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Disability

All full-time and part-time salaried University Staff Operational & Administrative employees must participate in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Part-time employees are defined as those who work at least 20 hours, but less than 32 hours per week.

All full-time and part-time salaried University Staff Managerial & Professional, Executive & Sr. Administrative and Faculty employees must participate in either the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) or the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). The retirement program selected effects the AD&D, disability and life insurance benefits, so careful consideration should be given to this decision. Once a retirement program is elected, the decision is irreversible.

ORP Disability

By selecting the Optional Retirement Plan you will have Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability with The Standard Insurance Company. If employees are unable to return to work before short-term disability benefits are exhausted their position will no longer be held to return to work. If employees are able to return to work at the University after the short-term disability benefits have expired it must be through the competitive hiring process.

Short-Term Disability - University Staff (excluding faculty who elected to switch to University Staff)

For University Staff (excluding faculty who elected to switch to University Staff), in the ORP STD plan, salary will be continued on a graded schedule that phases benefits over time with the intention of easing the transition to Long Term Disability where the end income of the STD is nearer to the income replacement level of the LTD. The ORP disability plan has a 5 business day waiting period before the benefit coverage begins. For University Staff, incidental use of leave for short-term absences of less than five days, such as two sick days for the flu or one day off to care for a sick child, will be charged to the University Staff leave program balance.

University Staff (excluding faculty who elected to switch to University Staff)
EligiblityWaiting Period100% of Salary80% of Salary
Immediate5 days25 workdays (200 hours)Through the 180th calendar day of disability

Short-Term Disability - Faculty (including faculty who elected to switch to University Staff) Short-term disability is generally described as a type of "sick" leave for absences of more than five days, including maternity leave. Current and future faculty employees (including those A&P faculty who convert to University Staff) will retain the 100% salary continuation for the approved leave period with no waiting period.

Faculty (including faculty who elected to switch to University Staff)
Eligibility100% of Salary80% of Salary
Immediate180 calendar days0 days

How to Initiate a Claim with The Standard

Long-Term Disability

Members who participate in the ORP are eligible to receive income replacement benefits in the event they become totally disabled from The Standard Disability Benefit Plan. Total disability is defined by The Standard as the "inability of the employee, by reason of sickness or bodily injury, to engage in any occupation for which the employee is reasonably fitted by education, training or experience." The benefit begins at the end of the STD period and continues for the duration of the disability or until normal Social Security retirement age.

The plan provides a Monthly Income Benefit that is equal to 66-2/3percent (offset by any social security or workers' compensation benefits) of the covered member's monthly salary, but not to exceed $20,000 monthly. The plan also includes an annual 3 percent cost-of-living increment and continued contributions to the Optional Retirement Plan.

The University pays the total cost of this insurance. Since the program is a group term plan, insurance terminates on the day on which active service terminates. The insurance may be converted to an individual policy with reduced benefits if application is made within 31 days of coverage termination.

VRS Disability

When you become employed as a full-time or part-time salaried state employee and are enrolled in VRS, you are enrolled in the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP). If you were hired on or after July 1, 2009, you must complete one year of continuous employment before becoming eligible for short-term and long-term disability coverage for non-work related illnesses or injuries.

Short-Term Disabilty

VSDP Income Replacement – Non-Work Related Disabilities
Date of Hire after July 1, 2009
Months of State Service Workdays of Income Replacement at 100% Workdays of Income Replacement at 80% Workdays of Income Replacement at 60%
Less than 12 0 0 0
13-59 0 0 125
60-119 25 25 75
120-179 25 50 50
180 months or more 25 75 25
VSDP Income Replacement – Non-Work Related Disabilities
Date of Hire before July 1, 2009
Months of State Service Workdays of Income Replacement at 100% Workdays of Income Replacement at 80% Workdays of Income Replacement at 60%
Less than 60 5 20 100
60-119 25 25 75
120-179 25 50 50
180 months or more 25 75 25

How to Initiate a Claim with UNUM (VRS)

Long-Term Disabilty

You may be eligible for long-term disability benefits if your medical condition is expected to extend beyond 125 workdays of short-term disability. Benefits cover those in a return-to-work program who can work 20 or more hours a week but cannot perform their full duties at their regular schedules and those who are unable to work at all or only up to 20 hours a week.

Benefits

Long-term disability provides an income replacement of 60 percent of your annual compensation, including any salary increases applied during your short-term disability. Payments are adjusted if you receive payments or income from other sources or other disability programs.

COLA for Long-term Disability Benefits Effective July 1, 2008: 2.8%

After you have been on long-term disability for a full calendar year (January 1 to December 31), you may be eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) July 1 of the following year. Upon recommendation of the program actuary, the VRS Board of Trustees sets the COLA amount each fiscal year.

Catastrophic Disability Benefits

If your disability becomes catastrophic, your income replacement level will be at 80 percent for the duration of the catastrophic condition. To qualify, you must be unable to perform at least two out of six Activities of Daily Living: bathing, dressing, eating, maintaining continence, toileting and getting in and out of bed and chairs.

Disabilty Summary Information

ORP Disabilty Website - The Standard

VRS Disabilty Website - VSDP

The Standard Customer Service (ORP members) - 1.800.378.2395

UNUM Customer Service (VRS members) - 1.800.652.5602

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