources published by attorney Robert R. McGill:

a) Brief legal analysis of non-statutory laws: The Bracey Decision.

b) Blogs that mention Bracey v. Office of Personnel Management:

c) Some articles that also mention Bracey v. Office of Personnel Management:

d) Miscellaneous posts:


17 thoughts on “National Reassessment Program”

  1. I have been given a jo offer of 45 MINUTES A WEEk. Of course it is at the outer part of the 50 mile limit. A little late, but I am applying for Disability Retirement. Do you know of any others like this? They appear to be giving me 45 minutes to avoid the OWCP retraining and placement. The injury I have will make it difficult to place me. I do have an LWEC for 20 hrs per week (4hrs per day). Rediculous but SNAFU.

  2. I have an approved OWCP claim, I have had back surgery. I have been advised that there is not suitable work for my restrictions. My doctor says that my restrictions are permanent. I have been off work for almost a year now. I got a letter saying that my medical benefits were being changed, unless I had changes in my restrictiond that would be re-evaluated to see if work was available. My question is, do I qualilify for medical disability at this point? I have gotten a letter stating that I am now being considered for Phase 2 of the NRP. Do I have to wait to see what work they can rehabilitate me for? What are the steps to applying for disability, and what are the pay differences? My docotr does not say that I cannot work. Only very limitedly and with several breaks to keep my pain managable, I would have to wear a back brace daily. I am aware that I am yet another possible number to be taken off the payroll. I really just need to know what I need to do next. Thank you

  3. My doctor has stated and is writing my medical disability papers as we speak. However, I am required to attend a Vocational Reassement class 3/31/11 receiving a letter that states I am to treat this day as a regular work day. Does this have a significan meaning in regards to receiving continued owcp compensation?

  4. Have been in the NRP program for quite a while. Have not filed for compensation from the Dept. of Labor as I should have for no good reasons. Now because of things getting tighter will file to be compensated for the 2.5 hrs that I don’t work per day . At this point it might make sense for me to consider disability retirement. I need to get some good concrete advise on what to do. Would appreciate any help you can provide. PS Have almost 35 yrs service.

  5. Can you please call me or email me I would like to discuss some concerns regarding eligibility and consideration for government employment transfer. Thanks Sheri

  6. I filed an appeal with the MSPB had a conference call with the judge and the attorney for the Postal Service alone with my rep. The conference called was held in May 2011. The Judge gave us 30 days to reach a decision by June. I’m still waiting on a decision from the MSPB Judge. Do you know how long can a decision take? The Judge claimed that my argument made some valid points. I asked that I be given a total disability retirement paying the same amount that I’m receiving from OWCP which is 75% of my pay. Today, I received a letter from OWCP telling me that they are reducing my pay in half base on the Vocational counselor job finding that goes totally against my medical restriction. Now, I’m given 30 days to submit an argument to OWCP concern the reduction in pay. You stated that now is the time to file for disability retirement. I’m still here waiting on the MSPB and the Union and as of this day I haven’t heard from neither. I was told by a friend that they drop the NRP because it was unconstitutional. Do you know anything about it?

  7. I was forced to retire in June of 2009, I had no intentions on retiring, I want to know were are you with the law suit and am I still considered in that law suit.

  8. In response to Florenda’s comment, when you file for disablilty retirement, you are given the “CHOICE” to remain on OWCP or to take your retirement from FERS or CSRS. They CANNOT drop your pay according to the rehab counselor recommendations!!!! I have been on Disability Retirement for a year now,and I am still receiving my 75% from OWCP!!! Call and ask the Human Resource Dept for an estimate of your retirement and a packet for disability retirement. Also have ALL of your doctors information and paperwork supporting your disability.

  9. I have been diabled letter carrier for 7 years now. Year and a half ago NRP said there was no work for me as a letter carrier. Have been place on afternoons in custodial craft. Can I still apply for diability retirement even though I have been in a “detailed assignment” as a custodian (which is a permenant position but not in my craft position of letter carrier?

  10. To Norman; What you are saying that you are getting disability retirement and OWCP is completely wrong and illegal. If you are getting postal disability and OWCP, this means you are trying to cheat the system or have been given wrong advice. You cannot collect both. When OWCP finds out about this, and they will, you will have to pay back all of this money. You should know better than try to double dip. you can’t collect both, doesn’t work tht way. If your smart and I don’t think you are, you better stay on OWCP. You can do this as long as your doctor say no work of any kind. But change your postal disability papers to a inactive status. People that are hurt from the USPS and are on OWCP and the NRP, will eventually get removed. SO if you are on OWCP, then you have 1 year to get the paperwork filled out and handed in, that is the Postal Disability papers. Fill this out and submit this even though you intent on remaining on OWCP. If your status changes and you get taken off the rolls from the Post Office and then get taken off OWCP, you will then get Postal Disability. But even though your not taking Postal Dis., if you do not fill this out within a year of being removed from the USPS job, you will never be able to get it down the line. So request this disability packet from Human Resources and fill it out and then once approved, ask that the papers be put in a suspended or inactive status. God I hope nobody has to go though this, but at least you will get some money down the line, about half of what workers comp would be paying and then your taxed on this and then your health premiums will go through the roof. Why anyone gets off of OWCP is really ignorant. You will be in the poor house or homeless. Very few people have family they can live with or enough money in the bank to keep up the same living standards. Good Luck, Jack D.Ripper

  11. I am NOT receiving both OWCP and my annuity. I am only getting OWCP periodic roll payments.

  12. NORM ! good to hear this and good luck to also and hoping we get some type of a payout form our injustices that the people brought to us by being injured on the job. If you haven’t heard,last year the USPS put the first payment of 400 million into a separate account to pay for the settlements to us and probably the loin share for the law firm that is doing the work. As I said, this is supposedly the first payment with 1 or 2 more to be deposited. I guess upper management was told by their USPS legal team that they will not lose this and will have to pay maybe up to a billion in settlements. Will see what happens later this year or next. Should be getting some type of money within 2 years, my guess that is. When I get the chance to approve or not accept the courts decision, I will vote it down. This because their is allot of people that didn’t suffer as much as others over this, and if I have my way, (by voting the settlement down for a new one) only the injured, and very badly abuse will get the bigger payouts, not the ones that were hurt and went back to work in a month, or even 6 months and didn’t receive any abuse, or sharing our medical files with everyone, etc, etc. I deserve a million for what I went through and maybe more for what was said to me, and the work load I was given while the other 2 employees (african) were allowed free reign during they’re 8 hours, and they were faking. I had 4 surgeries and these 2 clowns had not one, which in itself doesn’t mean they are faking, but if you saw what they did when they thought nobody was looking, and then they are going to get the same payout as me. Norman , you did say in your post that you are getting both dis. retirement and OWCP. Just replying to your own words, but glad you saw the light.

  14. I was injured on the job on 2/16/2012 when I was sitting at a mailbox and was hit. I was denied OWCP, then I appealed denied, and reconsidered again and then denied again. I had to have a metal plate in my neck left knee surgery. I ooked for a lawyer to go up against OWCP and the P.O. and I haven’t found one yet. I had to get $150,000 out of my own retirement to have knee surgery and neck surgery. They stated I didn’t filed in a timely matter. If 3/4/2012 isn’t a timely matter what is it then? Help.

  15. I’m a DBCS clerk that injured my back on the job on 10/27/2015. My conditions were accepted by OWCP and had back surgery on 2/23/2016. OWCP has paid all pre-op visits and post -op visits, x-rays, therapy, braces, but will not pay for the surgery or operation cost because they said it was not preapproved. To this day, 5 months after my surgery, I have not received any monetary compensation from all CA-7 submissions. I am back to work on light duty, 8 hrs a day with restrictions casing mail.
    I had a second opinion evaluation by DOL, that Dr. asked me if I wanted disability or not, I said No. Do you think I will be effected by NRP? Should I seek a lawyer about the OWCP monetary compensation?

  16. I was IOD on 3/24/2016 boss came to me on 5/5/2016 and apologized said he “misplaced my paper work” and that I had to fill out a new one. Luckily I had saved to my home PC and sent it to him in an email but he still took a few days to sent it to district OWCP office. with no witness statement because he lost that to, which I didn’t have saved. They have paid for PT but are now saying that I have to appeal because they don’t believe that I was IOD. What should I do now? Doctor says I will not be back to normal lift ever.

  17. Similar situation, with all of my OWCP pay being delayed for missing i’s or uncrossed t’s and management who were sweet as sugar and grateful for my 20 years of 60 hour/six day weeks before my injury on the job now scheming daily to frustrate me on limited duty assignment, despite my genuine pain riddled efforts. Fortunately, I have recorded all phone conversations with all parties and triple copied everything from day one (love phone apps), making sure to send all paperwork with a tracking number, while keeping a congressional aid that got the ball rolling for me updated on a weekly basis. Remember kids MRI’s don’t lie, your bodies don’t lie, their doctors get paid to and need to be reported to the proper medical boards when the patterns are there between claims adjusters, inspectors and these ‘doctors’. As federal employee’s you are NOT allowed to sue for pain and suffering but ARE allowed to be made whole after an on the job injury. They must accommodate you if you are at least able to do some part of your former job or be responsible for your salary the rest of your life, whether you leave the fed job or not. If they get you a job as a telemarketer at SEARS making X amount whatever difference in pay between that job and your old one is OWCP’s responsibility. That is why OWCP is your best friend in making damn sure your employer doesn’t b.s around limited duty assignments. I cant imagine any individual wanting to simply give in their means of providing for their family and paying that mortgage off up to a ‘fake injury,’ but that is what the agency claims adjusters job is to prove. Always run your CA17’s by the DOL, not just your claims adjuster making sure that the doctor is very specific in order to avoid those self phd’d supervisors telling you what you are and are not able to do, there has to be accountability if you are going to see justice in this system designed to frustrate you into submission and left up to CA’s with literal quotas to meet. You can also keep a video journal and after two years you ARE legally able to share your USPS misadventures with the world, God knows mine are gold. Don’t be bullied out of your job by some ‘here today gone tomorrow’ member of management, get to know your congress and senate representatives and explain the National Reassessment debacle to them and how you face being another statistic of this fed agency that thinks its untouchable in its violations of the ADA. I don’t have to tell you that just sitting there reading about all this while numerous individuals at your agency push the companies agenda forward is only going to result in your being up creek without a paddle. If you are genuinely injured and unable to perform your former job at all and are done with this fight, well start planning accordingly and file for Federal Disablity Retirement if you can live off of 40% of your salary and are willing to get back out there looking for a job with better benefits sick leave, vacation, medical, union than this one. I for one am not going down without a fight for much, much more than just 40% of my salary for the next decade, which is more like 25% after medical and taxes are taken out.

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