Disability Leaves - Short Term and Long Term
(For full-time faculty and staff)
Short and Long Term Disability provide benefits if an illness or injury cause you to be disabled and unable to work in excess of seven (7) consecutive calendar days. These programs are administered through MetLife.
Features of Disability Coverage:
| |
Short-Term
Disability |
Basic
Long-Term
Disability |
Enhanced Long-Term Disability |
When you are eligible
|
Immediately |
After 1 year of full-time service. (May be reduced by previous LTD coverage within 3 months.) |
After 1 year of full-time service. (May be reduced by previous LTD coverage within 3 months.) Those age 69+ are not eligible for this option. |
| How to enroll |
Automatic |
Automatic (Default) |
Enroll at your hire, during Open Enrollment or upon a life/status change.
|
| When benefits begin |
After 7 consecutive days of disability
|
After 160 days of disability.
|
After 160 days of disability.
|
| Initiating a Claim |
Use the MetLife Disability Telephone Reporting Procedure (.pdf): by calling 1-800-858-6506 |
When STD benefits are exhausted, MetLife will automatically contact you.
|
When STD benefits are exhausted, MetLife will automatically contact you. |
| Conditions covered |
Non-work related illnesses and injuries, including childbirth. |
Illnesses and injuries resulting in disability of more than 6 months. |
Illnesses and injuries resulting in disability of more than 6 months. |
| Benefits |
60% of pay and continuation of retirement contributions. |
60% of pay and continuation of retirement contributions. |
60% of pay, with cost-of-living increases of 5% per year for up to 10 years (see chart at right) and continuation of retirement contributions. |
Benefits Duration
|
25 weeks
|
See chart at right
|
See chart at right |
Cost
|
Free |
Free
|
$2 per biweekly pay
$4 per month
(Payments begin when waiting period satisfied.)
|
Tax Implications of LTD Payments
LTD benefit payments are taxable income. They are not affected by payments from any other individual disability insurance policy. However, they are offset by social security, workers' compensation or other state or group disability payments you may receive. Your total monthly disability income from these sources cannot add up to more than the dollar amount maximum for the option you select. The benefit provided is at least $50/month.
Features/Services of the LTD Plan
The LTD Plan has several features that are focused on an individual's abilities and encourages a return to a productive lifestyle. These features include:
- A 10% increase in payments while participating in an approved rehabilitation program
- A family care expense reimbursement of up to $250/month/family member while participating in an approved rehabilitation program
- Indexing pre-disability earnings at 7% per year
- A one-time drug/alcohol/substance abuse or dependency benefit period
- Social Security assistance program to help maximize the Social Security Disability program
- Early intervention program to help access vocational analyses and rehabilitation services
- A return-to-work program that includes customized vocational analyses, labor market surveys, retraining programs, on-site job analysis, job modifications/accommodations and training in job-seeking skills
