FAQ: Retirement > SERS

Retirement > SERS > Disability Retirement

25. Can I receive more or less than my Statutory Benefit?

Yes. SERS rules provide that the calculation of your disability retirement benefit must take account of certain income you receive from other sources. The sources of income that count under these rules are:

  • Workers’ Compensation Benefits
  • Social Security Benefits
  • Benefits under Section 5-142 of the Connecticut General Statutes

The rules apply to an amount known as your “60% Minimum.” Your 60% Minimum is an amount equal to 60% of the current base rate of pay for the position from which you retired. (This base rate of pay does not include any payment for overtime.)

The 60% Minimum rule applies only if your combined income from both SERS and from all of the relevant sources is less than your 60% Minimum. In that case, your SERS benefit may not be less than the smallest amount necessary to make your combined income equal to your 60% Minimum—even if that smallest amount is larger than your Statutory Benefit.

The rules also apply to an amount known as the “80% Maximum.” Your 80% Maximum is an amount equal to either (i) eighty percent of your Average Salary or (ii) eighty percent of the base rate of pay you received at the time you retired. You can find a short video about how we calculate your Average Salary here: Counseling » Office of the State Comptroller » State of Connecticut.

The 80% Maximum rule applies only if your combined income from both SERS and from all of the relevant sources is greater than your 80% Maximum. In that case, your SERS benefit may not be larger than the smallest amount necessary to make your combined income equal to your 80% Maximum—even if that smallest amount is smaller than your Statutory Benefit.

The 60% Minimum Rule and the 80% Maximum Rule are both complex and contain many details. You can learn more about them in the Summary Plan Description for your retirement plan on this website. Plan Information » Office of the State Comptroller » State of Connecticut You can also watch a presentation that summarizes the rules on this website, at Disability Retirement » Office of the State Comptroller » State of Connecticut.