Duty Disability
Amount
Duty disability provides a benefit payment for eligible Participants equal to 75% of salary on date of injury or 50% if the
disability resulted from any physical defect or disease that existed at the time injury was sustained. If the disability benefits
continue for more than 5 years, on January 1 of the sixth year, such benefit will be increased by 10%.
Duty disability benefit payments are subject to an offset/reduction by any payment or settlement received from the City of
Chicago or the Chicago Board of Education under the Workers’ Compensation Act or the Workers’ Occupational Disease Act.
It is the responsibility of the Participant to notify the Fund of any payment or settlement received based on his or her injury. A
complete copy of the award or settlement must be provided to the Fund. Failure to do so can lead to the reduction of award
or benefits and the collection of any prior benefits improperly received.
Maximum Benefit Time Period
For disability beginning before age 60, a benefit is payable until the Participant attains age 65. If disability commences after
age 60, the benefit is payable during the disability for a period not to exceed 5 years. Disability payments shall cease when a
participant is found to no longer be disabled.
Workers’ Compensation
Before any action can be taken by the Fund on an application for duty disability, a Participant must file a timely claim for Workers’ Compensation with their employer. An applicant must begin to receive payment for the claim or the claim must
otherwise be finally adjudicated before the Fund can either approve or deny the application for duty disability
The Participant is required to maintain a complete application with the Fund while awaiting a decision on their Workers’
Compensation claim. A participant is not allowed to apply for ordinary disability for the same injury or illness that is the basis of the participant’s duty application.
5 (40 ILCS 5/8-163) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 8-163) Sec. 8-163. When disability benefit not payable.
(a) If an employee receiving duty or ordinary disability benefit refuses to submit to examination by a physician appointed by
the board, or fails or refuses to consent to and sign an authorization allowing the board to receive copies of or examine the
employee’s medical and hospital records, or fails or refuses to provide complete information regarding any other
employment for compensation he has received since he has become disabled, he shall have no further right to receive the
benefit.
The Fund begins paying the ordinary disability benefit for the period beginning August 15, 2013
(31st day after July 15, 2013).
Application Timing
Once you submit your application, you are afforded 90 days to submit all necessary supporting documentation for your
application. If documentation is not received within the requested 90 days, an additional 30 days extension may be granted.
Failure to complete an application in a timely fashion may result in the denial of the benefit application.
Duty disability benefits cannot be paid retroactively for any period of time more than one year prior to the date of application
with the Fund.
Child Benefit
A Participant that is in receipt of a duty disability benefit is also entitled to receive an amount of $10 per month on account of
each unmarried child less than the age of 18, provided that the child’s disability benefit does not exceed 15% of such
Participant’s salary at the date of injury. The total duty disability benefit and child’s duty disability benefit combined may not
exceed 90% of the of the member’s salary at the time.
Exceptions
In accordance with 40 ILCS 5/8-161.1(a), Disablement because of commonly termed heart attacks or strokes or any
disablement falling within the broad field of coronary involvement or heart disease, shall not be the result of an accidental
injury incurred in the performance of duty.