Cities seek changes to disability pension laws as cops quit in droves

[TexasTowelie]

Calling the current situation “fiscally unsustainable,” Minnesota cities will seek help from the state in covering costs of the skyrocketing number of police officers retiring due to post-traumatic stress and seeking workers’ compensation benefits.

The League of Minnesota Cities plans to push again in the next legislative session for a bill that would fully reimburse cities for the cost of insurance for police officers and firefighters on disability pensions, according to Anne Finn, a lobbyist for the group.

The number of cops and firefighters applying for disability pensions from the state retirement fund has exploded since the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020 that touched off widespread protests, riots and arson.

Since August 2020, about 80% of disability pension applicants say they can’t do their jobs due to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Read more: https://minnesotareformer.com/2021/11/29/cities-seek-changes-to-disability-pension-laws-as-cops-quit-in-droves/

I wonder what percentage of the officers would qualify for SSDI if their only claim was for PTSD? How many of these applicants could work in some other capacity with their police departments or at another employer?

[janterry]

1. then it will just be a combo of ptsd, depression

anxiety disorder.

This sort of thing happens in more than just in police forces......

I'm not judging. Just saying this as someone who worked with lots of people (and has helped people) get on disability.

[msongs]

2. sounds like a scam nt

[TexasTowelie]

3. While I didn't have PTSD, when I applied for SSDI several years ago

I was denied because even after a suicide attempt and a second time when I was hospitalized, I did not get approved (even though I also had issues with diabetes also). Despite the fact that I had four different psychiatrists evaluate me, including one who was my doctor for three years, none of their opinions mattered--they were overridden by the SS psychiatrist who I never met before the ALJ hearing and who never spoke with me to evaluate my mental health condition.

That is why I questioned whether any of these LEOs would meet the qualifications for SSDI when I didn't qualify myself and was in a more dire and dysfunctional situation than the LEOs claiming PTSD. It seems like they need to substantiate these claims further and in some instances deny those claims if the only evidence is what they stated on a claim application form.