CalSTRS Disability Retirement FAQs

Our experienced CalSTRs Disability Retirement attorneys are frequently asked the following questions. Below are general answers.

However, the best way to understand how CalSTRs Disability Retirement laws, rules and regulations apply in your specific case is to call one of our CalSTRs attorneys.

How Much Will My CalSTRs Disability Retirement Benefits Be?

Generally, the basic CalSTRS disability benefit available under either Plan A or Plan B will be 50 percent of the employee’s  final compensation. However, the maximum benefit the employee can receive, including benefits for eligible dependent children, is 90 percent of their final compensation.

An experienced CalSTRS Disability Retirement Attorney can help you calculate the benefits for which you may qualify.

CalSTRS also offers “benefits counselors” however, their  appointments are usually scheduled two to four weeks in advance – so you may not want to wait this long to file your claim.

What are the Service Requirements to Collect CalSTRS Disability Retirement?

To apply for CalSTRS disability retirement benefits, an employee must have five or more years of credited service. And, the last five years of credited service must have been performed in California.

However, if a CalSTRS member is disabled due to an unlawful act of bodily injury while performing CalSTRS-covered employment, they may qualify for disability retirement benefits with only one year of service credit.

What are the Medical Requirements to Collect CalSTRS Disability Retirement?

To qualify, the applicants impairment must be permanent or expected to last 12 or more continuous months beyond your
last day of work. It must also prevent the applicant from performing their current job duties, their current duties with a reasonable modification, or job duties consisting of a comparable level of work.

CalSTRs members cannot collect disability retirement for injuries that are the result of a willful self-inflicted injury.

The applicant must “substantiate” (prove) their disability by “competent medical documentation” to the satisfaction of CalSTRs. This is where the assistance of an experienced CalSTRS Disability Retirement attorney can be very helpful. They will know what medical documentation needs to be submitted and ensure it is filed in a timely manner.

Our CalSTRS Disability Retirement Attorneys Can Help

If you have moved from one public employee retirement system to another, it can be confusing to try and understand the benefits for which you qualify under either or both systems.

Our experienced CalSTRS disability retirement attorneys have helped hundreds of CalSTRS public employees, and we would be happy to talk to you.

We are one of very few Los Angeles area law firms that are highly specialized in Public Employees Disability Retirement. Our attorneys have filed hundreds of successful disability retirement applications and appeals and have obtained millions of dollars in disability retirement benefits for our clients.

Our attorneys can help disabled public employees obtain their disability retirement benefits from any public employee retirement system in California. If you are an injured police officer, firefighter, teacher, administrator or other public employee, who is applying for or appealing disability retirement benefits, call us today.

Free Consultation with a Disability Retirement Attorney: 800-964-8047

This article applies to members of  California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS); and does not reflect the rules, laws or regulations governing how other public retirement systems are administered. If you have question about another public employee retirement system, find your system, below – or call our office at: 562-622-4800