Understanding Short Term Disability (STD) benefits for Allied Health Staff

Aug 21, 2017 | Robert McGriff | @m039153 | Comments (6)

Understanding your short term disability (STD) benefits can be complex and seem difficult, especially since the reason you are using STD is due to a personal illness or injury, which is stressful enough. Being familiar with the basics may put your mind at ease, so that if you do need to access the benefit, you will feel less confused and hopefully better prepared on the steps you need to take to get the benefit in place.

Short term disability provides benefit-eligible employees (.5 FTE or greater) protection against loss of income because of a serious health condition that is non work related. The amount of STD is determined by years of service and your exempt status (hourly or salary). For those who are hourly and have less than 5 years of service, there will be up to 3 weeks of pay available at 100% of salary and 10 weeks at 50% of salary. For those who are hourly with at least 5 years of service, exempt, or have the position of a direct patient care RN, there will be 13 weeks available at 100% of pay.

Category
Completed Years of Service
Benefit Amount

Nonexempt (full-time)
0-5
120 hours at full pay plus 400 hours at half pay

5+
520 hours at full pay

Exempt (full-time)
0+
520 hours at full pay

Patient Care RNs (full-time)*
0+
520 hours at full pay

The length of time that STD will be paid while on leave is determined by the nature of the illness or injury, but it can be up to 13 weeks. The first step to applying for STD would be to complete a leave of absence request in Employee Self Service (ESS), which can be done by the supervisor if the employee is unable to access ESS. Then, a release of medical information authorization must be completed.

There is a waiting period of 40 hours (pro-rated for part time) before STD would be available. PTO can be used for this time if available, otherwise unpaid time would apply. Once STD is approved, these hours will continue to be paid for as long as approved or STD balance is exhausted. Ongoing medical documentation may be requested throughout the leave to continue STD payments. A return to work release may be required from the attending physician before returning to work.

STD balances are renewed during an employee’s employment anniversary pay period, unless employee is on leave at the time of their employment anniversary. If that is the case, the balance will renew once the employee returns to work for an entire pay period.

 

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If STD is not used does it roll over to the following year? If this is the case, how many hours remain in the bank?

REPLY
@buzzinglikeabee

If STD is not used does it roll over to the following year? If this is the case, how many hours remain in the bank?

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I will be on vacation Thursday, October 19 and Friday, October 20, returning to work on Monday October 23. 

 

Thanks,

Shannon



 

REPLY
@buzzinglikeabee

If STD is not used does it roll over to the following year? If this is the case, how many hours remain in the bank?

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Unused Short Term Disability does not roll over to a new year. Each year on your anniversary date, if you are actively at work, the balance is replenished up to the annual allotment.

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I have had health issues over the year and have Exhausted my STD. I’ve recently been in a car accident with back injury and am off work. Is there a way to borrow from future STD hours? I do not qualify for long term as I have been working for long periods in between illness and car accident.

REPLY
@jennie_morse

I have had health issues over the year and have Exhausted my STD. I’ve recently been in a car accident with back injury and am off work. Is there a way to borrow from future STD hours? I do not qualify for long term as I have been working for long periods in between illness and car accident.

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Unfortunately, you are not able to use STD beyond your available balance.

REPLY
@m039153

Unfortunately, you are not able to use STD beyond your available balance.

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I was looking for information. Not posting a claim.

Thank you
Stephanie Patton

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