SBCERA - Disability

If you become disabled during employment, you may be eligible for a disability retirement. For purposes of SBCERA, “disabled” means that there is an inability to substantially perform the usual duties of a position. It is not necessary that the person be physically or mentally incapable of performing each and every duty or task that might arise within the job classification. A person’s incapacity is permanent if change for the better or worse is not to be reasonably anticipated under usual standards.

Disability Application Process
Service-Connected Disability
Nonservice-Connected Disability
Disability Rehabilitation

Supplemental Disability Benefits for General Members
If you are a General member and you are found to be incapable of gainful employment (other than service as a juror, witness, or election official), you may apply for a supplemental disability retirement allowance of $300 a month. (The supplement was created to replace benefits lost when General members stopped participating in Social Security. It is not available to Safety members, who have never participated in Social Security).

If you are granted the supplement, you must declare under oath every six months to SBCERA that you are incapable of gainful employment. You must also notify SBCERA if a change in your condition makes gainful employment possible. Supplemental benefits end upon your death. They do not become part of any payments made to beneficiaries. This benefit is not considered when calculating COLAs or community property in divorce cases.

Lump-Sum Payment
If the Board determines that your incapacity is the result of alcohol or drug abuse, willful misconduct, or a violation of law and your contributions would have provided a retirement allowance of less than $240 a year, the Board has the option of paying you a lump sum of your contributions plus interest, rather than a monthly disability payment.

Temporary Disabilities
SBCERA provides for retirement benefits only, so it does not cover temporary disabilities. You should contact your participating employer about its sick-leave program. If your disability is job-related, you should apply for Workers’ Compensation. Also, for some bargaining units, California’s State Disability Insurance program provides benefits.

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