Question 1: Am I a failure for considering disability retirement?
Answer: No. You are just a normal person suffering
from the accummulative effects of a high stress job. Dr. McCafferty
states, "The police officer who is subjected to extraordinary
stress has an increased potential for development of a primary psychiatric
illness, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, drug
and alcohol abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, and physical injury
with resultant chronic pain and disability. All of these disorders
are associated with a higher than average risk of suicide. Consequently,
police officers have more of a risk than the average person for
the development of suicidal potential and death."
(McCafferty, F. et al., Stress and suicide in police officers:
paradigm of occupational stress, Southern Medical Journal Vol. 85,
No. 3, 1992)
Question 2: Am I a failure
for considering disability retirement?
Answer: No, Per Carnegie-Mellon research, "With
very few exceptions, for every 100,000 workers, there are more fire
fighters injured or killed every year than in any other occupation.
And, while it is reasonable to assume that the hazards connected
with the fighting of major fires are bound to result in a certain
number of fatalities and injuries, it is somewhat surprising to
discover that the major cause of death is not burns, smoke inhalation,
or falling walls, but heart attack."
(Thomas, J., Fire fighter mortality: a problem for public management,
Carnegie-Mellon University thesis, May 1984)
Question 3: Am I too young to apply for disability?
Answer: The average age at disability retirement
for police officers is 45.6 years and for firefighters 48.1 years.
However, age is not a primary factor when pursuing disability benefits.
(Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund, Annual Report 2005)
Question 4: Is it true that I can receive both disability
pension and workers' compensation benefits at the same time?
Answer: Yes, disability pension compensation
is not considered income by the BWC when determining workers’
compensation benefits; therefore, the disabled retiree may qualify
to receive disability pension and workers’ compensation benefits
concurrently.
(www.ohiobwc.com/basics)
Question 5: Is my disability benefit taxable?
Answer: Disability pension compensation is often non-taxable
income.
(Tax Code 1954 104A1-or105D, Tax Code 1843)
Question 6: Can I work after disability?
Answer: Yes. However, each pension system has
specific criteria associated
with doing so. |
