Disability Insurance
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 consecutive calendar days. These programs are administered through MetLife.
Eligibility
You must be full-time benefits eligible (37.5 scheduled hours per week) to enroll.
Disability Coverage
| Short-Term Disability |
Basic Long-Term Disability |
Enhanced Long-Term Disability | |
| When you are eligible | Immediately | Immediately* | Immediately*; Not available for those age 69+ |
| How to enroll | Automatic | Automatic (Default) | Through |
| When benefits begin | After seven consecutive days of disability | After 180 days of disability | After 180 days of disability |
| Initiating a Claim | Use the MetLife Telephone Reporting Procedure [pdf]: 866-729-9201 | When short-term disability benefits are exhausted, MetLife automatically contacts you | When short-term disability benefits are exhausted, MetLife automatically contacts you |
| Conditions covered | Non-work related illnesses and injuries, including pregnancy and childbirth | Illnesses and injuries resulting in disability of more than six months | Illnesses and injuries resulting in disability of more than six months |
| Benefits | 60% of pay (up to a maximum of $15,000 per month) and continuation of retirement contributions; 100% of pay following childbirth for up to six or eight weeks** | 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 Maximum LTD Benefit Period | See Maximum LTD Benefit Period |
| Costs | Free | Free | 6¢ per $100 salary/year (taken over 12 or 24 pays) |
*Subject to pre-existing exclusion for the disabling condition for 12 months from effective date of coverage.
***The Staff Parental and Maternity Leave program may not be applicable to staff members governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Pay practices for such staff members shall be governed by the terms of the applicable CBA.
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, FMLA leave will run concurrently with the short-term disability leave.
Maximum LTD Benefit Period
| Age disability began | Maximum benefit period* |
| Less than 63 | To Social Security Normal Retirement Age |
| 64 | 30 months |
| 65 | 24 months |
| 66 | 21 months |
| 67 | 18 months |
| 68 | 15 months |
| 69 and over | 12 months |
*The employee’s maximum benefit period is the period shown above or the employee’s normal retirement age under the 1983 amendments to the Federal Social Security Act, whichever is longer.
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.