Acceptable and Unacceptable Proofs of Permanent and Total Disability
Physician’s Certifi cate: Acceptable. An application based
(2) occupational disability. Only the “permanent and total
on physical disability must include a certifi cate signed by a
disability” pension is acceptable.
physician. An application based on mental disability must
State Agencies:
include a certifi cate signed by a physician or a psychologist
licensed to practice in Ohio. Note: A chiropractor is not a
Bureau of Workers Compensation: A determination of
“physician” for purposes of the Homestead Law.
“permanent and total disability” is acceptable. Other de-
terminations, such as “permanent and partial disability”
Federal Agencies:
“temporary and total disability,” and “temporary and partial
Social Security Administration (SSA): An SSA (or SSI)
disability” are not.
form indicating that an applicant is “disabled” is acceptable.
State Retirement Systems: Not acceptable. The Public
The SSA only gives disability benefi ts to those who are per-
Employees Retirement System (PERS), the State Teachers
manently and totally disabled.
Retirement System and the School Employees Retirement
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Not acceptable, un-
System (SERS), do not certify permanent and total disability.
less the individual is also determined to have “individual un-
While the State Highway Patrol Retirement System (HPRS)
employability.” The VA certifi es all members as “permanently
and the Police and Firemen’s Disability and Pension Fund
and totally disabled,” whether or not they are employable.
(PFDPF) do certify individuals to be “permanently and totally
disabled” these determinations are job-specifi c and do not
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB): The RRB has two types
rule out the possibility of other substantially remunerative
of disability pensions: (1) total and permanent disability and
employment using a different set of skills.