§ 58-86A-5.  (Effective July 1, 2025) Limitations on disability benefit.

The following limitations apply to disability benefits under this section:

(1) Disability benefits shall continue for no more than 36 consecutive months.

(2) Any firefighter receiving disability benefits may be required to have his or her condition reevaluated to determine if that firefighter has regained the ability to perform the duties of a firefighter. If that reevaluation indicates that the firefighter has regained the ability to perform the duties of a firefighter, then the monthly disability benefits shall cease on the last day of the month the reevaluation was conducted.

(3) If there is no reevaluation performed under subdivision (2) of this section, but the firefighter's treating physician determines that the firefighter is again able to perform the duties of a firefighter, then the disability benefits shall cease on the last day of the month that the physician made the determination.

(4) If a firefighter returns to work as a firefighter before exhaustion of the 36 months of disability benefit an eligible firefighter may receive under this section, and if there is a subsequent recurrence of disability caused by cancer that again precludes the firefighter from performing the duties of a firefighter, then the firefighter shall be entitled to any remaining monthly disability benefits, not to exceed 36 months in total.

(5) The monthly disability benefit shall be subordinate to any other benefit paid from any source to the firefighter solely for a disability related to the cancer diagnosis, so long as that source is not private insurance purchased solely by the firefighter. Disability benefits under this section shall be limited to the difference between the benefit amount paid by the other source and the amounts specified under G.S. 58-86A-4(3). (2024-29, s. 10.1.)