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Human Resources  |  Retirement  |   Disability Retirement Application Instructions

Disability Retirement Application Instructions

If an employee becomes disabled and can no longer work, he/she may be eligible to apply for a disability retirement under the ERB which oversees the defined-benefit and defined-contribution retirement plans. All disability retirements need to be initiated and coordinated through the Human Resources Retirement Services department. In addition, an employee may be eligible for UNM benefits into retirement if they meet the criteria of policy 3600, section 2.3.

Defined-Benefit Disability Retirement Instructions

An ERA member may be eligible for disability retirement under Educational Retirement Board's (ERB) defined-benefit plan when the following criteria have been satisfied:

The member has completed ten years of earned service credit and the member is totally disabled and unable to continue employment, or unable to gain or retain other employment commensurate with his or her education, background, or experience.

The annual disability benefit under the ERA for the defined-benefit plan is approximately one-third of a member's Final Average Salary.

An employee who is considering ERA disability retirement as an option should follow the steps below:

1

Contact HR and ERB

  1. Contact the Human Resources Retirement Services department to set up an appointment by calling 277-MyHR (6947).
  2. Contact the Education Retirement Board and request a disability packet. This packet will include all forms needed to start the ERA process. These forms will include paperwork that needs to be completed by a physician familiar with the employee's disability.
2

Complete & Submit Paperwork. Once the physician has completed the appropriate forms, the entire application needs to be submitted to Education Retirement Board at the address below:

  • New Mexico Educational Retirement Board
  • Attention: Disability Retirement
  • PO Box 26129
  • Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-0129

Upon receipt of the application, the case will be submitted to the next available disability review Board meeting. For confirmation of this review date, the employee must contact the Educational Retirement Board directly. ERB Disability Application Calendar 2011

3

Approval. Once approved, the ERB will notify UNM's Human Resources Retiree Services for a certification of separation of employment. At this time, it is important for the employee to work closely with his/her department to ensure a timely separation so that Retirement Services can certify his/her application for the Educational Retirement Board.

4

UNM Benefits. To continue UNM benefits into retirement (if determined eligible), the employee should download and complete a UNM Benefit Election Form:

  1. Retiree Benefit Election Form (Over 65)
  2. Retiree Benefit Election Form (Under 65)

Submit the UNM Benefit Election Form to Retirement Services. Retirement Services will process the employee's retirement benefits upon separation and disability retirement approval.

Defined-Contribution Plan Disability Retirement Instructions

Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP Members)

An ARP member may be eligible for disability retirement when the following criteria have been satisfied:

The member is totally disabled and unable to continue employment or the member is unable to gain or retain other employment commensurate with his or her education, background, or experience, and the member can provide documentation from a doctor attesting to the disability or approval for Disability under the Social Security Administration

The annual disability benefit under the ARP plan is based on the employee's contributions in their account and the gain/loss of those investments. For an estimate of this benefit, the employee should contact their ARP provider.

An employee who is considering ARP disability retirement as an option should follow the steps below:

1

Contact HR, SSA, & ARP Provider

  1. Contact the Human Resources Retirement Services department to set up an appointment by calling 277-MyHR (6947).
  2. If disability has been approved by Social Security, obtain documentation of approval from the Social Security Administration. If approval is still pending, a notarized letter from a physician attesting to the disability may be used.
  3. Contact the Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP) provider to request a distribution packet due to a disability.
2

Complete & Submit Paperwork. The completed distribution paperwork and the Social Security or physician certification must be submitted to the ARP provider for approval and processing. A copy of these documents must also be provided to UNM's Human Resources Retirement Services. Failure to do so may impact an employee's right to UNM benefits. Forms can be dropped off or mailed to the address below:

  • Retirement Services
  • Division of Human Resources
  • 1700 Lomas Blvd. NE # 1400
  • MSC01 1220
  • 1 University of New Mexico
  • Albuquerque, NM 87131
3

Approval. Upon notification of approval from the Alternative Retirement Plan provider, notification must be given to Retirement Services to coordinate a feasible retirement date. Retirement dates can only occur on the first of any calendar month. Once a retirement date has been selected by the employee and Retirement Services, the employee needs to request a distribution from the ARP provider effective as of that date. The employee must then notify his/her department in writing of their intended separation date from UNM.

4

UNM Benefits. To continue UNM benefits into retirement (if determined eligible), the employee should download and complete a UNM Benefit Election Form:

  1. Retiree Benefit Election Form (Over 65)
  2. Retiree Benefit Election Form (Under 65)

Submit the UNM Benefit Election Form to Retirement Services. Retirement Services will process the employee's retirement benefits upon separation and disability retirement approval.