Meeting filing requirements and submitting medical documents are key
A disabling condition can happen to anyone at any time. As a member of the NYSLRS, you may be eligible for a disability retirement if you become disabled and unable to work.
Disability benefits are based on your tier and retirement plan. The eligibility and filing requirements can vary too. Most members with 10 or more years of service credit can apply for an ordinary (non-job-related) disability benefit, and in some circumstances, your employer can file for you. If you become disabled due to a job-related accident, there’s no minimum service required.
If you decide to file for a disability retirement, please remember to keep the following in mind:
Meet Our Filing Requirements
You can file your disability retirement application while:
- You are still on your employer’s payroll, or
- As soon as possible after you stop receiving your salary.
You can find a list of all the disability retirement applications on our website. You can also read about the filing requirements in your retirement plan publication.
Make Sure We Have Your Medical Documentation
If your application meets the filing requirements, we will request medical reports from the doctors and treatment facilities you listed on your application. We may also ask you to make an appointment, paid for by NYSLRS, with one or more independent medical examiners whose specialty relates to your disability.
A medical or administrative review board will then make a determination about your eligibility.
If you aren’t approved for a disability retirement, you may request an administrative hearing and redetermination within four months from the date of denial. This gives you an opportunity to provide more evidence to support your request for disability benefits.
Because of the multiple steps that can be involved in the process, these cases typically take longer than regular retirement cases. So, since it may take some time to process your application, we encourage you to file the application while you are still on the payroll. This can help minimize any financial hardship you may encounter during the time it takes to process your application.
For more information about the disability retirement process or how to file, read our publication, Life Changes: Applying for Disability Retirement (VO1802).
I have been at this for just 5 months and is so confusing with no information. I have to email my caseworker all the time just to see what they need only to get told they didn’t receive what I sent the last time. ( Good thing I keep records with time and date stamps) after reading this foram I am hiring a attorney tomorrow.
We’d like to help resolve your issue. Your message is important to us, and we have sent you a private message in response.
I filed for my disability retirement Jan 14,2022, I went to see the IME doctor in January 2023. My case is in review with “Supervisors” who the retiree(myself) and it appears the caseworker do not have access to. As if it is not difficult enough to find yourself in a situation where you have become disabled. This whole process is mentally challenging and financially debilitating. I would say the major part is the not knowing and lack of communication, it’s like a black hole. I would not wish this process on anyone.
We’d like to help resolve your issue. Your message is important to us, and we have sent you a private message in response.
It has been three months since my call with you and I still have not heard anything, I have emailed my caseworker twice, she does not respond. Every time I dial the number mentioned there is either a 60 minute wait or the recording states to please call back the following day this can happen at 9 in the morning, It is very discouraging to try and contact the NYSLRS.
Unfortunately or fortunately this seems to be the most rapid way to find out information.
Your message is important to us, and we have sent you a private message in response.
I never received a message
Thank you for reaching out to NYSLRS again. In case you missed our responses, we have sent a few communications to the email address you recently provided. Please check there now for a message from us so we can help find the information you need.
Todd Ingersoll, what attorney did you hire? I have been waiting for a decision for 12 months now. My IME was completed on February 12, 2023 and he returned his report by 2/22/23. I still have not gotten a decision from “The Board” despite the fact that the IME supported my request for disability retirement. As near as I can see NYS Retirement System has no time frames by which to make a decision meaning we can be left in pain and struggling to stay on payroll for as long as they want. I would join you in perhaps making this a class actions law suit against them.
Your message is important to us, and we have sent you a private message in response.
Why does the disability retirement take so long ?
For questions about your disability retirement application, please contact your disability caseworker. You can also call our customer service representatives at 1-866-805-0990, press 2, then follow the prompts. One of our representatives will review your account and respond to your questions.
I saw the retirement doctor in April and has me totally disabled from in the job injuries. File finally went to review board in August. Still waiting and no time frame ever given. Will be 3yrs from filing date in December
For questions about your disability case, please contact your disability caseworker. If you do not have your caseworker’s phone number, you can call our customer service representatives at 1-866-805-0990, press 2, then follow the prompts.
You can also email our customer service representatives using our secure email form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.
I have waited for 2 years. I am permanently disabled receiving SSDI and the state still has not approved my retirement. This is ridiculous and there needs to be legal action taken against the state and legislative hearings
Your message is important to us, and we have sent you a private message in response.
Wow! Been waiting 16 months for disability retirement and I see a lot of people stating that it can take 3 years? This is unbelievable and the case manager who handles your case is a robot with no answers. Why is this allowed. No time frame given, No nothing. How are they getting away with this?
For questions about your disability retirement application, please contact your caseworker or email our customer service representatives using the secure email form on our website (http://www.emailNYSLRS.com). Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.
haha does a human even read this page? nice generic response. wasted my time checking email. NYSLRS needs help
We sent an email to the email address you provided on Wednesday, June 22.
You can find information about filing for disability benefits and what to expect on the Disability Benefits page on the NYSLRS website.
If you still have questions about the disability process, please call our customer service representatives at 866-805-0990 (or 518-474-7736 in the Albany, NY area), press 2, then follow the prompts.
It’s crazy how Social security takes 3-6 months to give you a decision meanwhile, NYS takes 2+ years. They need to get it together.
I was approved for disability retirement, waited 3 years to be approved. Website says Payment will be issued 8-12 weeks. I have yet to receive payment. I call, customer service and they can not give you a direct answer, I was told 4-5 months???. I’ve emailed several contacts provided by nyslrs and no response. I go retirement online no information provided either. What is going on here? No one ever has an answer. The game of sit and wait.
We apologize for the trouble you are having. Your message is important to us and we have sent you a private message in response.
I waited about 2 years for approval. I was approved January 28th and haven’t seen or heard anything. I called last month bc I too saw it said payment 8-12 weeks after approval. When I finally got thru to a representative she told me it could take up to 4 months to get paid.
Takes about two years for service retirement and still waiting for disability retirement which was approved three years ago. Ha,ha,ha…
In order to verify your information, or check on the status of or eligibility for any benefit, please email our service representatives using our secure form (link below). Please explain all relevant information in the comment field of the form.
https://nysosc9.osc.state.ny.us/product/ccsub.nsf/fsWeb?OpenFrameset
I had an unfortunate accident at work and have just recently started the disability process. No one really explains the process and the typical reasons why things move slow for most people (3-4 years!). It’s very unnerving and there are many unknowns. Are there any support groups or forums etc. where retirees can offer some support and/or advice for us folks going through the process?
We are in the same boat . This is so stressful
For questions about the disability process, please contact your disability caseworker. If you do not have your caseworker’s phone number, you can call our customer service representatives at 1-866-805-0990, press 2, then follow the prompts. You can also email our customer service representatives using the secure email form on our website (http://www.emailNYSLRS.com). Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.
Yes and I’ve researched other states like NJ and they give you a clear idea of the process and a time frame of 6-8 months until a decision is made.
I have been waiting over a year and have multiple disabilities. One doctor at a time and a whole lotta time getting them medical documentation and jumping the hoops. Everything is so up in the air and stressful. Not what someone suffering PTSD and chronic pain and colitis. Stress Im told is not good for you. Unbelievable. SSDI is taking awhile too. Ive gone thru all my savings and if this goes on much longer i could lose my house. A guiddeline of what to expect and how things work would be so helpful! seems like they dont want us to know anything. so stressful. I dont think they have nearly enough IME doctors.
Your message is important to us and we have sent you a private message in response.
How were your IME doctors? Are their decisions final? Can your doctors rebuttal ?
For information about the disability benefits approval process, please visit our Disability Benefits page or contact your caseworker.