Disability Benefits for
Special Service Members
Protection Against the Unexpected |
|
 |
|
|
|
Regular Disability Benefits
Eligibility
To qualify for regular disability benefits, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be vested (have 4 years of service or reach age 55 while in active employment).
- Apply for benefits. You must indicate on your application for IPERS retirement benefits that you are retiring due to a disability.
- Be receiving federal social security or railroad retirement disability benefits.
- Have ended all IPERS-covered employment.
Benefit Amount
Regular disability benefits equal the amount of the retirement benefit you earned at the time of your termination, without reduction for retiring before normal retirement age. Please note that you may receive up to 36 months of retroactive payments, if eligible. You choose how you want your benefit paid to you from various benefit payment options. See the "For Members Retiring" brochure for more information about how IPERS retirement benefits are calculated and available forms of payment.
If You Return to Work After Benefits Begin
If you return to work after you begin receiving regular disability benefits from IPERS, your benefits are affected by your age, where you work, and how much you earn.
Working for a Non-IPERS-Covered Employer
If you return to work with an employer that is not covered by IPERS, your IPERS regular disability benefits are not affected.
| What Is a Bona Fide Retirement? |
To have a bona fide retirement, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Apply for and begin receiving monthly benefit payments.
- Terminate employment with all IPERS-covered employers, including noncovered service with covered employers.
- Remain unemployed with all IPERS-covered employers for 1 month, and not work in covered employment for 3 additional months.
The bona fide retirement period begins with your first month of entitlement for retirement benefits as approved by IPERS. |
Working for an IPERS-Covered Employer
If you return to IPERS-covered employment after you begin receiving regular disability benefits from IPERS, your benefits may be suspended. How your benefits are affected differs based on your age and whether you have completed a bona fide retirement before returning to work.
| After Completing a Bona Fide Retirement* |
| Under age 55 |
Your benefits will be suspended. |
| 55 up to 65 |
Your benefit payments will continue and are subject to the IPERS earnings limitation. |
| 65 or older |
Your benefit payments will continue but will no longer be subject to the IPERS earnings limitation. |
| Without Completing a Bona Fide Retirement |
| All ages |
Benefits stop. You must repay all benefit payments made to you. |
*If you are a sheriff or deputy sheriff who has at least 22 years of service and has retired under IPERS’ regular disability program, your benefits will be suspended if you return to IPERS-covered employment and are under:
- Age 51 effective July 1, 2007.
- Age 50 effective July 1, 2008.
|
