Frequently Asked Questions
I am receiving payments from the Maine State Retirement System for disability. I just received a letter saying that they have “reviewed” my disability and that I am no longer eligible. What can I do?
The Maine State Retirement System is required by law to review all employees on disability periodically. Very often they send out “review” letters simply because they do not have enough medical information showing that you are still disabled. You have a right to challenge this decision and to have a hearing. Your benefits will continue as they are until the hearings are over. You should get the assistance of an attorney who knows how to collect the kind of documentation that the Maine State Retirement System needs to change its decision.
I filed a claim with the Maine State Retirement System for disability, but they say I am not disabled. Yet, I cannot do the job that I used to.
In Maine, if you cannot do the job that you used to, you meet the requirements for “disability” under the Maine State Retirement law. There are other technicalities depending on what kind of papers you signed while you were employed and some other things, but you do meet the basic test. You are entitled to file an appeal and to have a hearing about this.
I just found out that my employer was deducting money from my paycheck for several years and sending the money to Social Security instead of to the Maine State Retirement System (or vice – versa). What can I do?
This frequently happens in Maine because of the confusion in some school superintendent’s office about which employees are covered by the Maine State Retirement System and which are covered by Social Security. You need to do something about this. You need to get the money transferred from one system to another. The requirements of both systems, and the procedure to do this, is somewhat technical. You definitely will need a lawyer to assure that it is done correctly.