Temporary Disability

How much are disability payments?

The maximum you can receive as a monthly payment is equal to 50% of your average monthly salary (based on the 12 months of earnings reported to IMRF prior to the month you became disabled).

If you are eligible for certain outside income (including workers’ compensation, Social Security, and certain other sources of income) the amount of your IMRF disability payments may be reduced. Click the links below to learn more about how IMRF disability payments are affected by:

• Workers’ compensation
• Social Security

Disability benefits are pro-rated

Pro-rating means that if your monthly disability benefit is only payable for part of the month, you will only receive part of the monthly payment amount.

For example, if your date of disability was May 16, IMRF would pay you a pro-rated benefit on July 1 for the period of June 16 – June 30. If your unreduced monthly disability benefit was $1,000.00, then on July 1 you would receive $500.00 for the June 16 – June 30 pro-rated period, instead of the $1,000.00 monthly amount.

Benefits are paid on the first of the month

Temporary disability benefits are paid on the first day of each month for the preceding month (for example, a March benefit payment is paid April 1).

For more information on how payments are made, click here.

When do temporary disability benefits begin?

IMRF disability benefits are not paid for the first 30 days of disability.

Temporary disability benefits are effective on the 31st day following the date of disability, as long as you are no longer receiving salary, sick, or vacation pay from your IMRF employer(s).

If you are still getting paid, your benefits will begin the day after the last day you were paid. If you receive compensation from your employer beyond the first 30 days of your disability, IMRF temporary disability benefits will be effective the day after your compensation has stopped. IMRF disability benefits are not payable if you are receiving compensation from your employer(s).

What is considered compensation?

Compensation includes:

• Sick pay
• Vacation pay
• Holiday pay
• Regular pay
• Seasonal salary
• If you receive your salary over 12 months, you will not receive IMRF disability benefits as long as you receive compensation.
• Your employer may be willing to pay the balance of your annual salary in a lump sum so that you’d be eligible. If your employer isn’t willing to do this, you will not be eligible.
• Back pay, including retroactive pay from current or prior year contract negotiations

Exceptions to the 30-day waiting period

If you were receiving disability benefits and return to work, and then within six months are disabled again by the same condition, the 30-day waiting period does not apply. Your disability payments would begin the day after the last day you receive compensation from your employer(s).

How long do temporary disability benefits last?

As long as you remain disabled and continue to provide evidence of your disability as requested, you can receive temporary disability benefits for a period of time equal to one-half of your IMRF service credit at the time of disability, but not more than 30 months.

For example: If you had one year of service, a maximum of six months of benefits may be approved. If you had five or more years of service, a maximum of 30 months of benefits may be approved.

If your temporary disability benefits run out and you are still disabled, your claim will be investigated to determine your eligibility for total and permanent disability benefits.

When do temporary disability benefits end?

Your temporary disability benefit payments may end for a variety of reasons, including:

• You resign your position.
  In most cases your temporary disability benefits will end if you resign from your position with the employer you were working for when you became disabled. Contact IMRF BEFORE resigning from your position!
• You return to work.
• You are medically cleared to return to work.
• You do not comply with your treatment plan or additional required medical examinations.
• Your temporary disability benefits run out. In this case:
• If you are eligible for IMRF Total and Permanent disability:
• You will continue to receive payments without interruption if you are approved for total and permanent disability benefits prior to your temporary disability benefits running out.
• You must provide IMRF with any updated medical information that we request.
• For more information about Total and Permanent disability, click here.
• If you are not eligible for IMRF Total and Permanent disability benefits, IMRF will notify you in writing about your possible next steps, which may include applying for retirement, taking a refund, or Benefit Protection Leave.