The application must be filedwithin three months of the last date you were paid on the payroll. In thecase of a medical leave of absence without pay, the application may besubmitted within 12 months of your last paid service, provided you weredisabled when the leave began and are on the leave when the applicationis filed. Ten years of credited service are required in order to qualify for a disability benefit. In ordertoqualify for your disability benefit, written notice of your accidentmustbe filed with the Retirement System within 90 days of the accident,detailingthe time and place of the incident, the particulars thereof,the nature andextent of your injuries, and your alleged incapacity. Thenotice must be signedby your or someone acting on your behalf.
Employers also contribute to theRetirement System on behalf of members.
These two sources together withinvestment income provide the money to pay retirement benefits. Although fully invested with five years of service, members with less than 10 years of service may continue to choose to terminate their retirementsystem membership when they leave covered employment, receive a refundof their contributions, and forego any future benefit for themselves ortheir beneficiaries. The ERS program is designed to help you and your dependents maintain financialstability at the time of retirement or in the event of disability or death. It is important that you keep yourself fully informed about your RetirementSystem, your plan, and the benefits that they offer. Each year, you will receive a statement, outlining your status within theRetirement System, and an Investment Report, outlining the status of theSystems'investments.