Nonservice-Connected

The incapacity is not related to your job. You must have at least five (5) years of service credit to be considered for a non-service connected disability retirement. (NOTE: Approved reciprocal service in a system with reciprocity counts toward these required five years.)  For a nonservice-connected disability, the monthly allowance depends on when you became a member.

If you became a member of SBCERA before January 1, 1981, your monthly allowance will be the highest of the following:

• One-third of your final compensation earnable; or
• Your final compensation earnable x .018 x service credit; or
• Your final compensation earnable x .018 x age up to a maximum of 65.

If you became a member on or After January 1, 1981, your monthly allowance will depend on your years of service credit. Benefits start at 20% of your final compensation earnable for members who had only five (5) years of service credit as of the disability effective date and increase by 2% for each additional whole year of service credit, up to a maximum of 40% of final compensation earnable. For example, if you retired on a nonservice-connected disability after earning seven (7) years of service credit, your monthly allowance would be 24% of your final compensation earnable (20%+2%+2%).

If you are eligible for a service retirement, SBCERA will compare the service retirement benefit to the disability benefit and pay you the greater of the two. Disability benefits are not necessarily lifetime benefits.  The Board may require any disability benefit recipient under age 55 to undergo a medical examination.  Upon the basis of the examination, the Board determines whether the disabled member is still incapacitated for service in the position of the SBCERA-covered employer where the member was employed.  After age 55, disability retirement becomes a lifetime benefit.

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