Bottom line
Coverage A and Coverage B share a similar basic disability percentage but differ in age rules, duration, and several eligibility details. Check your coverage before modeling the benefit.Key facts
- Coverage A generally applies to members who entered before October 16, 1992 and did not elect Coverage B
- Coverage B applies to members who entered CalSTRS on or after October 16, 1992
- The basic disability benefit under either coverage is generally 50% of final compensation
First identify which disability coverage you actually have
CalSTRS does not use one disability program for every Defined Benefit member. Coverage A generally applies to members who became members before October 16, 1992 and did not elect Coverage B before April 1993. Coverage B applies to members who became CalSTRS members on or after October 16, 1992. Because the coverage type changes important rules, the first step is not to compare benefit amounts; it is to confirm the coverage shown on the Retirement Progress Report in myCalSTRS.
The names also describe different benefit structures. Coverage A is called a disability allowance, while Coverage B is called disability retirement. Both are intended to replace part of income when the CalSTRS disability standard is met, but they do not end at the same age and they do not use every rule in the same way. A member who remembers an old election should still verify the current account record because that record is the practical starting point for an application.
The shared starting point is about 50% of final compensation
CalSTRS states that the basic disability benefit under both Coverage A and Coverage B is generally 50% of final compensation. With eligible dependent children, the maximum total benefit can reach 90% of final compensation. Those percentages are not enough to predict a personal payment because final compensation must be determined under the disability rules and can be affected by part-time work. Coverage B also states explicitly that service credit is not a factor in determining the disability retirement amount.
Eligibility usually requires five or more years of service credit, with a special one-year service-credit route when disability is the direct result of a qualifying unlawful act on the job. CalSTRS also applies California-service conditions to the recent service record. These rules should be checked against the member’s history rather than inferred from years employed by a school district, because not every period of employment necessarily produces the same credited-service result.
The disability definition is broader than being unable to do one task
CalSTRS describes disability as a medically determined physical or mental impairment that is permanent or expected to last at least 12 continuous months. The impairment must prevent the member from performing usual duties, with or without reasonable modification, and also prevent comparable-level work for which the member is or can reasonably become qualified. CalSTRS defines comparable-level employment around the ability to earn at least 66 2/3% of indexed final compensation.
That means the file can involve both medical and vocational questions. A diagnosis alone does not show how the condition affects the duties CalSTRS evaluates. The system may also require the member to request reasonable accommodation from the employer. Before filing, describe the actual job duties, attempted modifications, treatment history, and work limitations consistently across the member statement and medical records. CalSTRS’ determination, not a private estimate, controls eligibility.
Coverage A and Coverage B differ most in duration and age
Coverage A generally requires the member to be under age 60. Its disability allowance is usually paid while the member remains disabled or until age 60, when the disability benefit ends and the member must apply for service retirement to continue receiving a monthly CalSTRS benefit. CalSTRS notes a limited exception under which Coverage A disability can continue beyond age 60 when eligible children remain and the member remains disabled.
Coverage B has no age restriction in the stated disability eligibility rules. Its disability retirement benefit continues as long as the member remains disabled, and CalSTRS states that service credit is not earned while the member receives that benefit. Do not apply Coverage A’s age-60 transition to a Coverage B account.
Side-by-side comparison of the current core rules
The table is a planning summary of the core rules on CalSTRS’ current disability page. It does not replace the detailed application guide, and special facts such as an unlawful on-the-job act, prior refund, prior retirement, or interrupted California service can change which condition applies. When any row conflicts with a member’s Retirement Progress Report or a CalSTRS written estimate, the system’s record and current rules should be used.
Both programs also have earnings rules after approval. Coverage B uses an annually determined calendar-year earnings limit; CalSTRS lists $40,767 for 2026. Coverage A uses a different structure, so a Coverage B dollar limit should not be copied onto a Coverage A case. Since these limits can be updated, recheck the current CalSTRS limits page before returning to work rather than treating the figure in an older article as permanent.
| Rule | Coverage A | Coverage B |
|---|---|---|
| Who generally has it | Member before Oct. 16, 1992 who did not elect B | Member on or after Oct. 16, 1992 |
| Basic benefit | Generally 50% of final compensation | 50% of final compensation |
| Age rule | Generally under age 60 | No stated age restriction |
| Typical duration | While disabled, generally to age 60 | While disability continues |
| General service requirement | Usually 5+ years | Usually 5+ years |
Filing timing can affect the effective date
CalSTRS encourages members to apply before exhausting other available benefits and not to delay the application while waiting for every medical document. The system states that, if approved, the disability benefit generally becomes effective on the later of the first day of the month in which CalSTRS receives the application or the day after the member’s last day of compensation, including sick leave and subdifferential pay. Filing timing can therefore affect both eligibility and the benefit start date.
The application process includes an eligibility review, requests for medical information, employment verification, and, when needed, an independent medical examination or vocational evaluation. Members who are also eligible for service retirement may have a separate option to receive service retirement while the disability application is evaluated, but that choice has consequences if disability is denied. Confirm the current application path with CalSTRS before combining the two retirement processes.
Before you make a decision
- Open your Retirement Progress Report and confirm Coverage A or Coverage B.
- Verify credited service and recent California service before applying.
- Document job duties, attempted accommodations, medical restrictions, and treatment history.
- Submit the application without waiting unnecessarily for every medical record if CalSTRS advises filing now.
- Recheck current disability earnings limits before returning to work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether I have CalSTRS Coverage A or Coverage B?
Check the Retirement Progress Report in myCalSTRS. In general, Coverage A applies to members who entered before October 16, 1992 and did not elect Coverage B before April 1993, while Coverage B applies to members who entered on or after October 16, 1992. The account record should be confirmed before using either set of disability rules.
Is CalSTRS disability always 50% of my salary?
CalSTRS describes the basic disability benefit under both coverages as generally 50% of final compensation, not simply 50% of a current paycheck. Disability final compensation must be determined under CalSTRS rules and can be affected by part-time employment. Eligible dependent children can increase the total benefit, subject to the program’s maximum. Use a CalSTRS estimate for the member-specific amount.
Does Coverage A disability stop at age 60?
Generally, CalSTRS says Coverage A disability is paid while the member remains disabled or until age 60. At age 60 the member generally must apply for service retirement to continue a monthly benefit. CalSTRS notes that Coverage A disability may continue beyond age 60 when the member remains disabled and has eligible children, so confirm the exact transition for the account.
Does Coverage B have an age limit for disability retirement?
CalSTRS’ current Coverage B eligibility description states that there are no age restrictions. Coverage B disability retirement continues while the member remains disabled, subject to the system’s ongoing rules. That does not remove other eligibility conditions, including service-credit and recent California-service requirements. Verify those conditions in the current application guide before relying on the no-age-cutoff rule.
Can I keep working while receiving a CalSTRS disability benefit?
Earnings rules differ by coverage. CalSTRS lists an annually updated calendar-year earnings limit for Coverage B and a different structure for Coverage A. Excess earnings can reduce a benefit or create an overpayment. Check the current limits and discuss the proposed work with CalSTRS before assuming an employment arrangement is harmless.
Official sources
Sources were reviewed on September 1, 2026. Rules and member records maintained by the retirement system control.
CalSTRS — Disability benefitsOfficial source ↗CalSTRS — Disability eligibilityOfficial source ↗CalSTRS — Applying for a disability benefitOfficial source ↗This article provides general educational information. It is not a benefit determination or financial, tax, or legal advice. Confirm account-specific information with the retirement system.