Updated October 22, 2026. Quick answer: The PEBA Police Officers Retirement System handbook says a member must file for a disability retirement benefit while in service, that is, not retired and within one year of last being on a covered payroll. Class Two members need five years of earned service and Class Three members eight, unless the disability came from an injury on the job, and the annual benefit cannot be less than 15% of average final compensation.
What this covers
The handbook has a section headed “Disability retirement benefit”. This page quotes that section. For the wider choices, see South Carolina PORS retirement decisions and public pension retirement decisions.
Who can apply
Each row is the handbook’s own wording.
| Topic | What the handbook says |
|---|---|
| Application | “Becoming disabled does not automatically qualify you for a disability retirement benefit; you must file an application and go through the review process.” |
| Must be in service | “You must be in service with a covered employer to file an application for disability retirement benefits.” |
| What in service means | “You are considered in service if you have not yet retired from PORS and it has not been more than one year since you were last on the payroll of a covered employer.” |
| Retired members | “Retired members who work for a covered employer are not eligible to apply for a disability retirement benefit.” |
| Class Two service test | “If you are a Class Two member, you must have at least five years of earned service credit toward retirement unless your disability is the result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of your job duties.” |
| Class Three service test | “If you are a Class Three member, you must have at least eight years of earned service credit toward retirement unless your disability is the result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of your job duties.” |
“If PEBA does not receive your application while you are in service, you will not be eligible to receive any disability retirement benefits from PORS.”
How to apply
“You should file your application for disability retirement as soon as you become disabled and while you are still in service with an employer covered by PORS.” “You do not, however, need to include any medical records from your health care providers.”
Review and appeal
“The determination to approve or deny your disability retirement claim is made after review by a medical board of three physicians.” “Please allow a minimum of three months after all required documentation has been received from you, your employer and your health care providers for your disability application to be processed.” “You have one year from the date of the denial to file an administrative appeal.”
How the benefit is set
The handbook says the benefit rests on three factors: “Your years of credited service projected to age 55 or 25 years of credit, whichever is less;” “Your average final compensation at retirement; and” “The current benefit multiplier for service retirement benefits.” “However, your annual benefit cannot be less than 15% of your average final compensation.” “If your disability retirement claim is approved, the effective date for your benefit will be the 30th day after your application is received by PEBA, or the day after your last day on your employer’s payroll, whichever is later.” The statute sets the retirement window and the certification. Section 9-11-80(1) says “On the application of a member in service or the member’s employer, a member who has the years of earned service required for the member’s class pursuant to Section 9-11-60(1) or any contributing member who is disabled as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of the member’s duties regardless of length of membership, may be retired by the retirement board not less than thirty days and not more than nine months next following the date of filing the application on a disability retirement allowance if the system, after a medical examination of the member, certifies that the member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that the incapacity is likely to be permanent, and that the member should be retired.”
Service retirement while the claim is pending
“If you are eligible for service retirement when you become disabled, you can apply for a service retirement benefit and begin receiving a monthly benefit while awaiting determination of your disability claim.” “You will receive only one type of payment, so if your disability claim is approved, you will need to decide whether to continue to receive your service retirement benefit or to begin receiving a disability benefit.” “When filing for both service and disability retirement benefits, note your disability retirement application must be received before your service retirement date.”
Workers’ compensation
“Do not wait to apply for a disability benefit until your workers’ compensation claim is finalized.” “You can arrange with your employer to make your retirement contributions through your employer if your disability requires you to be placed in an employer-approved leave status while receiving workers’ compensation benefits.” For disability income from a private plan, see what happens when long-term disability ends at 65.
What the handbook does not say
The handbook does not print the multiplier, a sample payment or the Class Two and Class Three definitions on this page. Ask PEBA for a calculation at your own service and pay.
Edition
This page reads the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), Fiscal year 2027 Police Officers Retirement System Member Handbook, the file PEBA served on 2026-10-22. It covers PORS, the police system. The South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS) and other PEBA plans have their own handbooks, which this page does not read, and South Carolina law and your own PEBA account control over this summary.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until after leaving the payroll. The handbook says an application received “more than one year after you terminate from all covered employment under PORS” is too late.
- Waiting for a workers’ compensation settlement. The handbook says “Do not wait to apply for a disability benefit until your workers’ compensation claim is finalized.”
- Expecting both payments. The handbook says “You will receive only one type of payment”.
Related: South Carolina PORS retirement decisions, public pension retirement decisions, and when long-term disability ends at 65.
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Answer againSources
- South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), Fiscal year 2027 Police Officers Retirement System Member Handbook: www.peba.sc.gov
- Related official page (not quoted): IRS, Retirement topics: Disability: www.irs.gov
- Related official page (not quoted): IRS, Topic no. 410, Pensions and annuities: www.irs.gov
Read from the pension system handbooks linked above on October 22, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a pension system or a qualified professional is the right place to confirm anything consequential.