Join us in person or virtually for a panel discussion on the process of
filing an application for ordinary and accidental disability requirement
benefits, and a review of the steps once the application is filed.
Specific topics will include:
- The initial interview process, including what
information to collect from the applicant;
- The process for assembling five years of the
applicant’s medical records, personnel file, incident reports, job
description, etc., and the completion of the application;
- The nuances of the particular board where the
applicant will be filing his/her application, e.g., will the board schedule
and conduct a hearing on the merits of the application prior to processing it
or, assuming the application is complete, just forward it to the Public
Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) for processing?
- Presumptions (heart, lung and cancer);
- The medical panel process;
- Post-medical-panel proceedings before the board,
requests for clarifications, etc.;
- The board’s perspective;
- PERAC review of the application and the determination
of the applicant’s retirement date;
- Final board meeting and considerations concerning
whether the application will be approved;
- Appeals to the Division of Administrative Law Appeals
(DALA) and the proper handling of the appeal, assembly of the record, etc.;
- Post-DALA appeals, Contributory Retirement Appeal
Board, Superior Court, Appeals Court, etc.; and
- Attorneys’ fees.
This program was held at the Massachusetts Bar Association, 20 West
St., Boston. The program was also be hosted using Zoom.
Faculty:
Morgan J. Gray, Esq., Program Chair and Moderator
The Law Offices of Morgan J. Gray, P.C., Quincy
Michael Akashian, Esq., Panelist
Landman Akashian & Macklow, LLP, Boston
Matthew Feeney, Esq., Panelist
Compliance Officer, Norfolk County Retirement System
Padraic Lydon, Executive Director, Panelist
Plymouth County Retirement Association
Brenda McNally, Esq., Panelist
Ready, Kiernan & McNally, LLP, Wareham