Disability Benefits

Disability Retirement (Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
Disability Retirement is a retirement benefit for which you may apply if you are unable to continue work because of an injury or illness. PERS does not pay disability benefits for partial disabilities. You will be considered fully disabled if medical documentation indicates that you are unable, for a minimum of 90 consecutive days, to perform any work for which you are qualified.

For further information go to http://www.pers.state.or.us or check your Member’s Handbook, or contact PERS Customer Services 24-hour self-service line 1-888-320-7377 and request the Questions and Answers About Disability Benefits.

Short Term Disability (Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company)
Employees have the option of purchasing short-term disability insurance under the Section 125 Cafeteria Plan through Colonial Life & Accident Insurance. This plan is an individual disability product that provides income to offset the financial losses that result when an employee is unable to work for a short period of time. The following are features of the short-term plan:

• varying levels of either on-and off-the-job (24-hour) protection or off-the-job protection only.**
• a variety of benefit periods and a selection of elimination periods.

Colonial's short-term disability plan is for a two-year period and excludes most pre-existing conditions for one calendar year prior to instating the plan.  Employees can continue this coverage if they retire or change jobs, and their plan is guaranteed renewable until age 65.

For more information, contact RCC's Colonial representative, Phil Ellena at (541) 779-8373.

**Not all plans are available in every state.