(40 ILCS 5/15-150) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-150)

Sec. 15-150. Disability benefits; eligibility. A participant may be granted a disability benefit if: (1) while a participating employee, he or she becomes physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to perform the duties of his or her assigned position for any period exceeding 60 days; and (2) the employee had completed 2 years of service at the time of disability, unless the disability is a result of an accident or the employee is a police officer who qualifies for the calculation under subsection (b) of Section 15-153.

An employee shall be considered disabled only during the period for which the board determines, based upon the evidence listed below, that the employee is unable to reasonably perform the duties of his or her assigned position as a result of a physical or mental disability. This determination shall be based upon:

(i) a written certificate from one or more licensed and practicing physicians appointed by or acceptable to the board, stating that the employee is disabled and unable to reasonably perform the duties of his or her assigned position;

(ii) a written certificate from the employer stating that the employee is unable to perform the duties of his or her assigned position and, if the employee is a police officer, the employer's position on whether the disability qualifies as a line of duty disability;

(iii) any other medical examinations, hospital records, laboratory results, or other information necessary for determining the employment capacity and condition of the employee; and

(iv) if the employee is a police officer applying for a line of duty disability, a written certification from one or more licensed and practicing physicians appointed by or acceptable to the board, stating that the disability qualifies as a line of duty disability under subsection (b) of Section 15-153.

The board shall prescribe rules governing the filing, investigation, control, and supervision of disability claims. Costs incurred by a claimant in connection with completing a claim for disability benefits shall be paid (A) by the claimant, in the case of the one required medical examination, medical certificate, and employer's certificate and any other requirements generally imposed by the board on all disability benefit claimants; and (B) by the System, in the case of any additional medical examination or other additional requirement imposed on a particular claimant that is not imposed generally on all disability benefit claimants.

Pregnancy and childbirth shall be considered a disability.

The same application shall be used to determine eligibility for the calculation of disability benefits under subsection (a) or subsection (b) of Section 15-153.

(Source: P.A. 103-80, eff. 6-9-23.)