(40 ILCS 5/15-153.2) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-153.2)
    Sec. 15-153.2. Disability retirement annuity. A participant whose disability benefits are discontinued under the provisions of clause (6) of Section 15-152 and who is not a participant in the optional retirement plan established under Section 15-158.2 is entitled to a disability retirement annuity of 35% of the basic compensation which was payable to the participant at the time that disability began, provided that the board determines that the participant has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents him or her from engaging in any substantial gainful activity, and which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
    The board's determination of whether a participant is disabled shall be based upon:
        (i) a written certificate from one or more licensed
    
and practicing physicians appointed by or acceptable to the board, stating that the participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity; and
        (ii) any other medical examinations, hospital
    
records, laboratory results, or other information necessary for determining the employment capacity and condition of the participant.
    The terms "medically determinable physical or mental impairment" and "substantial gainful activity" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the federal Social Security Act, as now or hereafter amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.
    The disability retirement annuity payment period shall begin immediately following the expiration of the disability benefit payments under clause (6) of Section 15-152 and shall be discontinued for a recipient of a disability retirement annuity when (1) the physical or mental impairment no longer prevents the participant from engaging in any substantial gainful activity, (2) the participant dies or (3) the participant elects to receive a retirement annuity under Sections 15-135 and 15-136. If a person's disability retirement annuity is discontinued under clause (1), all rights and credits accrued in the system on the date that the disability retirement annuity began shall be restored, and the disability retirement annuity paid shall be considered as disability payments under clause (6) of Section 15-152.
(Source: P.A. 97-933, eff. 8-10-12; 97-968, eff. 8-16-12.)