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Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission

The Rehabilitation Process

After retiring from accidental or ordinary disability you may be required to undergo rehabilitation. In order to start the rehabilitation process, you must first complete a Comprehensive Medical Examination (CME).

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Physician Responsibilities

  • The examining physician determines you may be able to return to work after completion of a rehabilitation program
  • The physician must find that you may be able to perform the essential duties of the position you retired from or a similar position after rehabilitation
  • The physician will submit a rehabilitation plan to PERAC’s Rehabilitation Unit that includes:
    • the goals of the program,
    • the medical services necessary to achieve the goals,
    • the costs and
    • the anticipated timeframes.
  • A PERAC Nurse Case Manager will review the rehabilitation plan
    Any modifications will be discussed with the physician.
All rehabilitation plans are reviewed by PERAC before they can start

Retiree Responsibilities

  • If after PERAC review, the plan is deemed reasonable and necessary, it will be approved and you must participate.
  • You can stop participating in a rehabilitation program if you can show good cause for doing so.
  • If you refuse to participate or stop the rehabilitation program without good cause, the Disability Unit will direct the retirement board to suspend your retirement allowance.
  • The board must first give you written notice of the suspension and your opportunity to be heard by the retirement board before suspending your retirement allowance.
  • You may appeal this suspension to the Contributory Retirement Appeal Board.

Rehabilitation Outcomes

After completing a rehabilitation program you either:

Go back to work

  • You may be found to be able to perform the essential duties of the position from which you retired (or a similar position within the same department for which you are qualified)
  • You will be scheduled for a restoration to service examination.

Continue receiving your benefits

  • You are found to be unable to perform the essential duties of the position from which you retired (or a similar position within the same department for which he/she is qualified) and no further action will be taken.

Additional Resources

Member's Guide to the Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Return to Service Process (PDF 221.87 KB)
Retirement Board Guide to the Comprehensive Medical Evaluation (CME) & Return to Service (RTS) Process (PDF 93.89 KB)
Physician's Guide to the Comprehensive Medical Evaluation of Disability Retirees (PDF 555.83 KB)
Massachusetts Public Employee Guide to Disability Retirement - Regardless of the Date of Membership (PDF 447.99 KB)
Image credits:  natacha dunker

Related Guides

The Comprehensive Medical Evaluation 
Restoration to Service Examination 
Disabled Public Safety Retirees 
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