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Employees of many Colorado governmental agencies and public entities receive disability and other benefits by virtue of their participation in the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA). The PERA disability program has two separate components: short-term disability and disability retirement.
Many disputes arise as government employees try to recover short-term disability or PERA disability retirement benefits. If you have a dispute related to a PERA disability retirement claim, consult lawyer Shawn E. McDermott. This attorney has served clients in Denver, Colorado and the surrounding areas for years. He is experienced in this area of law and can help pursue your appeal or litigate your case.
When a member of PERA becomes mentally or physically incapacitated from working, a disability claim is submitted with PERA. After eligibility for such benefits is confirmed, the claim is submitted to Standard Insurance Company — the chosen disability program administrator. The insurance company then determines whether the PERA member is entitled to short-term disability or PERA disability retirement.
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In order to qualify for PERA disability retirement, an employee must demonstrate total and permanent inability to engage in any employment in which he or she would earn at least 75 percent of pre-disability earnings. If Standard Insurance Company agrees that this requirement has been met, the employee is entitled to receive disability retirement benefits for life, or until the employee is no longer disabled.
The amount of the PERA disability retirement benefit is determined by performing a complicated set of calculations. These calculations are based on the employee's earned and purchased service credit with the PERA employer and the "highest average salary" earned by the employee.
When building a case for PERA disability retirement benefits, enlisting a lawyer can make all the difference. An attorney located in Denver, Colorado, Shawn E. McDermott is knowledgeable in this area of law and can help you navigate the regulations that govern PERA claims.
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Sometimes, Standard Insurance Company decides an employee is not eligible for PERA disability retirement. Often this determination is made because the employee's disability is not deemed permanent. In this case, the employee may be entitled to receive short-term disability benefits.
In order to qualify for short-term disability, an employee must demonstrate an inability to perform his or her prior occupation. The maximum duration for short-term disability benefits is 22 months. The amount of the benefit equals 60 percent of an employee's pre-disability earnings. Unlike the PERA disability retirement program, short term disability benefits are paid by Standard Insurance Company pursuant to an insurance contract.
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Depending upon the employer, PERA members are offered additional or supplemental long-term disability (LTD) coverage under a separate long-term disability insurance policy issued by the Standard Insurance Company. This additional policy is meant to supplement the PERA disability retirement program and compensate the employee up to 60 percent of the employee's pre-disability income.
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Shawn E. McDermott has considerable experience pursuing PERA disability retirement claims and negotiating with Standard Insurance Company as a dedicated PERA disability retirement attorney. This lawyer, based in Denver, Colorado, is currently available to review your claim to determine if he can help pursue your appeal or litigate your case. Please contact Shawn McDermott today for an assessment of your case.
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Contact PERA disability retirement lawyer Shawn E. McDermott for quality representation in the Denver, Colorado area.
An attorney client relationship is not established by submitting this initial contact information to
our office.
Law Office of
Shawn E. McDermott, LLC
The Riverpoint Building
2300 15th Street, Suite 200
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: 866-794-9327
Fax: 303-964-1900
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Shawn McDermott is also Of Counsel to the McDermott Law Firm in Canon City, which is owned and operated by John A. McDermott.