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Disability Retirement information for Certificated Employees

As a member of California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), certificated employees are eligible for disability protection under the CalSTRS disability benefit programs. CalSTRS offers two disability benefits program for certificated employees: Coverage A, Disability Allowance or Coverage B, Disability Retirement. Disability benefits are available to you until recovery if you meet eligibility requirements and have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents you from performing your usual job or comparable duties. Comparable duties are those for which you are qualified or can become qualified within a reasonable period of time with education, training, or experience. The impairment must be permanent or expected to last at least twelve continuous months. If you are 55 or older and have 25 years or more of service credit, it is especially important that you consult with a CalSTRS benefit counselor before completing a disability application in order to compare the differences between disability and service retirement benefits.

 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

CalSTRS may require you to request reasonable accommodations from the District as a condition for receiving disability benefits. The District’s Reasonable Accommodations Program may be able to assist you in adjustments in the work environment to enable continuous work while ill or injured. For further information visit Reasonable Accommodations website at

http://notebook.lausd.net/portal/page?_pageid=33,142650&_dad=ptl&_schema=PTL_EP.

COVERAGE A or COVERAGE B

Members of CalSTRS are protected for disability under Coverage A, Disability Allowance or Coverage B, Disability Retirement. Members to CalSTRS before October 15, 1992 were offered the choice of either Coverage A or Coverage B while members after this date are protected under Coverage B.

Coverage A, Disability Allowance Program – Members receiving disability allowance is not considered retired but instead is considered as a “disabled” member of CalSTRS. The allowance will be paid as long as you remain disabled or until you reach age 60. At age 60 disability allowances will be terminated and you will be eligible to apply for service retirement. Disability allowances may only continue after age 60 if you have eligible children and remain disabled.

Coverage B, Disability Retirement Program – Members receiving disability retirement benefit is considered retired from active status and will not receive service credit. The benefit will be paid as long as you remain disabled regardless of your age. If it is determined that you are no longer disabled or you return to full-time employment, your disability retirement will be terminated and you will be reinstated to active membership.

OTHER RESOURCES

For a complete text of disability retirement law, refer to Education Code Sections 24002 and 24102 (Conditions for Applications) and 24001 and 24101 (Eligibility Requirements). For further references, refer to the CalSTRS website at www.calstrs.com or to the CalSTRS member handbook.  

CONTACT

CalSTRS provides assistance and guidance regarding the CalSTRS disability benefit application process; it also encourages conservators, guardians or others caring for a CalSTRS member physically or mentally incapacitated to contact Member Services to inquire on behalf of the member.

Please contact CalSTRS at (800) 228-5453 or by visiting www.calstrs.com