Kelley v. Maine Pub. Employees Ret. Sys.

**What Happened** A public employee named Kelley was receiving disability retirement benefits from the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. The retirement system decided to stop her benefits, claiming she was no longer disabled and could work a full-time desk job. Kelley disagreed and challenged this decision in court, arguing she was still too disabled to work. **What the Court Decided** The Maine Superior Court sided with the retirement system. The court found there was enough evidence to support the decision that Kelley could perform full-time sedentary (desk) work, meaning she was no longer considered disabled under the retirement system's rules. The court upheld the cancellation of her disability benefits. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that disability retirement benefits are not permanent and can be reviewed and revoked. Public employees receiving these benefits should understand that retirement systems can periodically evaluate their condition and work capacity. If medical evidence shows improvement or ability to perform certain types of work, benefits may be discontinued. Workers in similar situations should be prepared to provide strong medical documentation if their disability status is challenged.