Academic Disability

Medical leave is available through your department for up to three consecutive calendar months of partial or total disability. The period of three months is not extended by a partial work effort.

Salary continuation during the medical leave is based on your earnings in effect on your last full day of active work.

Covered compensation is based on your scheduled biweekly rate of earnings on your last full day of active work, not to exceed 100% of your current salary. Covered compensation includes, but is not limited to, basic salary, augmentation, increment, commutation, summer research, summer teaching, and certain lifetime awards. Salary increases will be applied to your work earnings. However, disability earnings starting at month 4 will be paid at your earnings rate in effect on your date of disability. 

Medical leave may be unpaid during any period where there are no scheduled earnings, such as the summer or during an unpaid leave of absence. Refer to the Academic Disability Plan Certificate.

You need to contact MetLife within 14 calendar days of disability to file a claim for medical leave benefits. They will walk you through the process and also tell you what comes next.

If you delay in contacting MetLife or in providing required documentation, it may result in a suspension of paid benefits during your medical leave.

If your leave of absence is greater than three months, the University provides a self-insured disability benefit that replaces 66.67% to 100% of your covered compensation during months 4 through 12, depending on your years of service with the University (see chart below).

The academic disability benefit is based on your covered compensation in effect on your last full day of active work, and covers salaries up to the IRS 401 (a) (17) limit. The percentage of your disability benefit is based on years of service and can be determined using the table below.

The University pays the full cost for your disability benefit. That means the disability benefit amount is considered taxable income.

Percent of Covered Compensation Replaced by Disability Benefit

*Benefits are continued through the end of the academic year for non-A-term appointments.

Adjustments to the disability benefit may be made to correct any overpayment of salary that occurs while you are on medical or disability leave.

MetLife will assume responsibility for claim benefit payments beginning with the second year of disability.

The insured long-term disability benefit will be paid directly to you on a monthly basis. You may choose one of two payment options: check or direct deposit.

Long-term disability benefits may be paid to the Social Security Normal Retirement Age with continued certification of disability.

The table shows the maximum number of monthly benefit payments depending on your age when the disability began.

Maximum Benefit Period

*The SSNRA means the Social Security Normal Retirement Age in effect under the Social Security Act as of the date of Disability.

If you are working part-time, you will no longer be certified as disabled if your work earnings exceed 80 percent of your covered earnings.

You are eligible to remain in the University’s health plan while you are receiving disability benefits. The University may continue to subsidize your medical, dental, and basic life insurance coverage for a period of time according to the chart below.

The subsidy is the portion of the total cost of your medical, dental, and basic life insurance coverage that the University pays, and it is based on the rate contributed for active employees.

After your subsidy period expires, you may remain in the plan by paying the full cost of the coverage.

First year of disability with active appointment: The employee-paid portion of your health coverage will be deducted from the disability benefit paid through the University payroll.

Eligible for a second year of subsidy: You will be billed directly from Employee Benefits for the employee cost of your coverage. When the subsidy ends, you may elect to continue your coverage through the medical and dental plan administrators. They will bill you directly on a monthly basis for the full cost of your coverage.

Partial disability and subsidy: You may continue to qualify for subsidized coverage if you are working 50% time or greater of a 100% time appointment.

Appointment ends while receiving subsidized coverage: You will no longer be eligible for pre-tax deductions through payroll. You will be billed directly from Employee Benefits for the cost of your coverage.

Become eligible for Medicare: You must apply for Medicare Parts A & B. Medicare then becomes primary for coverage and the University plan is secondary.

In the event that your claim is not approved by MetLife, you may be considered on an unpaid leave of absence, and you will be responsible for the full cost of your medical and dental coverage. You may appeal the claim decision by following the process outlined in your Academic Long-Term Disability Certificate.

If you are on an active appointment and are participating in the Faculty Retirement Plan at the onset of disability, you will continue to receive a full contribution to your retirement account while you are receiving disability benefits. The amount of contribution will equal 15.5% of your covered compensation in effect on your last full day of active work.

If you are on a partial disability, you will continue to contribute based on your work earnings and the Academic Disability Program will contribute the remaining amount to equal a full contribution of 15.5% of covered compensation.

Retirement contributions during the first year of disability are made through the University payroll system and are included under Employer Paid Benefits on your pay statement. If you are working part-time, contributions made by you and the University will be included under Before-Tax Deductions and the remaining contribution from the disability program will be included under Employer Paid Benefits.

Beginning with the second year of disability, contributions are made monthly by Unum and are deposited directly with your investment company.

The University's life insurance policy 32615-G includes a disability benefit in the form of a premium waiver. If you become totally disabled, all premiums for basic life, additional life, spouse life, and child life insurance coverage in force at the onset of disability will be waived following a six-month waiting period. Subject to continuous certification for total disability, this coverage will remain in force until age 70 without further payment of premium.

If you have a terminal condition (defined as a condition caused by sickness or accident that directly results in a life expectancy of 12 months or less), you may be eligible for an accelerated payment of the benefits provided under this group policy. Visit the Life Insurance section for more information.