Disability Claims Procedure
If you are unable to perform the duties of your job due to an illness or injury and require time off, notify your supervisor immediately and follow Department policies and procedures. If your absence extends beyond 2 weeks, your timekeeper will notify the Retirement Plan Office of your continued absence.
To qualify for Disability Benefits, you must provide the Disability Section with a completed Disability Claim Form and a Doctor’s Certificate.
Disability payments cannot be made until the Retirement Plan Office has received all of your forms. To ensure that you receive your Disability Benefits without delay, you may want to complete the forms immediately prior to your sick leave. Staff will hold on to your forms until you are eligible for payment.
Doctor's Certificate
[Top]To qualify for Disability Benefits, you must be under the care of a regularly licensed physician or surgeon, or a licensed chiropractor, psychologist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or midwife, who is treating your Disability within the scope of his or her license.
Your treating physician must certify in writing, the cause of your illness or injury, and the length of time you are expected to be absent from work. The certificate will be reviewed by the Disability Section and the Department’s Medical Director, who will provide a recommendation to the Retirement Board to approve or deny your application for Disability Benefits.
In addition, you may be requested to report to the Department’s Medical Office or to another physician designated by the Retirement Board for a status examination at any time during your claim for Disability Benefits. Failure to submit to such examinations will result in the suspension of your Disability payments.
Permanent Total Disability
[Top]Permanent Total Disability (PTD) is available to you when you are injured off the job and have received at least 26 weeks of Temporary Disability (up to a maximum of 52 weeks).
To apply for PTD benefits, your treating physician must complete the Doctor’s Certificate specifically for Permanent Total Disability (4 pages). This form is available in the Retirement Plan Office and will be automatically mailed to you when you are nearing the completion of 26 weeks of Temporary Disability and you are still unable to return to work.
You may be required to submit to an examination by a physician of the Retirement Board’s choosing prior to the granting of PTD benefits.
You will also be requested to submit to periodic re-examination after your PTD claim has been accepted, usually every 1 to 2 years.
If you do not qualify for PTD benefits after 2 years of Temporary Disability (52 weeks), the Plan will not be able to pay any additional benefits to you.
Supplemental Disability
[Top]Supplemental Disability benefits are available to you when your disabling condition arises from an on-the-job illness or injury while employed by the Department and your claim has been accepted by the Workers’ Compensation Office. The Retirement Plan Office will receive an invoice from the Workers’ Compensation Office certifying your time allowance and your rate of pay. The Retirement Plan Office will supplement your pay from the Workers’ Compensation Office at the rate you would have received if you were receiving Temporary Disability benefits.
Generally, the Retirement Plan Office will not request a claim form or medical certification from you for Supplemental Disability benefits. However, the Retirement Board has the discretion to request medical certifications when it deems appropriate.
Contingent Disability
[Top]Contingent Disability benefits are available to you when you claim your disabling condition arose from an on-the-job illness or injury, while employed by the Department, but your claim has not been accepted by the Workers’ Compensation Office. While your case is being reviewed, the Retirement Plan Office will advance payments to you at the rate you would have received on Temporary Disability benefits. If your case is later accepted by the Workers’ Compensation Office, you must return any payments advanced to you.
To qualify for Contingent Disability benefits, you must submit a Contingent Disability Agreement Form in addition to the Disability Claim Form and the Doctor’s Certificate.