Disability Benefits for Participants

Active participants, removed from the Fire Department payroll due to a medical leave of absence are eligible to make an application for any one of the following three forms of disability benefits.

Duty disability benefits are equal to 75% of the participant’s salary on the date the disability is allowed. The participant’s children are also entitled to child’s disability benefits in the amount of $30.00 per month per child under age 18. If the child is handicapped, the $30.00 is payable until the participant is removed from his disability status. The total amount of the child’s disability benefit is not to exceed 25% of the participant’s salary at the time of the grant. This benefit is fixed at the time the participant leaves the Fire Department payroll and is payable until the earlier of death, retirement, or return to active duty. However, beginning January 1, 1994, no duty disability benefit that has been payable for at least 10 years shall be less than 50% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank and grade held by the participant at the time of his removal from the department payroll, regardless of whether that removal occurred before the effective date.

Participants with a minimum of seven years of credible service that become disabled from heart disease, tuberculosis, any disease of the lungs or respiratory tract, AIDS, hepatitis C, stroke, or cancer that develops while employed by the department are entitled to occupational disease disability benefits.

In order to receive this occupational disease disability benefit, the cancer involved must be a type which may be caused by exposure to heat, radiation or a known carcinogen as defined by the Internal Agency for Research on Cancer.

Occupational disease disability benefits are equal to 65% of the participant’s salary on the date of removal from payroll. The participant’s children are also entitled to child’s disability benefits in the amount of $30.00 per month per child under age 18. If the child is handicapped, the $30.00 is payable until the participant is removed from his disability status. The total amount of the child’s benefit when added to the benefit payable to the fireman is not to exceed 75% of salary at the time of the grant. This benefit is fixed at the time the participant leaves the Fire Department payroll and is payable until the earlier of death, retirement, or a return to active duty. However, beginning January 1, 1994, no occupational disease disability benefit that has been payable for at least 10 years shall be less than 50% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank and grade held by the participant at the time of his removal from the department payroll, regardless of whether that removal occurred before the effective date.

Ordinary disability benefits are provided for a participant who becomes disabled as the result of any cause other than duty or occupational disease disabilities and is equal to 50% less 9% (for pension deductions) for a total of 41% of salary on the date the disability occurs.

Ordinary disability benefits are payable for a period of half the participant’s service, limited to a maximum of five years. Ordinary disability benefits terminate when the disability ceases or the participant becomes eligible for minimum formula annuity. No children’s benefits are payable.