Standard Insurance Company Long Term Disability Insurance Description

All full-time employees and part-time employees who are eligible for health insurance are eligible to participate in the long-term disability insurance program. The University pays the full cost of the program. Employees are covered on the first day of the month following one year of service; the waiting period is waived if the employee worked for an employer, within three months of beginning SUNY employment, where they were covered by a similar plan. The carrier is The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York.

The plan provides benefits after six months of total disability. Benefits are 60% of your monthly salary as of the date you become disabled, with a maximum payment of $7500 per month. Benefits are reduced by benefits you may receive from other sources such as Social Security disability, disability retirement from ERS or TRS, or Workers Compensation. The plan also provides an annuity premium benefit, which makes retirement contributions for you based on your full salary. Contributions are made to TIAA-CREF, irrespective of which retirement system you are enrolled in. Both the income benefit and the annuity premium benefit increase by 3% each year. If you remain totally disabled, benefits are payable per the following schedule:

Age When Total Disability Starts Maximum Duration of Benefits

Less than 60 to age 65
60 but less than 65 4 and ½ years
65 but less than 68 and ½ to age 70
68 and ½ and over one year

The University does not provide short-term disability benefits. You may use sick leave and annual leave accruals or go on leave without pay during the six-month elimination period. You may wish to explore the private purchase of short-term disability insurance to provide coverage during the elimination period. Members of UUP are eligible to purchase short-term disability insurance through NYSUT.

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