8344 - Disability annuities.
§ 8344. Disability annuities. (a) Amount of annuity.--A member who has made application for a disability annuity as provided in section 8507(k) (relating to rights and duties of school employees and members) and has been found to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of sections 8307(c) (relating to eligibility for annuities) and 8505(c)(1) (relating to duties of board regarding applications and elections of members) shall receive a disability annuity payable from the effective date of disability and continued until a subsequent determination by the board that the annuitant is no longer entitled to a disability annuity. The disability annuity shall be equal to a standard single life annuity if the total number of years of credited service is greater than 16.667, otherwise the standard single life annuity shall be multiplied by the lesser of the following ratios: Y*/Y or 16.667/Y where Y = number of years of credited service and Y* = total years of credited service if the member were to continue as a school employee until attaining superannuation age, or if the member has attained superannuation age then the number of years of credited service. In no event shall the disability annuity plus any cost-of-living increases be less than $100 for each full year of credited service. The member shall be entitled to the election of a joint and survivor annuity on that portion of the disability annuity to which he is entitled under section 8342 (relating to maximum single life annuity). (b) Reduction on account of earned income.--Payments on account of disability shall be reduced by that amount by which the earned income of the annuitant, as reported in accordance with section 8508(b) (relating to rights and duties of annuitants) for the preceding year together with the disability annuity payments for the year, exceeds the greater of $5,000 or the last year's salary of the annuitant as a school employee, provided that the annuitant shall not receive less than his member's annuity or the amount to which he may be entitled under section 8342, whichever is greater. (c) Termination and modification of payments.--Payment of that portion of the disability annuity in excess of the annuity to which the annuitant was entitled on the effective date of disability calculated in accordance with section 8342 shall cease if the annuitant is no longer eligible under the provisions of section 8505(c)(2) or section 8508(b) or (c) and if such annuitant on the date of termination of service was eligible for an annuity, he may file an application with the board for an election of an optional modification of the annuity to which he was entitled in accordance with section 8342. (d) Withdrawal of accumulated deductions.--Upon termination of disability annuity payments in excess of an annuity calculated in accordance with section 8342, a disability annuitant who does not return to school service may file an application with the board for an amount equal to the accumulated deductions standing to his credit at the effective date of disability less the total payments received on account of his member's annuity. (e) Limitation regarding annual benefit under IRC § 415(b).--Notwithstanding any provision of this part to the contrary, no benefit shall be payable to the extent that such benefit exceeds any limitation under IRC § 415(b) in effect with respect to governmental plans, as such term is defined in IRC § 414(d), on the date the benefit payment becomes effective. (Apr. 29, 1994, P.L.159, No.29, eff. 60 days; May 17, 2001, P.L.26, No.9, eff. imd.) 2001 Amendment. Act 9 added subsec. (e). 1994 Amendment. Act 29 amended subsec. (a). Cross References. Section 8344 is referred to in section 8505 of this title.