When you first speak to your California employer about disability pensions, you may have many questions. At Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin and Lee, LLP, we know that disability pensions can sometimes be complex and we want to make sure you have the information you need.
When you first think about disability pensions, you may wonder if you are even eligible. Most of the time, you are eligible for this pension if you incurred an injury while performing a work-related task. Additionally, this wound typically needs to keep you from performing your job. If you cannot work because of your injury, you may simply want to fill out the paperwork to apply for this pension. However, you usually need to see your physician first. Your application generally needs a statement from your doctor explaining that you cannot work in order for your application to be valid.
Once you have a doctor’s verification of your disability, you may expect to receive your benefits immediately. Sometimes, though, the application process can be lengthy. You may need to wait at least nine months for the process to be fully completed. Additionally, you may need to apply for this pension within a certain amount of time.
Some people may think their disability pension will not affect their Social Security benefits. According to CNBC, these different kinds of benefits may sometimes have an impact on each other. In some situations, people who receive a disability pension may receive fewer Social Security benefits, depending on how much they earned during their career and how much of their salary went toward Social Security. Because of this, some people may want to work with a professional so they fully understand their situation. You can find more information about this subject on our webpage.