MSRS General Employees Retirement Plan

The General Employees Retirement Plan (General Plan) is the largest retirement plan administered by MSRS. The General Plan provides retirement, survivor, and disability coverage for state employees as well as civil service employees of the University of Minnesota, and employees of the Metropolitan Council.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible to receive a disability benefit under the MSRS General Employees Retirement Plan if you are a member of this plan and have the requisite number of service credits.

To qualify for benefits, you must be physically off of the job and you must apply for disability benefits within the first 18 months after leaving public service.

PERA/MSRS
PERA Disability
PERA Police & Fire Plan
PERA Corrections Plan
PERA General/Coordinated Plan
MSRS Disability
MSRS State Patrol Plan
MSRS Corrections Plan
MSRS General Employees Retirement Plan
Police/Fire Healthcare Benefits

What are the benefits?

If you are a member of the MSRS general employees’ retirement plan and sustain a significant injury or develop a serious medical condition, you may be eligible for total and permanent disability. The threshold is that you must be unable to engage in any substantial or gainful activity as a result of an existing, medically proven physical or mental impairment that is expected to continue for at least one year.

If you were hired before July 1, 2010, you must have three years of service to qualify. If you were hired after June 30, 2010, you must have at least five years of service.

Why do I need an attorney?

I always recommend that a MSRS member speak to an attorney prior to applying for disability benefits. Osterbauer Harper & Furth Law Firm has filed hundreds of MSRS and PERA applications on behalf of injured workers, and she knows how to coordinate your MSRS and workers’ compensation benefits to maximize the total amount of money you will receive from all sources.

For more information, or to schedule a free consultation, please contact Osterbauer Harper & Furth Law Firm.

If you have questions about a MSRS general employees retirement plan, talk to the team of experienced MSRS lawyers at Osterbauer Harper & Furth Law Firm. We can assist you at any stage. Whether you are in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis & St. Paul), Rochester, Duluth or Greater Minnesota, we will help you. Give our office a call today at 612-334-3434  or contact us online today for a free initial consultation, and we can arrange a free consultation to discuss your case.

Faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I am denied MSRS disability benefits?
As with any type of disability benefits plan, it is not uncommon for initial claims for MSRS to be denied. In these cases, working with an experienced MSRS attorney at Osterbauer Harper & Furth Law Firm provides assistance in the appeals process and in meeting deadlines for all appeal filings.
Individuals can apply for MSRS disability benefits without an attorney. There is a benefit to having an attorney review the application, as the lawyer can often catch omissions, errors, or lack of documentation that may trigger a denial of the application or slow down the approval process.
Different types of employment categories have different requirements for minimum years of service. These are also different if you were hired before or after July 1, 2010. Those hired before July 1, 2010, you must have three years of service, and if hired after June 30th, 2010, you must have five.
Employees filing for MSRS disability benefits have an 18-month window to apply for benefits after they are no longer working in the public service sector. In addition, employees filing for MSRS disability have to have the required number of service credits, which are based on time work in qualifying positions.
In the past, all types of in-the-line-of-duty injuries were covered for qualifying members of MSRS. Today, the person making the claim must be able to prove that the specific injury causing the disability occurred on the job and while performing his or her duties. In addition, the claim must support the facts that the job had an inherent danger and that the injury is specific to the position.

MSRS is the Minnesota State Retirement System. It is responsible for managing the benefits for retirement, disability, and survivors of covered employees throughout the state. Only eligible employees are included in the plan.

If you are denied MSRS disability benefits, the experienced lawyers at Osterbauer Harper & Furth Law Firm can file an appeal. This must be done within a very specific time period to avoid losing the right to the appeal process.
It is possible and even common for people to file for MSRS disability benefits on their own. However, if there is an error, omission, or lack of documentation, the application may be denied. This can result in the need to go through the appeals process, which can delay payment of the benefits. We recommend having our attorneys review the application before being filed.
It is possible to receive both MSRS disability benefits as well as workers’ compensation benefits. However, MSRS disability benefits are reduced based on the workers’ compensation benefits, which can have a significant impact on the amount of the settlement.
Contact the MSRS plan administration for documentation on benefit options. Our attorneys can also review any questions you have on your specific injury and disability benefit options through a free consultation. The consultation provides precise information and allows you to get the answer to your questions quickly and accurately from experienced lawyers in MSRS.