Eligibility

You may be eligible for an accidental disability retirement benefit if:

• You are unable to perform your duties because of a permanent physical or mental incapacity and
• It is determined that the disability is the natural and proximate result of an accident sustained in the performance of duties not caused by your own willful negligence.

or

• You are awarded primary Social Security disability benefits and
• It is determined that the disability is the natural and proximate result of an accident sustained in the performance of duties not caused by your own willful negligence.

There is no minimum service requirement for an accidental disability retirement benefit.

The Benefit

This benefit is a pension equal to one-half (50 percent) of your FAS and is reduced by 100 percent of any Workers’ Compensation benefit payable and 50 percent of the primary Social Security benefit. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security reduction begins immediately. If you are not receiving Social Security disability benefits, the reduction begins at age 62. The benefit is also subject to full escalation. Learn more about escalation.

Filing

You, your employer, or someone authorized with your power of attorney may file your Application for Article 14 Disability Retirement Benefits (RS6411) with the Office of the State Comptroller. The application should be filed while you are still in active service.

Active service is defined as:

• Service while on your employer’s payroll; or
• When you are on an authorized medical leave of absence for up to two years.

If you are no longer in active service, you may be eligible if your Social Security disability benefit is awarded retroactively to a time when you were in active service.