Rhode Island § 16-16-17 - Teachers’ Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]

§ 16-16-17. Amount of accidental disability benefit.

(a) For disability applications submitted on or before September 30, 2009, upon retirement for accidental disability under § 16-16-16 a teacher shall receive a benefit that shall be equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66²/₃%) of his or her annual compensation at the time of his or her retirement, subject to the provisions of § 16-16-20.

(b) Upon any application for accidental disability submitted after October 1, 2009, if the teacher has been found to be permanently and totally disabled from service but has not been found by the board to be permanently and totally disabled from any employment as a result of his/her accidental disability, a teacher shall receive a retirement allowance equal to fifty percent (50%) of the rate of the teacher’s compensation at the date of the teacher’s retirement subject to the provisions of § 16-16-20. The retiree shall, as a condition of continued receipt of a disability retirement allowance, on or before a date fixed by the retirement board, annually under penalties of perjury provide the board with such affidavits and accurate evidence of earnings, employment and gainful activity as the board may require, including, but not limited to, joint and/or individual tax returns. Payment of the disability retirement allowance shall continue as long as the individual remains disabled, and regardless of service or age. Upon retirement for accidental disability that has been found by the board to be permanently and totally disabling from any employment, a teacher shall receive a retirement allowance equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66²/₃%) of the rate of the teacher’s compensation at the date of the teacher’s retirement subject to the provisions of § 16-16-20. The retirement board shall apply the terms of subsection 28-33-17(b) in determining total disability.