If you experience an injury or illness that prevents you from working, you may need to apply for a disability retirement pension. Disability, whether duty or non-duty related, is defined as a physical or mental impairment that leaves you permanently incapable of performing your job.
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Defined Benefit Plan • Defined Contribution Plan • Hybrid Plan • Health Care Savings Program • 457 Program
Defined Benefit Plan
There are two types of MERS Defined Benefit Plan disability retirement: Non-duty disability and duty disability. Either you or your employer may apply for disability retirement benefits, which are subject to approval by MERS. Applications must be filed within two years of your “termination” date — the last official day of work at your employer.
To apply for disability benefits:
- Complete and submit the Application for Disability Retirement (F-51), or by calling the MERS Service Center at 800.767.6377.
You will need to submit current medical records to MERS with your application, including two separate Physician’s Statements. If your illness or injury was a result of a work-related cause you will need to include a copy of Employer’s Basic Report of Injury and all documents relating to worker’s compensation. Please review the instructions on the form for further details.- Your application, and any medical documentation, will be evaluated by Managed Medical Review Organization, Inc. (MMRO), MERS’ disability vendor. You will be contacted by MMRO within 5 business days of receiving the application to discuss your next steps in the disability evaluation process. The evaluation process may take up to 3 months to complete.
- We will notify you and your employer of the results once the disability evaluation is complete. If your application is approved, you will be eligible to apply for retirement benefits. Your disability approval letter will detail your next steps in order to start collecting your benefit.
Read more about Disability Retirement in your Defined Benefit Plan Member Handbook or contact our Service Center.
Defined Contribution Plan
If you suffer an injury or illness that keeps you from working permanently, as a member of the Defined Contribution Plan, you may be eligible to receive your retirement benefits early with no early withdrawal penalties.
To apply for disability benefits:
- Contact your physician to request a signed letter verifying their medical qualification as a disabled person in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code definition of disability, Section 72(m)(7).
- Complete the MERS Defined Contribution Distribution Form (MD-005) and send to MERS record keeper with physician letter, which will be used to qualify the disability . Once processed, participants will be fully vested in any funds not previously forfeited.
- When MERS has processed this request, the participant will be notified in the form of the distribution, or a request for additional information.
If the disability occurs while you are employed, your employer will have requirements for obtaining this disability information as well and you will need to work closely with them to provide any additional information they may need. The employer must provide the change in employment status to MERS before a distribution can be processed.
The Defined Contribution Distribution Form (MD-005) can be found by clicking here. For more information on disability retirement, please consult your Defined Contribution Participant Handbook or contact our Service Center.
Hybrid Plan
There are two distinct parts to the MERS Hybrid Plan, with two sets of rules regarding disability:
HYBRID PART I – YOUR DEFINED BENEFIT PORTION
There are two types of disability retirement for your defined benefit portion of your Hybrid Plan: Non-duty disability and duty disability.
Either you or your employer may apply for disability retirement benefits, which are subject to approval by MERS. Applications must be filed within one year of your “termination” date — the last official day of work at your employer.
To apply for disability benefits:
- Download the Application for Disability Retirement (F-51). Please review the form instructions for details, and complete the form. Make sure you submit all current medical records with your application.
- When we receive all the required documentation, we’ll schedule an Independent Medical Examination (IME).
- After MERS receives the physician’s report, we’ll approve or deny the disability application, and notify you by letter of our determination.
HYBRID PART II – YOUR DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
If you suffer an injury or illness that keeps you from working permanently, you may be eligible to receive your Hybrid Part II retirement benefits early with no early withdrawal penalties.
To apply for disability benefits:
- Contact your employer
- Provide your employer medical documentation or a certification of disability from the Social Security Administration
- When your employer approves your claim, you will become immediately vested and eligible for benefits.
To receive your distribution, you will need to complete the Defined Contribution Distribution Form (MD-005) found on our website. For more information on disability retirement, please consult your Defined Contribution Member Handbook or contact our Service Center.
Health Care Savings Program
If you’re injured or develop an illness that makes you unable to work, and are collecting a disability benefit from a public pension plan, you may be eligible to use your account early. Once your employer notifies us of your disabled status, you’ll receive information on how to begin receiving reimbursements from your account.
If you take an extended medical leave from your employer, you will be eligible to use your account after six months. If you return from extended medical leave, you must stop using your account, although any eligible medical expenses from your leave period will still qualify for reimbursement.
For more information, consult the MERS Health Care Savings Program Participant Handbook or call our Service Center.
457 Program
If you have to quit working because of a permanent disability, you will have access to your pre-tax, employer and Roth contributions in your 457 account. Disability, whether duty or non-duty related, is defined as a physical or mental impairment that leaves you permanently incapable of performing your job.
To request a distribution from your account, you must complete and submit the 457 Distribution/Direct Rollover Form (MD-405), along with evidence of the disability, for review and approval.
The same procedure is required for distributions of any Roth contributions you may have.
For more information, consult your MERS 457 Supplemental Retirement Program Participant Handbook or contact our Service Center.