ERSRI is required by law to adjust a member’s disability retirement allowance if the member earns over a certain amount of money. ERSRI determines whether you have earned over the statutory limit by reviewing your Annual Continuing Statement and supporting documentation.

Rhode Island General Laws § 36-10-17; § 16-16-19; and § 45-21-24 govern the readjustment of disability retirement allowance.

You are permitted to make the difference between the amount you would have earned had you still been employed in the same position from which you retired and your disability retirement allowance. See the below example:

• You retired as a teacher in 2004.
• You would have earned $70,000 had you been employed as a teacher in 2014.
• For 2014, your disability retirement allowance with COLA was $50,000.
• For 2014, you would be permitted to make $20,000 ($70,000 - $50,000) before your disability retirement allowance was adjusted.

Once a member attains his or her minimum age of service retirement, he or she will no longer receive an Annual Continuing Statement. Please note that you will receive an Annual Disclosure Statement the calendar year after you attain your minimum age of service retirement because we request your earnings information for the previous calendar year. For example, if you attain your minimum age of service retirement in 2021 you will receive an Annual Continuing Statement in 2022 in which you must provide your 2021 tax information.

If you do not provide ERSRI with a completed Annual Continuing Statement including all supporting documentation, your disability retirement allowance may be suspended until your statement is received and analyzed.

No. Pursuant to RIGL § 38-2-2(4)(O), tax returns are not public documents.

If you filed a joint tax return, ERSRI will not be able to differentiate whether the earnings are attributable to you or your spouse without receiving the W-2s, wage attachments, and other business income attachments and/or schedules for both you and your spouse.

Yes, you will be mailed written notice at least thirty (30) days before your disability retirement allowance is adjusted. The notice will contain the amount owed and the adjustment period.

You are not required to see a doctor. However, ERSRI has the legal authority to send you for an independent medical examination (IME), at ERSRI’s expense, once per year. By not submitting an Annual Medical Update, ERSRI may be more likely to send you to an IME.

If you refuse to see an IME that has been assigned to you by ERSRI, your disability retirement allowance may be permanently revoked.

Rhode Island General Laws § 36-10-17; §16-16-19; and § 45-21-23 govern the reexamination of disability retirees.

• State Employees or Teachers who retired on or before 6/30/2012 are eligible for 2025 COLA*
  • These retirees will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
• State Employees or Teachers who retired on or after 7/1/2012 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or upon reaching Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later.
  • Those with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
  • Those with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
• Most eligible members receive their COLA the month following their 3-year retirement anniversary. However, for members who reach their COLA eligibility based on their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) - when this date is later than the 3-year anniversary - their COLA month will be the month following their SSNRA date.
• Note that for members with retirement dates in December who reach COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid the following January (2026).
• Teachers with retirement dates of July 1st who reach COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid in July.

_{*with the exception of retirees who were not receiving COLA by 6/30/2012 and who have not yet reached their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA).}

• Municipal Employees (General employees and Police & Fire employees) in plans offering COLA who retired on or before 6/30/2012 are eligible for 2025 COLA*
  • These retirees will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
• General Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired on or after 7/1/2012 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or reaching Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later.
  • Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
  • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
  • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
• Police and Fire Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or age 55, whichever is later.
  • Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
  • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
  • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
• Police and Fire Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired after 7/1/2015 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or age 50, whichever is later.
  • Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
  • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
  • Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
• Most eligible members receive their COLA the month following their 3-year retirement anniversary. However, for members who reach their COLA eligibility based on their on their AGE – either their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) or age 50 or 55 - when this date is later than the 3-year anniversary - their COLA month will be the month following their SSNRA or birthdate.
  • Note that for members with retirement dates in December who reach COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid the following January (2026).

_{*with the exception of retirees who were not receiving COLA by 6/30/2012 and who have not yet reached their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA).}

• Retired Judges or State Police are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or upon reaching Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later. Eligible members will receive a 4-year COLA in 2025.
  • Those with retirement dates on or before 6/30/2015 will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
  • Those with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
• Most eligible retirees will receive their COLA the month following their 3-year retirement anniversary. However, for members who reached their COLA eligibility based on their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) - when this date is later than the 3-year anniversary - their COLA month will be the month following their SSNRA date.
  • For members with retirement dates in December who reached COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid the following January (2026).
• Teacher Survivors’ Benefit (TSB) payees who are age 60 or over and who are receiving spousal benefits with effective dates of 12/1/2024 or earlier are eligible to receive a 2.5% COLA on their full benefit amount. TSB COLA adjustments for all eligible payees will be applied to benefits in January 2025.
• Retired Central Falls Legacy or West Warwick Legacy Members: COLA eligibility rules and amounts are pursuant to individual plan documents.