Part 2: New Hampshire Disability and Retirement Benefits You May Have Overlooked
In case you missed Part 1, follow this link to read Part 1: Important Retirement and Disability Benefits for Injured and Ill Workers
The New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) offers calculation tools that can be utilized once an employee determines their category and eligibility for benefits. These tools are fantastic for retirement and “emergency” planning. We all know the best time to plan for an accident, injury or disability is before it occurs, when we are healthy and in a position to make changes as necessary. However this is also the time when we least want to think about the possibility of something going wrong.
The tools provided by NHRS are not just useful in cases of accident, injury or disability, they are critical for retirement planning and that’s something all of us can look forward to. You can go to https://www.nhrs.org and sign up for My Account to calculate your available benefits based on years of service, income and date of expected retirement.
Depending on your circumstances, NHRS disability retirement benefits may be combined with other disability benefits such as social security disability, union retirement benefits, workers’ compensation and short or long term disability insurance. There are time limits that you will need to follow and while some benefits can be combined, some create an “election,” meaning by choosing one benefit you might limit your right to use another benefit. Therefore if you are seriously injured or ill and think you might be eligible for NHRS benefits, you should consult an attorney to see what other benefits you might be entitled to receive as well. By carefully considering your unique circumstances, your attorney can help you maximize your benefits to help replace your lost wages, pay medical bills, secure longevity and other important earned benefits such as health insurance.
At Rice Law Office PLLC (as many other employment law firms), we offer FREE phone evaluations for workers and employees who are seriously ill or injured and may face lost wages, lost time from work and medical bills as a result. We are happy to help you assess what benefits you might have available so you can focus on recovery and taking care of yourself and your loved ones. Give us a call at 603-528-5299.