MSRS Corrections Plan
A Minnesota State-employed corrections officer who suffers from a disability that is expected to prevent him or her from performing his or her normal duties for a period of at least one year may be eligible for disability benefits under the Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) Corrections Plan.
Who is eligible?
If you are a Minnesota corrections officer or security counselor at a state correctional facility, forensic services program or Minnesota sex offender program, who has sustained an injury in the line of duty, you may be eligible for a MSRS disability benefit. These benefits were established due to the physical and dangerous nature of corrections work. To be eligible, your injury or condition must prevent you from performing your normal duties of your position for at least twelve months.
It is important to recognize that an injury in the line of duty can be physical or mental. If you develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of your duties as a correctional officer, you may be eligible for disability benefits. Physical injuries and mental injuries are treated the same way by MSRS when processing your application.
To qualify for benefits, you must be physically off of the job and you must apply for disability benefits within the first 18 months after leaving public service.
Osterbauer Law Firm has represented many corrections officers, including those from Oak Park Heights, Shakopee and Stillwater.
What is a disability benefit?
Regular disability benefits:
If you qualify for a regular disability benefit, the amount of money you will receive is dependent on your years of service, date of hire and high-five salary. If you were hired before July 1, 2009, regular disability will provide a minimum of 36% of your high five salary.
This benefit is available to corrections officers who were injured outside of work, or while at work but not performing normal or less frequent duties that present inherent danger and are specific to the position of correctional officer. Before you apply for regular disability benefits, it is important that you speak to an attorney who is familiar with MSRS disability to determine whether you would qualify for a higher level of benefits.
To apply for regular disability benefits, you must be vest or have at least one year of service, depending on your date of hire.
Duty disability benefits:
If you qualify for duty disability benefits, you are entitled to 50% of your high-five salary, non-taxable through the age of 55, or 5 years, whichever is greater.
To qualify for duty disability benefits, your injury must be incurred while performing normal or less frequent duties that present inherent danger and are specific to your position.
Why do I need a lawyer?
Before applying for benefits, it is important that speak to an attorney who is knowledgeable about workers’ compensation and MSRS disability benefits. Osterbauer Law Firm has filed hundreds of MSRS and PERA disability applications on behalf of injured corrections officers, police officers, and firefighters, and she knows how to coordinate and time your MSRS 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 MSRS Corrections Plan, talk to the team of experienced MSRS 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.
