Opinion ID: 1734128
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the public employees retirement system violated a statutory right of ms. marquez by denying her benefits when she had previously been approved for social security benefits.

Text: ¶ 36. Because this issue was raised neither in Marquez's appeal to the circuit court, nor by PERS in its appeal to this Court, we need not consider its merit. The lower court did not address denial of a statutory right based on the fact that Marquez received a Social Security disability benefit. ¶ 37. Marquez was approved for Social Security disability in July 1997 for multiple impairments, primarily fibromyalgia and depression. It was previously the policy of PERS that any member who had been approved for Social Security benefits would also be approved for PERS benefits. That policy has since been discontinued. See Fulce, 759 So.2d at 403. The plain language of § 25-11-113 reflects this change in policy by providing that the board of trustees may accept a disability medical determination from the Social Security Administration in lieu of a certification from the medical board. (emphasis added). The statute is permissive and does not require PERS to accept the findings of the Social Security Administration. Marquez's argument is therefore without merit.