In order to qualify for Duty Disability benefits under the PERA Police and Fire Plan or the PERA Correctional Plan, a police officer, firefighter, or corrections officer will need to demonstrate that he or she has a condition that is expected to prevent him or her from performing the normal duties of the position for a period of not less than 12 months as a direct result of an injury incurred during the performance of inherently dangerous duties that are specific to the position. See Minn. Stat. § 353.01, subd . 41 and Minn. Stat. § 353E.001, subd, 1.

As part of the PERA application process, your application gets submitted to Managed Medical Review Organization (MMRO). They are a third-party company that PERA contracts with to review all of your medical records with them.

One question we are often asked at Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. is whether you can receive PERA Duty Disability benefits and still work in another job. We are also asked if you can receive PERA Duty Disability benefits and Minnesota Workers’ Compensation benefits at the same time. The answer to both questions is yes, but there are some limitations.