Question – If I’m a police officer or a firefighter over age 55 am I still eligible for PERA Disability Benefits?
Answer – If you are over age 55 and are a disabled police officer or a firefighter you still may be entitled to a variety of benefits under the Public Employee Retirement Association plan depending on your number of years of service working in a PERA Police and Fire Plan covered position. The legislature recognizes that as a result of the physically demanding nature of police officers and firefighters, they retire earlier than members of other professions. Thus, age 55 acts as a cutoff age for a variety of benefits. While it’s best to assess your entitlement to PERA benefits with an attorney before age 55, just because you are over age 55 does not mean you are not entitled to any benefits.