Bill > A08499

This bill amends the retirement and social security law to provide enhanced disability retirement benefits for New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) employees who participated in World Trade Center (WTC) rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations on or after September 11, 2001. Specifically, the bill allows eligible NYCTA members of the New York City Employees' Retirement System who become physically or mentally incapacitated as a direct result of their WTC-related duties to receive a performance of duty disability retirement allowance equal to three-quarters (75%) of their final average salary. This is an improvement over the current benefit structure, which typically provides a disability retirement benefit equal to the greater of one-third of final average salary or a pro-rated service retirement benefit. The bill also provides these employees with the ability to invoke a medical review procedure when applying for the performance of duty pension. The fiscal note indicates that this change could potentially impact approximately 224 active members and 1,005 receiving members, with an estimated initial increase in actuarial present value of $12.8 million for current WTC retirees and $0.2 million for future WTC disability cases.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8499