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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 4Pt. 3Ch. 3Art. 10§ 31726 Disability Retirement Allowance Rules

§ 31726 Disability Retirement Allowance Rules

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 31726 Disability Retirement Allowance Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If you retire because you're hurt or sick (not because of your job) and you're 65 or older, you get your regular retirement money.
  • •If you're under 65 and retire because you're hurt or sick (not because of your job), you get the bigger amount between your regular retirement money or a special disability payment.
  • •The special disability payment can include your own saved-up money, plus extra from the county if your problem wasn't caused by drinking, drugs, breaking the law, or a crime.
  • •If you joined the system after 1987, you can't get the extra county money if your disability was caused by a crime you committed.

Example

A firefighter gets hurt in a car crash while off-duty and can't work anymore.

If the firefighter is 60 years old, they'll get the bigger amount between their regular retirement money or a special disability payment. If the crash wasn't their fault (like they weren't drunk or breaking the law), they might get extra money from the county too.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 31726 Disability Retirement Allowance Rules

(a) Upon retirement for nonservice-connected disability, a member who has attained 65 years of age shall receive their service retirement allowance. (b) Every member under 65 years of age who is retired for nonservice-connected disability and who is not simultaneously retired as a member on deferred retirement of the Public Employees’ Retirement System or a retirement system established under this chapter in another county shall receive a disability retirement allowance, which shall be the greater of the following: (1) The sum to which the member would be entitled as service retirement; or (2) A sum that shall consist of any of the following: (A) An annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions at the time of retirement. (B) If, in the opinion of the board, the member’s disability is not due to intemperate use of alcoholic liquor or drugs, willful misconduct, or violation of law on the member’s part, a disability retirement pension purchased by contributions of the county or district. (C) If, in the opinion of the board, the member’s disability is not due to conviction of a felony or criminal activity that caused or resulted in the member’s disability, a disability retirement pension purchased by contributions of the county or district. This subparagraph shall only apply to a person who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 1988. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 159, Sec. 15. (SB 885) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

disabilityretirementallowanceconvictionannuityfelonyemployeepension

Related Statutes

  • § 31726.5 Safety Member Disability Retirement
  • § 31727.4 Disability Retirement Allowance Calculation
  • § 31728.2 Felony Disability Benefit Denial
  • § 31727 Disability Retirement Pension Calculation
  • § 31727.2 Safety Member Disability Pension

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 31726.
View Official Source