Odom v. Public Employees' Retirement System

# Odom v. Public Employees' Retirement System **What Happened** Odom applied for disability benefits from the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) but was denied. She wanted to appeal this decision, but she missed the deadline to file her appeal. Afterward, she asked the court for extra time to submit her appeal anyway. **What the Court Decided** The Mississippi Court of Appeals said no. The court upheld the lower court's decision to deny her request for more time. The judges found that the trial court acted reasonably in refusing to extend the deadline. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that strict deadlines apply when appealing denied benefits claims. If you're denied retirement or disability benefits, you must file your appeal within the required timeframe. Simply asking for extra time later may not work. Workers should understand the importance of meeting legal deadlines immediately and seeking help promptly if their benefits are denied, rather than waiting.