If you have applied for, and been approved for, longterm disability benefits, you may make an irrevocable election to forfeit the long-term disability benefits and:

• Retire on an early service retirement allowance effective on the first day of the month after the end of the short-term period, provided all other requirements for early service retirement have been met, or
   
• Receive a return of accumulated contributions from the Retirement Systems.

This election must be made within 90 days of the date of notification of the approval for long-term disability benefits and before you receive any long-term disability benefit payments.