Goyette, Ruano & Thompson offers complete solutions for individuals who seek an Industrial Disability Retirement (IDR) due to work injuries which render them substantially incapacitated from performing the usual duties of his or her position, from support with applications to IDR appeals and/or litigation.
Whether you were injured in a pursuit or on a specific call for service, or if you have a lower back injury or heart condition that developed over time, our experienced industrial disability retirement attorneys at Goyette, Ruano & Thompson can help you.
Contact our industrial disability retirement attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation. We will provide legal insight that will help you define your path forward.
DISABILITY RETIREMENT VS REGULAR RETIREMENT
Industrial Disability Retirement (IDR) is a process that allows an employee to retire from their public safety position if they are unable to perform the full duties of their job due to a service-connected injury or illness. This type of retirement is different from a regular retirement in that it does not require the employee to reach a certain age or years of service.
There are two types of disability retirement: Regular and Industrial. You may be eligible for either, or both, depending on your particular circumstances.
What’s the difference between disability retirement vs regular retirement?
Regular retirement is simply when an employee retires from their position after completing a certain number of years or after reaching a certain age. Industrial disability retirement, on the other hand, is when an employee can no longer perform the duties of their position due to a disability.
IS DISABILITY RETIREMENT MORE THAN REGULAR RETIREMENT?
That depends. If you become disabled after you retire but before you reach your earliest retirement age, you may get a higher benefit from your disability benefit than from your regular pension. But keep in mind, that the rules for calculating disability benefits are complex. A licensed industrial retirement disability attorney can help you understand how your benefits will be calculated.
How Industrial Disability Retirement Cases Can Play Out
In many cases, a properly prepared industrial disability retirement application and evidence package can result in certification of the pension benefit at the administrative level, thus avoiding prolonged litigation and expenses. However, an industrial retirement application may be denied by the employer for other reasons, including personnel actions and political pressures.
Goyette, Ruano & Thompson has the experience and knowledge to resolve or litigate these cases through all stages of the process (application, administrative hearing and appeal) to reverse or avoid a denial and recover the industrial disability retirement benefits.
TYPES OF EMPLOYEES WE REPRESENT
Goyette, Ruano & Thompson serves as industrial disability retirement attorneys for clients who work in a plethora of occupations. A few examples include:
Police officers
Firefighters
Deputy sheriffs
In addition, our industrial disability retirement attorneys work on cases for all public sector employees through California under the California Public Employee’s Retirement System (CalPERS) and the County Employees Retirement Law (CERL).
Why You Should Retain Industrial Disability Retirement Attorneys
As mentioned above, the legalities surrounding industrial disability retirement cases can be extremely complicated. The scope of what’s occurring with a particular claim can extend beyond the law and involve financial and political concerns over which the injured person has absolutely no control or influence. This is not always what occurs, but the bottom line is that people who have been badly injured in this manner are already facing several disadvantages and our industrial disability retirement attorneys want to help.
The last thing you or someone you love who has been harmed should try to do without any legal help is to attempt to work your way through this difficult process. It may lead to extensive delays with regards to ultimately recovering your industrial disability retirement benefits or it could lead to an outright denial, creating the need for an appeal and more delays.
The industrial disability retirement attorneys at Goyette, Ruano & Thompson can help you put your situation into perspective and explain the context. This knowledge alone will help you make a sound decision, based on an experienced legal perspective, regarding how you should proceed.
If you recently sustained an injury and believe you will eventually be substantially incapacitated from performing the usual duties of your position, speak to one of our experienced industrial disability retirement attorneys at Goyette, Ruano & Thompson for a complimentary evaluation of the requirements to qualify for an Industrial Disability Retirement. We can help you obtain the benefits you are entitled to.
Questions? Give GRT Law a call for your free consultation and/or estate planning review.