Disability Benefits

The Employes' Retirement System provides two types of disability benefits: Duty Disability and Ordinary Disability. Also, the City of Milwaukee offers long-term disability coverage to its Fire, Police and General City employees through the Department of Employee Relations.

You may be eligible for Duty Disability benefits if you are totally and permanently incapacitated from performing the responsibilities of your full job description, due to a specific and documented work-related injury. In order to apply, you must also have applied for Workers’ Compensation benefits or you must apply for a Workers’ Compensation benefits at the time of your disability application. Any Workers’ Compensation benefits received in the past or in the future pertaining to the disability must be repaid to the City, if you are approved for duty disability. You must also inform the ERS of your employee status. Your application must include a log of dates and locations for each duty injury. The Annuity and Pension Board relies upon the authority of the Medical Council or Medical Panel to certify that you are duty disabled.

You may be eligible for Ordinary Disability benefits if you are totally and permanently incapacitated from performing the responsibilities of your full job description, due to a non-work-related medical condition.

You may be eligible for Long Term Disability coverage if you are an employee of a City agency that includes General City , Police and Fire employees. However, Milwaukee Area Technical College , Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Milwaukee Public Schools are excluded from coverage. For more information on the long-term disability plan, contact the Department of Employee Relations Benefits Division at (414) 286-3184.

The entire disability application process can take between two and three months. First, contact the Employes' Retirement System by telephone to provide basic information and request an estimate of your disability benefit.

Within three to six weeks, an estimate will be mailed to you. When you receive your estimate, call the Employes' Retirement System to schedule a counseling appointment.

At your appointment, the process of applying for disability benefits and completing necessary forms will begin:

• The Medical Council will review your completed application and physician’s documentation if you are a General City Employee. A medical panel is used for protective service members.  
• The Medical Council or panel will decide whether to recommend to the Annuity and Pension Board that you be approved for disability benefits.
• You will be notified whether your application has been approved or denied.  

To apply for disability benefits, contact the Employes' Retirement System at 414-286-3557 (or toll free at 1-800-815-8418) and ask to be transferred to a disability counselor.