Work/Life
You Become Disabled: Staff Employee
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The steps to take for a disability leave vary, depending on whether you are:

• Applying for Short-Term Disability (STD)
• Applying for Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Returning from Disability Leave

For general information on disability coverage, including who's eligible and how long it can last, refer to Short-Term Disability or Long-Term Disability.

 To Apply for Short-Term Disability (STD):

• Contact the Disability Administrator in the Office of Wage and Salary Administration as soon as you know the nature of your illness.
• Contact your departmental administrator or the Disability Administrator (Ingleside Hall, Room 201) and request an Application for Accident and Sickness Benefits form. All sections on the form must be completed.
• Complete the employee section of the form.
• Ask your supervisor or departmental administrator to complete the "Supervisor's Statement" section of the form and the attached Accident and Sickness Information sheet.
• Ask your physician to complete the "Physician's Statement" section of the form. He or she must write down the estimated date that you can return to work. STD benefits cannot begin if your doctor does not indicate specific dates.
• Return the completed Application for Accident and Sickness Benefits form and the Accident and Sickness Information sheet to the Disability Administrator (Ingleside Hall, Room 201). You and your department will get a letter informing you that your STD leave has been approved.
• To see how your benefits are impacted when you are on Short-Term Disability, click here.

There is a two-week waiting period before you can go on STD. STD benefits will begin on the later of:

• Your 15th day of absence or
• After you have exhausted your sick time.

Short-Term Disability can last up to 13 weeks, minus any sick time you've accrued.

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.

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 To Apply for Long-Term Disability (LTD):

• Contact the Benefits Office as soon as possible during Short-Term Disability to complete the required paperwork for Long-Term Disability.
• Request a UnumProvident Long-Term Disability application from the Benefits Office.
• Complete the UnumProvident Long-Term Disability application, have your doctor complete the physician's section, and submit the application to the Benefits Office. UnumProvident determines whether you are eligible for LTD benefits.
• If UnumProvident approves your application, your LTD benefits will begin after three months of continuous disability. To see how your benefits are affected when you are on Long-Term Disability, click here.

Union Staff Employees #743: You are eligible for LTD benefits after three months. Short-Term Disability benefits can continue through your 26-week annual allotment; however, no Short-Term Disability benefits will be paid if you are receiving LTD benefits even if the 26-week period has not expired.

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 To Return from Disability Leave:

You must submit a physician's statement releasing you to return to work to:

• Andretta Clark, Disability Administrator, in the Office of Wage and Salary Administration and to your department if you are returning from STD.
• UnumProvident, the Benefits Office and to your department if you are returning from LTD.

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