Disability Insurance and Leaves
(Short Term and Long Term Disability 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.) | After 1 year of full-time service. (May be reduced by previous LTD coverage.) Not available for those age 69+. |
| How to enroll | Automatic | Automatic (Default) | Enrollment Process |
| When benefits begin | After 7 consecutive days of disability |
After 180 days of disability. |
After 180 days of disability. |
| Initiating a Claim | Use the MetLife Telephone Reporting Procedure (.pdf): 1-800-858-6506 | When STD benefits are exhausted, MetLife automatically contacts you. |
When STD benefits are exhausted, MetLife automatically contacts 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 (up to a maximum of $15,000 per month) and continuation of retirement contributions. | 60% of pay (up to a maximum of $15,000 per month) and continuation of retirement contributions. | 60% of pay (up to a maximum of $15,000 per month), with annual 5% cost-of-living increases 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 |
6¢ per $100 salary / year (taken over 12 or 24 pays) (Payments begin when waiting period satisfied.) |
- MetLife will evaluate all claims to determine whether disability benefits are warranted.
- If the absence is also covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act policy, FMLA leave will run concurrently with the STD leave.
- Members of Local 95 have disability coverage through the Sick and Accident Program, administered by Jefferson Pilot Financial. See the Sick & Accident Program Telephone Reporting Procedure (.pdf).
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