The benefits described in this section apply to members of PERS Plan 1. You are a member of Plan 1 if you first became a PERS member before October 1, 1977. There are two types of Plan 1 disability benefits: duty and non-duty.
PERS 1 members who formerly belonged to Statewide City Employees' Retirement System (SCERS) may be able to apply for benefits under SCERS provisions.
You may be eligible for duty disability retirement benefits, if you become unable to perform the duties of your job or any other position for which you are qualified by experience or training, and your disability results from:
DRS will determine whether you are disabled based upon your condition at the time you separate from service from your employer. You must apply for a duty disability benefit within the specific time limits described under "How to Apply for Disability Benefits."
If you are retired for duty disability, you will receive a monthly benefit of $350 or two-thirds of your monthly average final compensation, whichever is less. This benefit is offset by any Workers' Compensation or permanent pension you are eligible to receive for the same disability, whether paid by Labor and Industries (L&I), or under a similar law, or by a self-insured employer.
You must report all compensation you are eligible to receive for the same disability, whether paid by L&I, or under a similar law, or by a self-insured employer. You may be required to repay all of your PERS disability benefits to DRS if you become eligible to receive retroactive Workers' Compensation or a permanent pension.
When you reach age 60, your duty disability retirement is converted to a service retirement. In calculating your benefit, the period during which you are eligible for disability retirement benefits is counted as service credit. For this reason, it is important to apply for a duty disability retirement within the two-year time limit even if your entire disability benefit is offset by your Workers' Compensation entitlement. (See "How To Apply For Disability Benefits".)
When the conversion to a service retirement occurs, you must select one of the benefit options described under "Survivor Options". In some cases, the service retirement benefit you are entitled to may be less than the disability retirement benefit. A retirement counselor can give you an estimate of what your benefits will be at the time of conversion.
If you die before reaching age 60, your contributions and interest are refunded to your beneficiary.
You may be eligible for non-duty disability retirement benefits if:
DRS will determine whether you are disabled based upon your condition at the time you separate from service with your employer.
* The five years of covered employment requirement relates to all covered service, even if you have withdrawn contributions and as a result lost the service credit.
Disability retirement benefits are calculated using the formula shown below and are reduced by 2 percent for every year your age is less than 55:
2 % x service credit years x average final compensation
For example, if you are age 50, your benefit will be reduced by 10 percent.
Average final compensation is your average annual compensation earnable for your 24 consecutive highest-paid creditable months.
Benefit payments to your survivors depend upon the option you select, as described in "Survivor Options".
If you file an application for disability retirement with DRS, but die within 60 days of filing, your beneficiary will be eligible to choose between the active member or disability retiree death benefit.
You may apply for disability retirement and receive a determination of eligibility prior to separating from employment. If you file an application for disability retirement with DRS, but die within 60 days of filing, your beneficiary is eligible to choose between the active member or disability retiree death benefit. For more information about applying for disability retirement see "How To Apply For Disability Benefits."
If medical examinations show that you have recovered from the disability for which PERS granted your disability benefits, you will no longer be eligible to receive a disability retirement benefit.
If you resume gainful employment, you will need to provide DRS with the name of your employer and your monthly salary. Your disability benefits may stop unless the total of the compensation from employment and your disability benefit is less than your compensation earnable at the time you became disabled. If this total is more, your benefits will be reduced so the total does not exceed the level of your pre-disability compensation earnable, adjusted for inflation.