SDCERA Disability Retirement Attorneys
We are one of very few California law firms that are highly specialized in Disability Retirement cases. Our lawyers have filed hundreds of successful disability retirement applications and appeals for SDCERA members and other public employees. We have obtained millions of dollars in disability retirement benefits for our clients. We respect that you have worked very hard to earn your SDCERA benefits – and our attorneys are here to help you.
Our lawyers have assisted hundreds of public employees, including: sheriff and police; firefighters; teachers & school employees; administrators; corrections officers & employees; transportation, port & airport workers; sanitation, parks & natural resource employees; and many more. We can help you apply for disability retirement – or successfully appeal wrongful SDCERA disability retirement denials.
Call us today. Or fill out the quick form on the right for a consultation with an experienced SDCERA Disability Retirement attorney.
SDCERA Disability Retirement Facts
The San Diego County Employees Retirement Association (SDCERA) is a public retirement system that was established by the County of San Diego on July 1, 1939, pursuant to California’s County Employees Retirement Law of 1937. SDCERA administers retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for more than 47,000 Members who are active, retired or former employees of the County (SDCERA’s Plan Sponsor) or one of SDCERA’s four Participating Employers (the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission, the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority, the San Diego County Office of Education and the Superior Court of California – County of San Diego) or their beneficiaries.
While SDCERA states their mission as: “Administer the retirement system in a manner that ensures accurate and prompt delivery of benefits to members and beneficiaries with prudent stewardship of trust fund assets to minimize the risk of loss and maximize the rate of return” they still will frequently question or deny Disability Retirement Benefits. This can be devastating to a disabled public employee who has devoted their career to public service – only to be denied their hard-earned retirement benefits.
Our experienced SDCERA attorney have assisted hundreds of public employees collect the maximum Disability Retirement Benefits for which they qualify. Call us today or a consultation. We can help you collect the maximum SDCERA disability retirement benefits that you deserve.
SDCERA Disability Retirement Requirements
If a SDCERA member becomes physically or mentally disabled from performing their job duties, they may apply for Disability Retirement benefits regardless of age.
There are two types of SDCERA Disability Retirement:
1. Service-connected SDCERA Disability Retirement (job-related)
If you are permanently incapacitated, physically or mentally, from performing your job duties and your incapacity is the result of a job‑related injury, illness or disease, you may be eligible for a Service‑connected Disability Retirement benefit regardless of your age or length of service.
2. Nonservice-connected SDCERA Disability Retirement (not job-related)
If a SDCERA member is permanently incapacitated, physically or mentally, from performing their job duties due to a permanent injury, illness or disease which is not job related, they may be eligible for a Nonservice‑connected Disability Retirement benefit. To receive a benefit, a SDCERA member must have at least five years of SDCERA retirement service credit or a combination of SDCERA/reciprocal retirement service credit.
If a SDCERA member is granted a Disability Retirement and takes a lower-paying position with the County of San Diego or other participating employer, the Board of Retirement may pay a Supplemental Disability Benefit to make up for any loss in pay. The amount of this benefit will be equal to the difference between their salary in the former position and their salary in the new position, and not more than the amount of their approved SDCERA Disability Retirement benefit.
If you are a public employee who needs to apply for – or fight a denial of – SDCERA Disability Retirement Benefits, call our experienced attorneys for a consultation.
CONNECT
