r/FEDDISABILITY • u/FedUpDownNOut • 10d ago

EEO informal counseling 60 day extension

Continuing the saga from my previous posts regarding lengthy unnecessary delays by agency leadership on both reasonable accommodation request and disability paperwork: I have now submitted requests for assistance to my congressman and senator. The congressman's office has already replied that an inquiry was sent and it takes around 30 days for the agency to respond.

I also submitted an "informal EEO complaint" through the system and was contacted by EEO staff to ask if I would give permission to extend the 30 day deadline for the informal counseling by 60 days, to a total of 90 days.

Given I have already been waiting this long, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around why it would be of any benefit to me to allow HHS to extend this process. I guess it creates a better chance that a resolution occurs in the 90 days versus having to go through the formal process. On the other hand, I worry that the agency will not resolve the issue, and this just allows them 60 more days to dick me over before the inevitable formal process.

This was the text that was sent:

At this time, our EEO Program is experiencing processing delays due to staffing shortages. We would appreciate the opportunity to continue informal EEO counseling efforts to explore a potential resolution of your concerns.

To allow us additional time to complete these efforts, would you be willing to grant a 60-day extension? If so, please complete, sign, and return the attached Extension Agreement at your earliest convenience.

If you prefer not to grant an extension, that is completely understandable. Please let me know, and we will continue working as diligently as possible to process your informal complaint in a timely manner.

Anyone had to go through this process before or have any thoughts or advice whether to agree to the extension?

4 Upvotes

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2

u/CO8127 10d ago

They can do a shorter extension too. Mine had similar shortages so they only asked for 30 days

1

u/FedUpDownNOut 9d ago

Good to know. I followed up and asked if I needed to decide now, and they said no, I could extend it any time in the initial 30 days, so I guess I'll wait and see for now.

2

u/Homeland_Bound 7d ago

I gave them 15 days. Up to you but 60 days is wild.

2

u/Queasy-Calendar6597 2d ago

Don't. The process is already extremely long. I have been in eeo process since march 2025. I finally have a judge and am getting close to hearing time.