Disability Retirement

Occupational Disability Retirement

To apply for a disability retirement, download the Disability Retirement Packet and return all the required documents. You must meet each of the following conditions to be eligible for occupational disability retirement.

You must have at least one month of ERS service credit.
You must apply within two years from the date of injury.
You must have contributed to ERS in the month you became disabled.
Your injury must have occurred at a specific time and place while on the job.
Your injury must be sudden and unexpected, resulting from a dangerous job duty not common to the general public.
You must be mentally or physically unable to perform your job, or any other job earning similar pay.
You must request reasonable accommodations for your condition through your agency.

If your application for disability retirement is approved, you will receive a monthly retirement check and insurance benefits.

Nonoccupational Disability Retirement

To apply for a disability retirement, download the Disability Retirement Packet and return all the required documents. You must meet each of the following conditions in order to be eligible for non-occupational disability retirement:

You must have at least 10 years of creditable service credit. Up to five years of established military service can be included. You cannot use Optional Retirement Program Service or proportionate system service to meet this requirement.
You must apply within two years of your last month of ERS service credit.
You must have contributed to ERS in the month you became disabled.
Your condition must likely be permanent.
You must be mentally or physically unable to perform your job, or any other job earning similar pay.
Reasonable accommodations for your condition must be requested with your agency.

To apply for a disability retirement, download the Disability Retirement Packet and return all the required documents. If your application for disability retirement is approved, you will receive a monthly retirement check and insurance benefits. Your monthly retirement check may be permanently reduced based on your age at your retirement date.

Optional Retirement Program (ORP) Disability Retirement

You are eligible to enroll in the State's insurance program if you fulfill the following requirements:

You have at least 10 years of service credit in ERS, or the ORP, or any entity that participates in the state retirement program.
Provide verification you are an ORP disabled retiree.
Your condition must likely be permanent.
You must be mentally or physically unable to perform your job, or any other job earning similar pay.
Employees hired after August 31, 2001 must have 10 years of service in a GBP-participating agency or institution to qualify for health insurance in retirement. Employees hired prior are grandfathered which required 10 years of service, but only three years of service with a GBP-participating agency.
At retirement, you were employed by an agency or institution that participates in the State's insurance program.
You must be retired from the ORP, as required by Tex. Ins. Code §1551.102(d)(1) and §1551.102(d)(2)(B)

Call ERS at (877) 275-4377 to request an ORP Disability Retirement packet.

ORP disability retirees with at least 10 years of service credit may continue state insurance participation for as long as they continue to be certified as disabled.

Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Disability Retirement

If you are a TRS participants, ERS does not review or approve your disability retirement request. Please contact TRS for more information on their processes at toll-free (800) 223-8778. If you are approved by TRS for disability retirement through TRS, you may be eligible to enroll in the State's insurance program.

Note: Health and other insurance benefits for members and retirees are subject to change based on available State funding. The Texas Legislature determines the level of funding for such benefits and has no continuing obligation to provide those benefits beyond each fiscal year.