Acceptable and Unacceptable Proofs of Permanent and Total Disability
Physician’s Certifi cate: Acceptable. An application based
on physical disability must include a certifi cate signed by a
physician. An application based on mental disability must
include a certifi cate signed by a physician or a psychologist
licensed to practice in Ohio. Note: A chiropractor is not a
“physician” for purposes of the Homestead Law.
Federal Agencies:
Social Security Administration (SSA): An SSA (or SSI)
form indicating that an applicant is “disabled” is acceptable.
The SSA only gives disability benefi ts to those who are per-
manently and totally disabled.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Veterans with a total
service-connected disability or veterans who are receiving
100% compensation for service-connected disabilities follow-
ing a determination of individual unemployability should fi le
DTE form 105I and submit the documentation indicated by
that application. If a veteran does not qualify as an eligible
disabled veteran, but meets the defi nition found in R.C.
323.151(D) (provided at the top of this form), the veteran
must have a doctor or qualifying psychologist complete this
form. No VA documentation refl ects the statutory defi nition
of permanent and total disability in R.C. 323.151(D).
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB): The RRB has two types
of disability pensions: (1) total and permanent disability and
(2) occupational disability. Only the “permanent and total
disability” pension is acceptable.
State Agencies:
Bureau of Workers Compensation: A determination of
“permanent and total disability” is acceptable. Other de-
terminations, such as “permanent and partial disability”
“temporary and total disability,” and “temporary and partial
disability” are not.
State Retirement Systems: Not acceptable. The Public
Employees Retirement System (PERS), the State Teachers
Retirement System and the School Employees Retirement
System (SERS), do not certify permanent and total disability.
While the State Highway Patrol Retirement System (HPRS)
and the Police and Firemen’s Disability and Pension Fund
(PFDPF) do certify individuals to be “permanently and totally
disabled” these determinations are job-specifi c and do not
rule out the possibility of other substantially remunerative
employment using a different set of skills.