PERA General/Coordinated Plan
In Minnesota, PERA provides retirement and disability benefits for public employees including police officers, firefighters, and corrections officers.
Who is eligible?
Members of the general or coordinated plan may be eligible for duty disability benefits if they are unable to work because of a physical or mental disability, have more than three years of public service, and are less than full retirement age at the time of disability.
To qualify for disability benefits, your disability must be judged to be total and permanent. This means that you are unable to engage in any substantial, gainful activity for at least one year.
What is a disability benefit?
A disability benefit is based upon your total years of service and your salary for the highest-five years of service. You are eligible to receive 1.7% for each year of service, multiplied by your average salary.
In addition, there are certain offset provisions that you must be aware of when you enter into reemployment and/or receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Why do I need a lawyer?
I always recommend that a PERA member speaks to an attorney prior to applying for disability benefits. Osterbauer Law Firm has filed hundreds of PERA applications on behalf of injured workers and they know how to coordinate your PERA and workers’ compensation benefits to maximize the total amount of money you will receive from all sources.
For more information, or to schedule a free consultation, please contact Osterbauer Law Firm.
If you have questions about a PERA general/coordinated plan, talk to the team of experienced PERA lawyers at Osterbauer Law Firm. We can assist you at any stage. Whether you are in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis & St. Paul), Rochester, Duluth or Greater Minnesota, we will help you. Give our office a call today at 612-334-3434 or contact us online today for a free initial consultation, and we can arrange a free consultation to discuss your case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is PERA retirement?
Is MSRS different than PERA?
Do I need a lawyer to file for PERA disability benefits?
What happens if I am denied PERA disability benefits?
How do I learn more about my disability benefit options under the PERA police and fire plan?
Can I receive both PERA disability benefits and workers' compensation benefits?
What is PERA?
PERA is the Public Employees Retirement Association. It is a state association that manages the retirement and other benefits to eligible employees throughout the state.
Is PERA retirement income taxable?
Can you withdraw money from PERA?
Employees contributing to PERA can withdraw money from their retirement plan as long as they are no longer working in the public sector. However, employees need to be aware that early withdrawal of funds can result in penalties and increased tax liability for that year.
My workers' compensation claim was denied or in dispute. Can I still apply for PERA disability benefits?
If I have a workers' compensation lawyer already, but he or she does not handle PERA disability claims, can you help me?
Yes, contact the legal team at Osterbauer Law Firm, and we can discuss the specifics of your case. We also handle workers’ compensation and PERA claims for many of our clients, making it easy to deal with one legal team.