Ohio Public Employees Retirement System – OPERS

Employees who are paid by the State of Ohio, a county, municipality or local government within the state are members of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). If you are no longer able to continue working in your usual position of employment due to a medical condition, either physical or mental, then you may be eligible for OPERS Disability Benefits. At Agee Clymer, we have helped hundreds of people across Ohio obtain their disability benefits.

OPERS Eligibility

To qualify for OPERS Disability benefits:

• An OPERS member must have a minimum of 60 contributing months (5 years) of service credit. Exceptions are for those covered under the law enforcement division who become disabled due to an on-duty injury or illness.
• The member is incapable of performing his or her current job duties or the job duties of their last public employment position. The disabling condition does not need to have occurred at or have been caused by work – it can be an off-duty illness or injury.
• The disability must be expected to last at least 12 months. Disability benefits are not given for temporary illnesses or injuries.
• The disabling condition must have been diagnosed prior to termination of the member’s contributing service.
• At the time of filing, no more than two years have passed since the member last contributed to OPERS.
• The member cannot already be receiving an age and service retirement benefit or have received a refund of their contributions.

Appeals for OPERS Disability

An appeal process exists for employees in one of two circumstances: A denied application or a termination of benefits. During the appeals process, additional medical evidence to support the claim may be submitted; however, new illnesses or injuries may not be added to the claim. The time period for an appeal is limited, so contacting an OPERS disability attorney as soon as possible is recommended.

How Agee Clymer Can Help

Navigating the OPERS paperwork can be difficult, but the experienced attorneys of Agee Clymer Mitchell & Portman are available to help.  The best time to contact an Agee Clymer attorney is before you file your OPERS disability application so that we may walk you through the application process and advise you as to the best time to file.

Your initial consultation is completely free. If you need an attorney to assist with your OPERS disability claim, contact us today.