Official websites end in .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use https://

The https:// at the beginning of the delaware.gov address means you are safely connected to the government website. Any information that you provide is securely transmitted.

Department of Human Resources (DHR) Logo Department of Human Resources

Old Disability Plan

The Old Disability Plan applies only to employees who are not covered under the State of Delaware’s Disability Insurance Program (DIP). If you were hired before DIP began and you chose not to enroll, you may be covered under the State Employees’ Pension Plan (SEPP) disability pension. This program provides a disability pension instead of Short-Term or Long-Term Disability benefits.

To qualify for a disability pension, you must have at least five consecutive years of pension-creditable service. You also must be unable to perform the essential functions of your job due to a physical or mental condition. A medical review is required. Purchased service time does not count toward the five-year requirement.

When you apply for a disability pension, you remain on the agency payroll for up to three full months while the medical review is completed. You continue to receive your regular pay during this period. If your application is approved, your disability pension begins after the review period ends. Your benefit continues until you recover and are offered State employment again, reach normal retirement age, or no longer meet the program’s requirements.

If you begin working in another job, your disability pension may be reduced, especially if you earn more than half of your pre-disability salary. It is important to follow all reporting rules to keep your pension in good standing.

If you are not sure whether you are covered under DIP or the Old Disability Plan, please contact the ACT Team. We will check your records, explain your options, and guide you through every step of the disability pension process. You are not alone — we are here to support you.