Welcome to the Disability Income Plan of North Carolina (DIPNC)
DIPNC is for members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) and the Optional Retirement Program (ORP).
Overview of the Plan
The Disability Income Plan of North Carolina (DIPNC) is administered by the Department of State Treasurer for North Carolina public employees.
These pages provide information about the disability benefits available to you as a member of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program.
The Disability Income Plan of North Carolina (DIPNC) provides monthly replacement income to you in the form of short-term, extended short-term and long-term disability benefits if you become disabled while you are a permanent employee under the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) or a participant of the UNC Optional Retirement Program (ORP), and you meet certain eligibility requirements.
If you are a disabled TSERS member who has five or more years of maintained TSERS retirement membership service credit before January 1, 1988, you may be eligible for TSERS disability retirement benefits instead of DIPNC benefits.
Under DIPNC, disability is defined as the mental or physical incapacity for the further performance of your usual occupation, provided that such disability was not the result of terrorist activity, active participation in a riot, committing or attempting to commit a felony or an intentional self-inflicted injury.
After a required 60-day waiting period and if you meet all eligibility requirements, you may be eligible to receive one of the following types of monthly DIPNC benefits:
| Benefit | Length (if you meet all eligibility requirements) |
| Short-term disability benefits | up to 365 days after the 60-day waiting period |
| Extended short-term disability benefits | Up to 365 additional days after the last day of your short-term disability benefits, if your disability is likely to be temporary |
| Long-term disability benefits | After your short-term disability benefits period, if your disability is likely to be permanent, long-term disability benefits may be payable. If you meet all requirements, benefits will be available to you up to the date you would have become eligible for TSERS unreduced service retirement benefits if you had remained in service under TSERS. NOTE: If you had less than five years of TSERS or ORP membership service as of July 31, 2007, your long-term benefits will end after you have received 36 long-term disability benefit payments. If, however, you are approved for Social Security disability benefits, your DIPNC long-term disability coverage will continue. |