Opinion ID: 1862163
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: how much disability pension will i receive?

Text: The amount of your disability pension will total 70% of your basic monthly earnings rate on July 1 before you became disabled to a maximum of $3,000 per month. Your disability benefit will include any payments you receive from Social Security.... (Emphasis supplied.) The corresponding provision in the 1995 Plan booklet states: HOW MUCH DISABILITY BENEFITS WILL I RECEIVE? The amount of your disability benefits will total 70% of your basic monthly earnings rate on July 1 before you became disabled to a maximum of $4,800 per month. This benefit will be reduced by any payments you or your family members receive from Social Security as a result of your disability.... (Emphasis supplied.) These explanatory provisions do not conflict with the corresponding provisions of each Plan, but, rather, reflect their plain meaning. Consistent with the language of § 5.8 of the 1989 Plan, the Plan booklet explains that Social Security benefits paid to the employee (payments you receive) are included in the 70-percent disability benefit and thus may be applied as an offset in determining the amount payable under the Plan. Likewise, consistent with the language of § 5.8 of the 1995 Plan, the Plan booklet explains that the 70-percent benefit will be reduced by Social Security payments received by the employee or his or her family members. We have stated that `the interpretation given to a contract by the parties themselves while engaged in the performance of it is one of the best indications of true intent and should be given great, if not controlling, influence.' Solar Motors v. First Nat. Bank of Chadron, 249 Neb. 758, 769, 545 N.W.2d 714, 722 (1996), quoting Nowak v. Burke Energy Corp., 227 Neb. 463, 418 N.W.2d 236 (1988). The explanatory language utilized in each Plan booklet demonstrates that the County construed the language of § 5.8 of the Plan prior and subsequent to the 1995 amendment precisely as it was construed by the district court. We reach the same result on the basis of our independent review of this question of law. The 1995 amendment expanded the class of Social Security payments which could be offset against the 70-percent disability pension benefit by including payments received by the spouse and family of the employee. This necessarily resulted in a reduction of the benefits which would have been payable prior to the amendment. The amendment required but did not receive approval by the voters of Douglas County pursuant to § 12.1 of the Plan and is therefore void.