Short Term Disability (STD)

Short Term Disability (STD) provides 70% of regular salary in cases where personal illness or injury requires continued absence from work in excess of ten (10) working days for up to a total of one hundred eighty (180) calendar days. STD covers only those absences which begin on the first of the month following date of hire into full time service.

1. Salary continuation for STD is not automatic. The employee is responsible for filing a disability claim with the University’s external disability administrator after ten (10) consecutive work days of absence. A case manager will request medical information from the employee's physician/healthcare provider sufficient to explain the need for the absence. Once a claim is filed, the employee will receive a written application which includes a "Release of Medical Information" section to allow the employee’s healthcare provider to communicate with the disability case manager and appropriate Human Resources representatives.
2. The University may require a second opinion from a healthcare provider of its choosing where the Director of Human Resources, or his/her designee, determines such an opinion may be needed to make a determination on the granting of STD benefits. The University is the final authority as to the eligibility of the employee for STD benefits.
3. Employees may return to work from STD only after they have obtained a clearance from their healthcare provider and a release from the Human Resources office.
4. A separate period of disability will be considered continuous if it results from the same or related conditions as a prior disability for which monthly benefits were payable, and if it occurs within six (6) months of the eligible employee's return to work.

Long-Term Disability (LTD)

Long-Term Disability (LTD) is an insurance program paid by the University to provide 60% of regular salary when a personal illness or injury requires continued consecutive absence from work in excess of one hundred eighty (180) calendar days to a maximum benefit amount of $11,500 per month.

LTD benefits are coordinated with Social Security disability and other applicable employer sponsored disability plans, along with the retirement benefits under Social Security and employer sponsored plans. The 60% LTD benefit is increased to 70% when combined with Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits from other employer sponsored plans. To qualify for disability benefits from the University, the employee is expected to make every good faith effort to obtain disability benefits from Social Security or other applicable employer sponsored plans.

The LTD plan is fully insured under a policy with a private insurance company.

1. LTD salary continuation is not automatic. The employee is responsible for filing an application for LTD which is subject to the approval of the University’s external disability administrator.
2. The University’s external disability administrator may require a second medical opinion from a healthcare provider of its choosing when necessary to determine the initial approval or continuation of LTD benefits. The University’s external disability administrator is the final authority as to the eligibility of the employee for LTD benefits.
3. Employees may return to work from LTD only after they have obtained clearance from their healthcare provider and a release from the Human Resources office.

General Provisions

1. Employees will not be eligible for STD or LTD benefits for any period of disability caused or contributed to by, or resulting from a pre-existing condition. A pre-existing condition means any injury or sickness for which an employee received medical advice or treatment within three (3) months before the employee’s most recent effective date of insurance. You will not be entitled to receive benefit payments during the first 12 months after your effective date of coverage. 
2. Employees are not eligible for sick leave, STD, or LTD if they work at any other job, unless such employment is explicitly approved by Human Resources.
3. Employees are not eligible for sick leave, STD, or LTD if their absence is covered by Workers' Compensation payments for occupational injury or disease.
4. Employee coverage under the University’s medical, dental and basic life insurance programs, in force at the start of an approved sick leave, or STD leave, will continue during the time an employee is on approved paid disability subject to the payment of any appropriate premiums. Those employees approved for LTD are eligible for up to two years of coverage in the medical and dental programs beginning with the date LTD is approved as determined by the insurance carrier. Employees may also be eligible for waiver of premium under the life insurance program. Continued coverage, beyond the two year limit, for medical and dental is available under COBRA.
5. The University may require a medical assessment during the employee’s leave period, and it will make decisions regarding the continuation of leave and any accommodations which may be requested in accordance with applicable law.
6. Administration of the paid sick leave and STD plans is the responsibility of the Associate Vice President of Human Resources, or his/her designee. Where an insured plan is in existence (such as with the LTD plan), the terms of that plan govern and supersede the description above. Questions of coverage or interpretation should be directed to the Human Resources office.