The major goal is to recognize that many of our disabled members eventually can be gainfully employed in other jobs.
Because we adhere to state statutes, we cannot implement these changes on our own. Most of our recommendations require action by the Ohio General Assembly. All of the recommended changes that we can make on our own have been made.
The articles question the timing of certain individual disability applications, but it’s important for readers to know that our members must be declared medically disabled before a member can receive a disability pension. There are many checks and balances that take place in this process before our board of trustees issues a determination, including review by clinical staff and physicians.
By law, we have no authority to judge an applicant’s motivation, only whether medical professionals believe he or she is unable to perform current job duties.
OPERS’ disability program provides much needed assistance to our members and their families, and we eagerly await action by the Ohio legislature to enact the program changes that the board proposed in 2009.
Ken Thomas
Dayton
Cinthia Sledz
Cleveland
Mr. Thomas is the board chair of OPERS. Ms. Sledz is the vice chair.