Disability Benefits

Notify your supervisor, and call Reed Group, the third-party administrator for the VSDP program, at 1.877.928.7021 (toll-free) as soon as possible. They will need to know: 

• Your job title and agency name
• Date of birth
• Current mailing address
• Brief description of your disability
• Whether you have filed a workers’ compensation claim
• Last day you were - or will be - able to work
• Contact information for your doctor / licensed healthcare professional (Name, address, phone, and fax)

You will receive an information packet with forms that must be submitted before Reed Group can complete its review of your claim. Refer to the VSDP Handbook for more details about the forms below.

• Attending Physician Statement
• Authorization for Release of Medical Information

• Short-Term Disability Repayment Agreement
• VSDP Outside Earned Income Reporting for Short-Term Disability
• Notification

If you are disabled for more than 5 working days, call The Standard M-F between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM at 1-844-433-7973.

You will need to provide the following information:

• Employer
• Plan number (647264)
• Name
• Social Security number
• Nature of claim
• Last day at work
• Physician contact information

For the benefit waiting period, and while short-term disability benefits are payable, disability is defined as being unable to perform your job because of physical disease, injury, pregnancy, or mental disorder, resulting in a loss of at least 20% of weekly earnings. You are not considered disabled when earning 80% or more of pre-disability earnings.

Coverage for short-term disability begins as soon as you are enrolled in ORP. Your benefit on short-term disability is based on a percentage of weekly pre-disability earnings (as of the date of disability) reduced by deductible income (e.g. work earnings, workers’ compensation, state disability, etc.).

If you are unable to return to work before short-term disability benefits run out, your position will no longer be held open for our return. If you are able to return to work after short-term disability benefits run out, it must be through the competitive hiring process.

Short-Term Disability for Staff

• Immediate eligibility
• Five-day waiting period
• 100% of salary for up to 25 workdays (i.e., 200 hours)
• 80% of salary through the 180th calendar day of disability

Your salary in the ORP Short-Term Disability Plan will continue on a graded schedule, phasing benefits over time. The intention is to ease the transition to long-term disability where the end income of the short-term disability is nearer to the income replacement level of the Long-Term Disability Plan. ORP Disability Plan benefit coverage takes 5 business days before it begins. Incidental eave for short-term absences of fewer than five days (ex.: 2 sick days, or one day to care for a sick child), will be charged to the University Staff Leave Program balance.

Short-Term Disability for Faculty

• Immediate eligibility
• 100% of salary for up to 180 calendar days

This includes faculty who converted to University Staff. Short-term disability is generally described as a type of sick leave for absences of more than 5 days - including maternity leave - for up to 180 calendar days. Current and future faculty employees will receive 100% salary continuation for the approved leave period - with no waiting period.

Nine-month faculty will receive 180 calendar days of disability leave. Short-term disability will be paid on days which you would normally be paid. Short-term disability days without pay still count toward the 180 calendar day short-term disability leave period.

• If you become totally disabled, you are eligible for income replacement benefits. You are considered totally disabled if you are unable to work in any occupation for which you are “reasonably fitted by education, training, or experience” due to sickness or bodily injury.
• Begins at the end of the Standard Disability period and continues for the duration of disability, or until normal Social Security retirement age
• Pays a monthly income benefit equal to 66.66% of monthly salary, offset by Social Security or workers’ compensation benefits
• Benefit cannot exceed $20,000 / month
• Plan includes annual 3% cost-of-living increment and continued contributions to ORP

The Standard Disability Claims Customer Service: 1.844.433.7973

• How to Initiate a Claim with The Standard
• The Standard Disability at a Glance
• The Standard Disability Group Certificate
• The Standard Disability Group Certificate Amendment
• Request for LTD Conversion for Terminating Employees

Short-term coverage provides a weekly benefit of 60% of your salary, up to a weekly maximum of $1,100, beginning on the 15th day of continuous disability.

• Short-Term Disability Summary
• Short-Term Disability Booklet

Long-term coverage provides 60% income replacement up to a maximum of $10,000 per month after the six 6 months of short-term disability benefits have expired.

An optional contributory plan provides a monthly benefit of 66 2/3% of your salary, up to a monthly maximum of $10,000.

Benefits continue for the duration of the disability up to normal retirement age as defined by U.S. Social Security, or to age 65 (whichever is greater).

• Long-Term Disability Summary
• Long-Term Disability Booklet