Eric Jones Law

OPERS members are eligible for one of two disability programs, the original plan or the revised plan. Employees who had contributions on deposit with OPERS on July 29, 1992, had a one time opportunity to select coverage under one of these programs. All employees hired after July 29, 1992, are covered only under the revised plan.

Disability
Under both plans:

• A member must have at least 5 years of contributing service credit unless they are covered under the law enforcement division and become disabled due to an on-duty illness or injury.
• The member must go off the payroll because of a presumably permanent disabling condition, either mental or physical, which prevents the member from performing their current job duties. A disability benefit cannot be given due to a temporary illness or temporary disability. The disability does not have to have occurred on the job; a majority of the persons receiving a OPERS disability benefit became disabled as the result of a disease or an “off-the-job” accident.
• No more than two years have passed since contributing service has terminated, unless at the end of the two-year period the member was disabled and unable to file an application.
• The member is not receiving an age and service retirement benefit. Under the original plan, a member must file a disability application before age 60; under the revised plan, they may apply at any age.

The attorneys at the Law Office of Eric A. Jones, LLC can help you navigate the OPERS complex requirements, file your claim, and appeal denials.   There are no fees unless your claim for disability is approved.

Contact us for a free consultation at (614) 545-9998 or email consult@ericjoneslaw.com.

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011. Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $110,100 from $106,800. Of the estimated 161 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2012, about 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.

Information about Medicare changes for 2012, when announced, will be available at www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

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