TSERS Disability Quick Reference
As a North Carolina disability benefit recipient, there are several requirements that you must follow to obtain and maintain your benefits. The following Disability Quick Reference Guide identifies the steps and materials needed throughout the process.
It is important that you complete the forms in their entirety, or respond to requests from the North Carolina Retirement Systems so that your disability benefits are processed in a timely manner, and to guard against any interruption of disability benefits.
Click here for a printed version of the quick reference below
Short-Term/Preliminary Long-Term | Extended Short-Term | Long-Term | State Disability Retirement | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eligibility | 1 year membership earned within 36 months preceding disability | 1 year membership earned within last 36 months prior to end of short-term disability period | 5 years membership earned within 96 months prior to exhaustion of leave or salary continuation. | Member must be vested as of 7/1/82 or 1/1/88 |
Time Frame to Apply | Within 365 days following the first day of the 60-day waiting period | NONE | Within 180 days from end of short-term or 180 days from end of temporary total Workers' Compensation | NONE but effective retirement date is in accordance with filing requirements |
Calculation of Benefit | 50% of salary as of last day worked (monthly maximum benefit of $3,000), reduced by certain offsets | 50% of salary (monthly maximum benefit of $3,000), reduced by certain offsets | 65% of salary (monthly maximum benefit of $3,900), reduced by certain offsets; $10 monthly minimum | Based on average final compensation (AFC), accrual factor, total creditable service and projected service |
Timeframe Benefits are Paid | Maximum of 365 days after 60-day waiting period; paid by employer with proper certification from doctor (Form 703 monthly certification unless preliminary long-term determination) | Maximum of 365 days as approved by Medical Board (Paid by N.C. Retirement Systems) | Until member is eligible for an unreduced service retirement or otherwise no longer meets requirements for benefits1 | Lifetime [Refer to G.S. §135-5(c) |
Application Process | Form 700 | Form 700 | Form 700 | Form 7 |
Benefit Offsets | Temporary Total Disability Benefits through Workers' Compensation | Temporary Total Disability Benefits through Workers' Compensation | Social Security benefits | Excess earnings (the amount a member earns over the earnable allowance) |
Earnable Allowance | Monthly (up to the amount of short-term) | Monthly (up to the amount of extended short-term benefit) | Monthly (difference between 100% salary and adjusted gross long-term before any offsets | Annually |
Re-Exams (determined by Medical Board) | NONE | NONE | Reviewed yearly at the discretion of the Medical Board | Reviewed yearly at the discretion of the Medical Board |
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