Know Your Benefits: Disability Retirements

Many of us dream about retirement, but not one of us pictures leaving the workplace because we can’t perform our duties anymore. Yet the truth is debilitating medical conditions do happen. Though we hope you never have to use them, NYSLRS members have certain benefits available should you become permanently disabled from performing the duties of your job.

This post is an overview of common disability benefits and how to file for them. It is important to review your retirement plan booklet for specific benefit and eligibility information, and contact us with any questions you have, before you file an application.

Disability Retirements

Benefits

Most members are eligible for what’s called an ordinary disability retirement benefit. Usually, it provides whichever is greater:

  1. 1.66 percent of your final average salary (FAS) for each year of credited service; or
  2. 1.66 percent of your FAS for each year of credited service, plus 1.66 percent of your FAS for each year of service you might have earned before age 60, up to one-third of your FAS.

To qualify for an Article 15 disability retirement benefit, you must have at least ten years of credited service, unless your disability results from an accident you sustain on the job. If your disability results from an on-the-job accident, not due to your own willful negligence, there is no minimum service requirement.

Some members have plans that may provide an accidental disability retirement benefit. The benefit amount varies depending on your system (Employees Retirement System or Police and Fire Retirement System), tier and plan. It’s a lifetime benefit, but may be reduced by amounts received from workers’ compensation or Social Security. There is no minimum service requirement for an accidental disability retirement.

“Accident” has a special meaning when used in connection with Retirement System disability benefits. Whether an incident is an “accident” is determined on a case by case basis, using court decisions for guidance.

Members of the Police and Fire Retirement System as well as some members of the Employees Retirement System, such as sheriffs and correctional officers, may be entitled to a performance-of-duty disability benefit. The benefit amount and eligibility requirements vary depending on your system, tier and plan.

Filing

You, your employer, or someone you authorize may file a disability application on your behalf. If you think you might be eligible for a disability retirement, you may want to file your application sooner, rather than later, because there are strict filing deadlines that must be met. If you meet the requirements for a service retirement too, you can apply for both at the same time. If your disability application is approved, you will be able to choose which benefit you accept.

World Trade Center Presumption

If you participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery or clean-up operations, you may be eligible to apply for a benefit under the World Trade Center Presumption Law. The deadline for members to file a notice with NYSLRS has been extended to September 11, 2018.

Resources/More Information

For specific benefit and eligibility information, be sure to read your retirement plan booklet on our Publications page. Also, check out our Disability Retirements page and our VO1802 Life Changes: Applying for Disability Retirement booklet. You can reach our Call Center by email using our secure contact form or toll-free at 1-866-805-0990 (518-474-7736 in the Albany, New York area).

25 thoughts on “Know Your Benefits: Disability Retirements

  1. David Moog

    What happens if your service retirement is greater than what a disability benefit would be. Could I get the disability pension but still receive the amount entitled by my service retirement?

    I had 34 years of service and was forced due to health issues to retire at the age of 58. My years of service entitled me to 66%. Why couldn’t my pension be labeled disability at the service amount and I receive the tax benefit and enhanced COLAs?

    Reply
    1. NYSLRS

      Members who are not yet retired can file for a service retirement at the same time as they file for disability benefits. If disability retirement is approved, we provide estimates for all benefits a retiree is eligible for and a form so they can choose which benefit they would like to receive.

      If you have account-specific questions about your benefits, please email our customer service representatives using our secure email form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.

      Reply
    1. NYSLRS

      For general information about disability benefits, please visit our overview webpage.

      For questions about what disability benefits you can apply for, please email our customer service representatives using our secure email form. One of our account representatives will be able to answer your questions. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.

      Reply
    1. NYSLRS

      Please contact your disability caseworker for information about the status of your case. If you do not have your caseworker’s phone number, you can call our customer service representatives at 1-866-805-0990, press 2, then follow the prompts. You can also email them using the secure email form on our website. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.

      Reply
    2. Christy

      Anthony, were you able to get an answer from your caseworker? I was wondering the same question. I saw the IME in Jan of this year applied in 18’.

      Reply
      1. NYSLRS

        For information about the status of your case, please contact your disability caseworker. If you do not have your caseworker’s phone number, you can call our customer service representatives at 1-866-805-0990, press 2, then follow the prompts. You can also email them using the secure email form on our website. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.

        Reply
        1. Bernadette

          When you contact your disability case worker. They still can’t tell you how long it going take for them review your case. All I get told is my case wait for medical board to review. But don’t have no idea when they looked at my case because my was flied in 2021

          Reply
  2. Thomas Bayard

    Does an article 15 disability retirement turn into an ordinary retirement once you reach retirement age like social security disability does when you reach retirement age??

    Reply
    1. NYSLRS

      No. If you receive a disability retirement benefit from NYSLRS, it will not change to a service retirement once you reach retirement age.

      Reply
      1. Guy Krebs

        Does a Performance of Duty disability retirement become taxable if you return to work years after retirement? (Not the type of work you became disabled by)

        Reply
        1. NYSLRS

          Unfortunately, NYSLRS is unable to give tax advice. You may wish to speak with an accountant or tax professional.

          Before returning to work, we recommend you speak with one of our customer service representatives to discuss how this may affect your benefits. Please call 1-866-805-0990 (or 518-474-7736 in the Albany, NY area), press 2, then follow the prompts. You can also email our customer service representatives using our secure email form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.

          Reply
  3. Frank Toto

    Wait … Court Decisions ??
    An incident is an “accident ”
    What court decisions? What court ?
    When do we get to go to court ?
    AMD not workers comp. Or ssd ,
    My social security would have been that much more if I was able to continue working as well as my pension …
    🙁

    Reply
  4. Frank Toto

    I was injured in the of duty as a Safety Officer OMH Rockland psych. In a violent patient restraint as well as prior injuries that were sustained on the job as well ,
    But the Article 15 says “ordinary “,
    I should get article 14 as a law enforcement officer, secure care treatment aids were given this benefit but Safety Officers were left out of the bill from NYSCOPBA , I only recieve 1/3 FAS at the time I filed after 18 years, if I was able to return after the incident today I would Be making upwards of 100k a year, workers comp only pays me 24k a year , in no way does that make up for my pain n suffering not to mention having to battle the NYS ins.fund folks or SSD in order to get the benefits that I should be getting, when I was hired it was council 82 and I was told that part of the incentive to take on this hazardous profession was in the event your permently disabled injured in the line of duty this is how they would take care of you so you could continue to care for not only yourself but your family as well ,
    My whole life was destroyed and my children adversely affected as well because in my opinion Safety Officers who are 911 responders for secure care TA’s were cut out of the bill by NYSCOPBA ,
    My ID stated that I was a Special Policeman , A” Peace Officer” under the penal law ,
    I’m my opinion its discrimination against Safety Officers of OMH ,
    SHAME ON NYSCOPBA , and they had the nerv to expect me to continue paying dues to them for the rest of my life after suffering such a malfeasance of justice .
    To add insult to injury , unfortunately in my divorce because it is labeled “ordinary ”
    Disability, A Heller pensions report states that i now owe my xwife $98k . From my dis pension . And she will continue to receive half of it , How the hell am I supposed to care for myself and family the rest of my life on this limited amount of income ?
    Again … SHAME ON NYSCOPBA !!!

    Reply
  5. Army Girl 444

    greetings,
    I have been waiting since july 2018 for a ordinary retirement disabiltiy decision. it took over 16 months to get an IME and the DR found me permannetly incapacitated from my current duties. how long is the process after this? my “worker” never return my call or emails concerning my case. I am still waiting for a decision and it is january 2020. i have not had an income since 2019. it is extremly hard to live like this. any information i am greatful for thank you.

    Reply
  6. William Treco

    Does stage 4 renal failure (kidney disease) qualify as a non job related illness. I currently have dialysis 5 days a week and am in desperate need of a kidney transplant.

    Reply
    1. NYSLRS

      Generally, if you are unable to perform your duties because of a permanent physical or mental incapacity, and if you have ten or more years of service credit, you may be eligible for an ordinary disability retirement benefit. We have sent you a private message with more information.

      Reply
  7. Kevin Shaughnessy

    My husband was made to retire 6 yrs ago from NYS DOC after 26.5 years of service due to 3 injuries at work. He could no longer do his job. He did his 1 on 1 exit interview and disability retirement was never mentioned. He is still fighting comp who has not paid him since retiring. He has had 3 back surgeries. Is there any help for the disability retirement?

    Reply
    1. NYSLRS

      Unfortunately, in order to apply for a disability retirement benefit from NYSLRS, there are filing deadlines. Generally the deadlines are no later than one or two years after leaving employment, depending on the type of disability benefit.

      But the NYSLRS Social Media Team doesn’t have access to your husband’s retirement account, so he should contact our customer service representatives for account-specific information. He can email them using the secure email form on our website (see link below). A representative will review his account and respond to his questions. Filling out the secure form allows us to safely contact him about his personal account information.

      http://www.emailNYSLRS.com

      Reply
  8. JJT

    Hello,

    Looks like there’s a typo in this post – below I’ve copied and pasted the section I think needs a look:

    “Usually, it provides whichever is greater:

    1. 66 percent of your final average salary (FAS) for each year of credited service; or
    2. 66 percent of your FAS for each year of credited service, plus 1.66 percent of your FAS for each year of service you might have earned before age 60, up to one-third of your FAS.”

    I believe both of those “66 percent” should be “1.66 percent”.

    (Of course, with 23 years service, I sure wouldn’t mind if you kept the 66% in there, since the annual disability benefit would be pretty hefty if you multiplied that by my number of years of service!)

    Reply

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