DISABILITY APPLICATION PROCESS: EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Employers play an important role in a member’s process to apply for disability benefits. OP&F will notify an employer that an application for disability benefits has been filed no later than 14 days after the member files the application. The employer is responsible for submitting a statement to OP&F that certifies the member’s job description and any other information required to process the application.
When a member retires or accepts a disability benefit award, the employer must complete the Interim Payment Certification to aid in finalizing a pension or disability benefit computation. This enables OP&F to correctly compute the amount of the member’s service pension or disability benefit. The certification must be provided to OP&F within 28 days after receiving OP&F’s notice.
Employers are also required to complete The Employer Accounting of Member Compensation form. This form must be returned to OP&F within 60 days of OP&F's request for the information.
In the event the required certification is not received within that time frame, penalties will be assessed in the same manner as those assessed against late pre-employment physical information. For more information on disability filing or penalties please refer to the OP&F Employer Manual sections Service retirement and disability filing and Employer Penalty Structure.
Posted 7/18/2024