Retirement - Disability benefits
You can apply up to 90 days before your retirement date. ERS must receive all of the required information before your requested retirement date.
After ERS receives all of the completed forms and medical records, you should receive notice of the decision within 60-90 days. The process may take longer if additional information is needed.
If you are denied disability retirement, ERS will send you a letter detailing your right to appeal.
If you are denied disability retirement, ERS will send you a letter detailing your right to appeal.
Your agency’s Human Resources department must complete the Departmental Statement.
You need to provide copies of all medical records from the past three years up to the current date regarding all disabling conditions.
If you are currently working, you must request a reasonable accommodation with your agency if it is medically possible.
Yes. If ERS approves your occupational or non-occupational disability retirement, you’ll have retiree health coverage. If you don’t have Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) health coverage on your disability retirement effective date, you’ll have a 60-day waiting period before you have health coverage. Tiered retiree insurance does not apply to disability retirement.
If approved, the state pays for your health insurance premium and half of the premium for your eligible dependents.
If you’re approved, the health coverage will be the same as when you were working. Under current guidelines, the state pays for your health insurance premium and half of the premium for your eligible dependents. If you’re enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan through ERS.
If you’re eligible, you can enroll in COBRA to continue your health coverage while ERS makes a decision. If you’re approved for disability retirement, ERS will only refund the COBRA health premiums you paid after the effective date of your retirement.
You can continue your Optional Term Life Insurance coverage (up to two times your annual salary) into retirement if you had the coverage in the month that you retired.
Your Dependent Term Life Insurance will be $2,500 at retirement if you had the coverage in the month that you retired.
Yes, but there are strict conditions. You cannot return to work for the State of Texas. You cannot perform a job that has similar duties to your previous state job. You cannot earn a salary comparable to your last salary. If you return to work after disability retirement, you must immediately notify ERS in writing.
ERS may ask for medical information to verify you are still eligible for disability retirement and insurance at any time. If we determine you are no longer eligible for disability retirement and insurance, we may collect past monthly retirement checks and insurance benefit payments.