New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 17 - TREASURY - GENERAL
Chapter 2 - PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Subchapter 9 - WORLD TRADE CENTER ACCIDENTAL DISABILITY
Section 17:2-9.4 - Filing requirements

(a) A member or retiree must file a written and sworn Eligibility Registration Form with the Division indicating the dates, locations of service, and number of hours of participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations by July 8, 2021, to qualify for the presumption or recalculation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:2-9.3, unless a retiree files an application for recalculation, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:2-9.3(b), before July 8, 2021, then such application for recalculation shall serve as the Eligibility Registration Form. This form allows eligible PERS members or retirees the right to file for an accidental disability retirement should they become totally and permanently disabled by a qualifying condition or impairment of health as a direct result of participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations.

(b) A retiree seeking recalculation of a retirement allowance pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:2-9.3(b) must file an application for recalculation, on a form prescribed by the Division, within 30 days of the date that the retiree knew or should have known of the existence of a total and permanent disability caused by a qualifying condition or impairment of health and its relation to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. Retirees who knew, or should have known, of the existence of a total and permanent disability caused by a qualifying condition or impairment of health and its relation to World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations before July 8, 2019, must have filed an application for recalculation, on a form prescribed by the Division, by October 15, 2019 (within 30 days of September 16, 2019, the date members and retirees were notified of the enactment of P.L. 2019, c. 157, and the requirement to file).

(c) A member with an Eligibility Registration Form on file with the Division must file an application with the prospective date of retirement pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:2-6.1.

(d) N.J.S.A. 43:15A-43requires the Board to designate physicians to perform medical examinations of members who apply for accidental disability retirements. If a member or retiree who is enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program provides medical documentation for treatment provided, or paid, by the World Trade Center Health Program sufficient to allow the Medical Review Board to certify that the member or retiree is totally and permanently disabled by a qualifying condition or impairment of health as a direct result of participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations, no further evaluation is necessary. However, if the medical documentation is not sufficient to establish a total and permanent disability caused by a qualifying condition or impairment of health as a direct result of participation in World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations after review by the Medical Review Board, then an independent medical examination shall be required pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:1-7.10.