At Meuser Law Office, P.A. we represent more police officers, firefighters, and other first responders injured in the line of duty than any other law firm in the State of Minnesota. The attorneys at Meuser Law Office, P.A. have more experience representing public servants in their claims for PERA Duty Disability benefits than any other attorney in the State of Minnesota.
When finding an attorney to assist you in your pursuit for benefits it is very important to know how many PERA claims he or she has pursued. Frighteningly, we’ve seen a solo practitioner advertise for PERA Duty Disability applications “helps and tips” on a website that lists incorrect information. Misinformation can seriously harm your claim. Your claim for Duty Disability or regular disability benefits in conjunction with Healthcare Continuation benefits can be worth over a half a million dollars. The amounts of money at stake with each claim are too high to jeopardize by retaining counsel who doesn’t know what he or she is doing. He or she may not know how the PERA disability benefits are coordinated with workers’ compensation benefits in Minnesota and this inexperience or ignorance will hurt your claim.

Sometimes undergoing a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) can help your workers’ compensation case if there is a dispute over the extent of your physical restrictions. Oftentimes the restrictions issued by your treating physician will differ from those issued by the insurance company’s doctor after undergoing an Independent Medical Exam (IME). An FCE can provide clarity and objectively show that an injured worker has physical restrictions. Sometimes a treating physician will refer an injured worker for a FCE and the insurance company will deny the testing.

A Functional Capacity Evaluation is a series of objective tests used to determine an injured workers’ functional limitations. After the evaluation is completed, an injured worker’s treating physician will examine the results of the FCE and then issue permanent restrictions.

Yes! In most cases, you can receive PERA disability benefits and workers’ compensation benefits at the same time.

Minnesota police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who receive PERA disability pension benefits are usually also entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. PERA allows a disabled firefighter or police officer to receive Duty Disability benefits plus workers’ compensation wage loss benefits, up to a total of his or her salary at the time of the disability, or the current salary of the position, whichever is greater. PERA reduces the benefit amount dollar-for-dollar if a combination of the two benefits exceeds this limit.

Meuser Law Office, P.A. is honored to support Firefighters for Healing who is a proud beneficiary of the upcoming 27th Annual Polo Classic on Sunday, August 7, 2016. The Polo Classic is the preeminent polo event in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area. Meuser Law Office is looking forward to attending the Polo Pavilion, a VIP experience, where a portion of every ticket sold supports Firefighters for Healing. Held at the Twin City Polo Club, this exciting event features live music, the Horsepower Car Show, live & silent auction items, a hat parade including a best dressed competition, a champagne toast during the traditional divot stomp and, of course, the exhilarating experience of a live polo match to stimulate the senses and entertain all ages. Visit the event website to find information about these events and more as well as a detailed schedule of the day.