604: Short- and Long-Term Disability Leave

Statement

The University provides, through the Office of Employee Benefits, short-and long-term disability benefits for eligible employees.  The eligibility terms and conditions of disability benefits are contained in the summary plan description available through the Office of Employee Benefits.  The period of time an employee is absent and receiving benefits is considered short-and/or long-term disability leave.

Philosophy

Short-and long-term disability benefits are intended to provide continuation of income for periods of time an employee is medically disabled and unable to work. 

Procedures

Application for Benefits 
Employees must contact the Office of Employee Benefits to apply for short-and/or long-term disability benefits.  There is a separate application process for short-term and long-term disability benefits. 

Notification to Department 
An employee must notify the department when applying for short-and/or long-term disability benefits. The Office of Employee Benefits will inform the department when an application for benefits has been approved. In addition, the Office of Employee Benefits will inform the department when the benefit has expired. 

Waiting Period 
An employee is eligible to use accrued paid leave hours during the waiting period for short-term disability benefits.  An employee is also eligible to use accrued leave benefits subsequent to the expiration of short-term disability benefits and/or while waiting for a determination on an application for long-term disability benefits. 

Coordination with Family and Medical Leave  
An eligible employee who is medically disabled and unable to work should request medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave  policy and apply for disability benefits.  Approval of a medical leave does not guarantee that disability benefits will be paid. 

Leave covered by short-or long-term disability benefits that also qualifies as medical leave under the Family and Medical leave policy is counted against the employee’s leave entitlement for family and medical leave. 

Termination of Employment 
An employee who is covered by short-and long-term disability benefits  may be terminated if he or she is absent from the job for a period of one year due to a disability.  Reasonable accommodations to enable the employee to return to work within a year will be considered when relevant.  Any termination decision must be in accordance with any applicable federal, state, and local law. 

A probationary employee may be terminated at any time in accordance with the Probationary Policy. 

Termination of employment will result in the termination of short-term disability benefits.  Termination of employment, in itself, will not result in the termination of long-term disability benefits. 

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of an employee to follow the application and notification procedures outlined in this policy.  It is the responsibility of a supervisor to inform an eligible employee of the availability of leave benefits in the event of the employee’s disability.

Resources

Questions concerning short-and/or long-term disability benefits should be directed to the Office of Employee Benefits.  Other questions concerning the application of the policy should be directed to the appropriate Human Resources department.