Unified Fire Authority
Tier 1 Firefighters Retirement Information
Disability Benefits If you are an active member of this system and you are unable to perform firefighter service due to a physical or mental condition that is classified by our office as a line-of-duty disability , your monthly retirement benefit will be 50 % of your final average monthly salary with no minimum age or service requirements . If your disability is not in the line of duty , your benefit will be the same as for a line-ofduty disability if you have five or more years of service . If you have less than five years , you may take a refund of member contributions . You will receive a disability benefit until the earlier of :
» The date you are no longer disabled ; OR » The date you have accumulated 20 years of firefighter service credit , including years earned while disabled .
Tier 1 Firefighters 2024-2025 Tier 1 Firefighter » You have received disability benefits from this system and as of the date of disability :
• You are under age 60 , benefits will be payable until age 65 .
• You are age 60-61 , benefits will be payable for 5 years .
• You are age 62-63 , benefits will be payable for 4 years .
• You are age 64-65 , benefits will be payable for 3 years .
• You are age 66-68 , benefits will be payable for 2 years .
• You are age 69 or older , benefits will be payable for 1 year .
You will receive firefighter service credit during your period of disability . A line-of-duty disability retirement is not taxable until your benefit is converted to a service retirement . Your disability benefit will convert to a service retirement when your disability benefit terminates . If you are employed with another participating employer during the period of disability , you cannot receive service credit for that employment . If you retire on disability and accept employment , you are required to file a sworn statement with our office each year regarding your gross earnings for the first five years of receiving disability benefits . If your benefit and gross earnings combined exceed 125 % of the final average salary used to determine your disability benefit , your benefit will be offset the following year . Your disability benefit will be suspended while you are receiving worker ’ s compensation benefits . Effective January 1 , 2002 , a line-of-duty disability is exempt from taxation to the extent permitted under federal law .
Tier 2 Public Safety and Firefighter Your employer ’ s long-term disability ( LTD ) program describes your benefits . If your employer has a benefit protection contract with our office and you have been approved for LTD benefits , you will continue to accrue benefits as provided according to the retirement system in which you participate .
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