Disability

As an active member of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS) with five (5) or more years of actual credited service with ATRS and under the age of 60, you may apply for disability retirement benefits if you demonstrate total and permanent incapacity to perform the duties of your position and meet all eligibility requirements.  Reciprocal service may be used to meet this five (5) year minimum requirement; however purchased service, such as out-of-state or private school, does not qualify.

Important Beginning July 1, 2015, ATRS disability retirees under the age of 57 must receive a Social Security Disability determination within 36 months of their effective date of ATRS disability retirement. If a member is approved and declared disabled by the Social Security Administration within the 36 months, they will remain on ATRS Disability. A member who fails to be declared disabled by the Social Security Administration may seek to extend their ATRS disability status and benefits by submitting an Application for Disability Review to ATRS within three (3) months of the date their benefits would otherwise end.

A MEMBER DOES NOT NEED TO BE APPROVED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BEFORE APPLYING FOR ATRS DISABILITY 

Eligibility

• You must be an active member that is currently working for an ATRS covered employer and eligible to receive service credit, or you must be considered active status for the purpose of Disability Retirement eligibility.

• You must have a minimum of five (5) years of service credit with ATRS.  Reciprocal service can be used to meet the minimum requirement, but you must be active with ATRS.  Purchased service, such as out-of-state or private school, cannot be used to meet the minimum 5 year requirement, however, these years count towards your actual years once vested with the 5 years if applying for Disability Retirement.

• Final determination of the existence of a qualifying disability is based upon the recommendation of the ATRS Medical Committee. The ATRS Medical Committee reviews the application and supporting medical documents to determine the following

Once a Disability Retirement Application is received by ATRS, your completed application and required supporting documents will be submitted to the ATRS Medical Committee for review at the next regularly scheduled meeting. If the member does not submit the required documentation or submits an incomplete application, they will be allowed six (6) months from the date of receipt to provide the required documentation and/or completed application. At the end of that six (6) month period, an incomplete application will be withdrawn. A member may re-apply, provided they meet eligibility requirements, by submitting a new Disability Retirement Application and supporting medical reports.

Important - ACTIVE STATUS   A member must be active (see above) to be eligible to apply for Disability.  Please contact ATRS to confirm your eligibility in regards to your status as an active member.

The Medical Committee Meeting is scheduled to meet on the following dates:

• June 4, 2025
• July 9, 2025
• August 6, 2025
• September 3, 2025
• October 1, 2025
• November 5, 2025
• December 3, 2025
• January 7, 2026
• February 4, 2026
• March 4, 2026
• April 8, 2026
• May 6, 2026
• June 3, 2026

 *Dates are subject to change.

For more information, see: Disability FAQs