Disability - Staff Employees
To Apply for Short-Term Disability (STD):
1. Contact the Absence Management Coordinator in Benefits as soon as you know the nature of your illness.
2. Contact your departmental administrator or the HRS Benefits Absence Management Coordinator to complete a Request for Short Term Disability.
- Complete the employee section of the form.
- Ask your physician to complete the "Physician's Statement" section of the form. He or she must document the date of your expected return to work. STD benefits cannot begin if your doctor does not indicate specific dates.
3. Return the completed Request for Short Term Disability form and Short Term Disability Information Sheet to the Absence Management Coordinator. You and your department will get a letter informing you that your STD leave has been approved.
4. There is a two-week waiting period before you can begin STD leave. STD benefits will begin on your 15th day of absence, or the day after you have exhausted your sick time, whichever is later. Short-Term Disability can last up to 13 weeks, excluding any sick time you have accrued.
If you are approved for STD leave, your physician may be asked to provide monthly status reports to monitor your recuperation and your anticipated return to work.
Special Rule for members of Local 73 and Local 743:
Local 73: Members receive up to 13 weeks of STD. They do not have to exhaust their accrued sick time, outside of the two-week waiting period. Their department will hold their jobs during the 13 weeks they are on STD.
Local 743: Short-Term Disability can last up to 26 weeks, minus any sick time you've accrued. The department will keep your job open for you during this time.
To Apply for Long-Term Disability (LTD):
1. Contact the Absence Management Coordinator in Benefits as soon as possible during your Short-Term Disability if your physician determines that you will not be able to return to work for longer than 90 days.
2. Request a Long-Term Disability application from the Absence Management Coordinator in Benefits. The University has contracted with The Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential) as the carrier for Long-Term Disability benefits.
3. Complete the Prudential Long-Term Disability application, have your doctor complete the physician's section, and submit the application to the Absence Management Coordinator in Benefits. A representative from Prudential will contact you and work with you throughout the approval process, which can take 30 - 45 days. Prudential determines your eligibility for LTD benefits.
4. If Prudential approves your application, you will receive a letter detailing your monthly benefit. Your LTD benefits will begin after three months of continuous disability. Prudential may also offer assistance in applying for Social Security Disability income, if warranted.
Special Rule for Members of Local 743:
Union Staff Employees in Local 743 are eligible for LTD benefits after three months. Short-Term Disability benefits can continue through the 26-week annual allotment; however, no Short-Term Disability benefits will be paid if the member is receiving LTD benefits even if the 26-week period has not expired.
To Return from Short Term or Long Term Disability Leave:
Submit a physician's statement releasing you to return to work to:
- Absence Management Coordinator in Benefits and to your department if you are returning from STD.
- Prudential and the Absence Management Coordinator in Benefits if you are returning from LTD.