PERA-retirement-MN-disability-pensionLet’s immediately address the elephant in the room: Minnesota public employees like first responders, police officers, and firefighters are in most cases eligible to receive both workers’ compensation benefits and Public Employees Retirement Association or PERA retirement MN disability pension. Changes to the Minnesota statutes, although sparse and a bit ambiguous, have adjusted the dynamics of PERA duty disability benefits and claim qualifications.
Injured workers are now tasked with proving that their disability was caused while in the midst of dangerous directly covered in the public employees’ retirement plan. The disabled must prove the level of danger on duty is inherent. PERA performs evaluations and judges each case according to accepted hazardous duty thresholds. The looming question remains – how can one really define what constitutes as hazardous? A workers’ comp and PERA retirement MN attorney can provide consultation on this subject matter.
Disabled public employees who are able to pick up work elsewhere are still eligible to receive duty disability, workers’ compensation wage loss benefits plus re-employment earnings. This applies up to 125% of salary at whatever is greater between the time of disability or the current salary. As a result of this, PERA benefits fall one dollar for every three dollars over the limit. Those receiving Duty Disability benefits under PERA or MSRS don’t need to worry about healthcare coverage as their employer continues to pay their premiums under the entitlement.
In order to better understand how workers’ comp and PERA disability benefits intermingle, it is best to seek legal counsel.
