The University of Alabama offers a voluntary, short-term disability plan to all full-time employees sponsored by The Standard Insurance Company.
Benefit Amount: The plan pays 60% of your current salary (not to exceed $1,000 per week) if you become temporarily disabled and unable to work for a short period of time due to illness/pregnancy or accident. If your claim is approved by The Standard, benefits are payable on the 15th or 30th day from the date of disability depending on your applicable waiting period. Your monthly benefit is 60% of your current salary not to exceed $1,000 per week for the first 90 days. After 90 days of benefit payments if you are still unable to return to work, you will be automatically transitioned to the University-Paid Long Term Disability (LTD) insurance. All full-time employees are eligible to enroll in this post tax, employee-paid benefit with the following two options:
| Plan Options | Option 1 | Option 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination/Waiting Period | 14 days | 29 days |
| Maximum Benefit Period | 76 days | 61 days |
| Maximum Benefit per Week (based on age and salary) | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Late Enrollment Penalty: New hire employees have 60 days to enroll in the short-term disability plan without penalty. Employees who enroll after this initial new hire enrollment period will be subject to a late enrollment penalty with a 60-day extended elimination/waiting period for the first 12 months of coverage. Thereafter, the applicable benefit waiting period of 14- or 29-days will apply.
Deductible Income Limitations: In order to receive benefits once disabled, the employee requesting short-term disability benefits must be in an unpaid status with The University. For example, an employee cannot receive a wage benefit under The University’s OJI program and short-term disability at the same time. An employee also cannot use accrued sick leave once STD payments begin, however, sick leave may be used during the 14- or 29-day waiting period. Your benefits will be reduced if you have deductible income, which is income you receive or are eligible to receive while receiving Short Term Disability benefits.
How To Enroll: Click the BenefitFocus link in myBama to login and initiate enrollment in the plan.
| Premium Rates | Option 1 (14-day waiting period) | Option 2 (29-day waiting period) |
|---|---|---|
| Your Age (as of January 1) | Rate per $10 of weekly benefit | Rate per $10 of weekly benefit |
| < 54 | $0.18 | $0.13 |
| 55 - 59 | $0.24 | $0.17 |
| 60 - 64 | $0.29 | $0.21 |
| 65 - 69 | $0.31 | $0.23 |
| 70 - 74 | $0.35 | $0.26 |
| 75+ | $0.39 | $0.28 |
Premiums: Monthly premiums are calculated based on salary and age. Use this formula to calculate your premium payment:
Your Weekly Earnings x 0.60 x Your Rate From Table Above / 10 = Your Estimated Monthly Premium
Premium Calculation Example: John is a 35-year-old employee with an annual salary of $60,000 and he elects Short Term Disability Option 1. What is his premium? $60,000 / 52 weeks = $1,153.85 weekly earnings x 60% = $692.31 x $0.18 (rate for Option 1, Age < 54) / 10 = $12.46 per month
Initiate Claim: Call The Standard’s Claim Intake Service Center at 800-378-2395. Review the Frequently Asked Questions document for additional information. You will be asked to provide the following information:
- Employer name: The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
- Group Policy: 643197
- Name and Social Security number
- Last day you were at work
- Nature of claim/medical information
- Physician’s contact information (name, address, phone and fax number)
When Benefits End: STD Benefits end on the date any of the following occur:
- You are no longer disabled
- Your maximum benefit period ends
- Long term disability benefits become payable to you under a long term disability plan
- Benefits become payable under any other disability insurance plan which you become insured through employment during a period of temporary recovery
- You fail to provide proof of continued disability and entitlement to benefits
- You pass away
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