Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 22-01-070.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 415-204-480 Does my disability qualify me for a LEOFF Plan 2 catastrophic duty disability benefit?
Hearing Location(s): On March 22, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. The hearing will be conducted by Zoom. See https://www.drs.wa.gov/sitemap/rules/#proposed-rule-hearings for details. Join Zoom meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89813498901?pwd=YzFlaSs4U0RISWhuamZ0ZFVMZjVPUT09, phone 253-215-8782, Meeting ID 898 1349 8901, Passcode 830876.
Date of Intended Adoption: March 23, 2022.
Submit Written Comments to: Rubi Reaume, Department of Retirement Systems (DRS), P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, email drs.rules@drs.wa.gov, by March 21, 2022.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Rubi Reaume, phone 360-664-7311, email drs.rules@drs.wa.gov, by March 14, 2022.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: To clarify the process for conducting periodic reviews to confirm continued eligibility for law enforcement officers' and firefighters' (LEOFF) Plan 2 catastrophic disability benefits.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: DRS, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Implementation: Candice Myrum, DRS, P.O. Box 48380, Olympia, WA 98504-8380, 360-664-7288.
Explanation of exemptions: DRS' rules only impact members and beneficiaries of the state retirement systems and participating public employers, and do not affect small businesses.
(1) If the department determines you are disabled and you became disabled in the line of duty, you qualify for a catastrophic duty disability if:
(a) The disability or disabilities that qualified you for a LEOFF Plan 2 duty disability benefit are so severe that considering your age, education, work experience, and transferable skills, you cannot engage in any other kind of substantial gainful activity in the labor market; and
(b) Your disability or disabilities have lasted or are expected to last at least ((twelve))12 months, or are expected to result in your death.
(2) A person with multiple injuries/conditions, some duty-related and some not, could qualify for a catastrophic duty disability but only if the duty injury or injuries, standing on their own, are catastrophically disabling.
Examples:
• Totally disabled, but not from duty injury – Not eligible for catastrophic disability benefit.
A LEOFF Plan 2 member suffers a knee injury on duty, leaving the member disabled from LEOFF employment. The knee injury, by itself, is not totally disabling. The member also suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that ultimately leaves the member totally disabled. Pursuant to the ALS diagnosis the member is granted a full disability from the Social Security Administration. In this case the member would qualify for a duty disability, but not for a catastrophic disability because the fully disabling condition, ALS, is not duty related.
• Totally disabled, duty injury totally disabling – Eligible for catastrophic disability benefits.
A LEOFF Plan 2 member suffers a knee injury while fishing. The knee injury, by itself, is neither duty related nor catastrophically disabling. The member also suffers severe burns while fighting a fire, leaving the member fully disabled. The Social Security Administration grants the member a full disability based on the member's total condition. The member qualifies for a LEOFF plan 2 catastrophic disability benefit because the burn injuries, by themselves, render the member totally disabled.
(3) Medical insurance premium reimbursement is an additional benefit for a member who is catastrophically disabled in the line of duty (RCW
41.26.470). However, if you choose to withdraw ((
one hundred fifty))
150 percent of your accumulated contributions pursuant to RCW
41.26.470(6) you are not entitled to the medical insurance premium reimbursement.
(4) If you receive catastrophic duty disability benefits, the department will periodically review your income and medical status for continued eligibility. This review is not a reassessment of your initial determination, but an assessment of whether there has been any change in your condition. If it is determined that there has been a change in your condition and you are no longer eligible under subsection (1) of this section, or if you fail to provide required documentation or cooperate with the review, your catastrophic duty disability benefit may be discontinued or converted to a different retirement status. DRS will notify you of your review at least 30 days before the beginning of your review.
(a) Income review: At least annually, you must submit documentation to verify that your income from earnings is below the defined income threshold as defined in subsection (5)(c) of this section. ((The documentation must include a signed copy of your filed tax return showing income from all sources for the prior year.)) You must also notify the department within ((thirty))30 calendar days of any changes in your income that could impact your eligibility including, but not limited to, wages and earnings from self-employment. (See subsection (5)(c), (d) and (f) of this section.) If DRS is not notified on time, you may be responsible for any resulting overpayment.
Documentation you may need to provide includes a federal or state income tax return from the most recent year, a copy of savings, checking or other bank accounts for the most recent two months, or other documentation as requested by the department.
(b) Medical review: The department will conduct a continuing disability review (CDR) at least once every three years if at the time of your last determination your condition is expected to improve, or every six years if your condition is not expected to improve, until you reach age ((sixty-five))65. The department may increase the frequency of your CDRs ((if your condition is expected to improve,)) and reserves the right to require a CDR at any time ((at its discretion))if notified of a change in your condition, but not more than once every 12 months. The department may also waive the CDR if your disability is determined to be permanent or terminal.
(i) DRS will first review any updated medical information available from any labor and industries claims related to your line of duty injury to determine if additional medical information is needed from you and your primary care provider.
(ii) If needed, the department will provide you with a Disability Review form, which asks for information about whether your medical condition has improved since your last eligibility determination. You will have at least 30 days to complete and return this form to the department or notify the department that you need additional time. Once received, the department will have 90 days to review this information and either notify you of your continued eligibility or the need for additional information. Before making a change to your disability retirement status, the department will consult with a contracted vendor for the purpose of providing an independent medical review.
(5) Definitions. As used in this section:
(a)
Catastrophically disabled means the same as "totally disabled" as defined under RCW
41.26.470(9).
(b) Continuing disability review (CDR) means an assessment of your current medical condition to determine if it continues to be catastrophically disabling. The department's medical professional will review recent documentation, with supplemental assessment by external medical experts at the department's discretion.
(c) Defined income threshold means any substantial gainful activity that produces average earnings, as defined in (d) of this subsection, in excess of the federal Social Security disability standards, adjusted annually for inflation. Wages count toward earnings when they are earned, not when you receive them. Self-employment income counts when you receive it, not when you earn it.
(d) Earnings are any income or wages received, which are reportable as wages or self-employment income to the IRS.
(e) Labor market is the geographic area within reasonable commuting distance of where you were last gainfully employed or where you currently live, whichever provides the greatest opportunity for gainful employment.
(f) Substantial gainful activity describes a level of work activity and earnings. Substantial gainful activity is work activity that is both substantial and gainful, and it may be, but is not required to be, from work or self-employment. Earnings as defined in this section includes compensated work activity that meets or exceeds the defined income threshold:
(i) Work activity is substantial if it involves doing significant physical or mental activities. Your work activity may be substantial even if it is done on a part-time basis or if you do less, or get paid less, or have less responsibility than when you worked in your LEOFF position.
(ii) Work activity is gainful if it is work activity that you do for pay or profit. Work activity is gainful if it is the kind of work usually done for pay or profit, whether or not a profit is realized.
(iii) Generally, activities like taking care of yourself, household tasks, profits from rental income, hobbies, therapy, school attendance, club activities, or social programs are not substantial gainful activity.
(g) Transferable skills are any combination of learned or demonstrated behavior, education, training, work traits, and skills that you can readily apply. They are skills that are interchangeable among different jobs and workplaces.