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Benefits & Helpful Information - Short-term Disability

Benefits

Disability insurance is a form of income protection which provides a portion of the employee's salary in the event of a disabling illness or injury. Short Term Disability insurance provides income during the waiting period before Long Term Disability benefits begin.

Short-term disability benefits may be paid in addition to paid sick leave and/or vacation.

The University of Arizona offers its benefits-eligible employees two short-term disability plans from which to choose: Standard Insurance and Unum.

• Unum, 1-800-858-6843
• Standard Insurance Company, 1-800-368-2859

Helpful Information

Here are some helpful Short Term Disability plan facts.

• Short Term Disability insurance enrollment is voluntary.
• In some cases, there is a waiting period in which you must be continuously and totally disabled before benefits begin.
• The program provides you with a weekly benefit designed to partially replace income lost during periods of total disability resulting form a covered non-industrial injury, pregnancy, or illness.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. When should I file my Short Term Disability claim?

Upon the receipt of your leave paper work, the claim form will be mailed to you by the Leave Management Team. It should be completed following your actual last day of work. The carriers cannot accommodate anticipatory claims.

2. What do I do with my completed form?

Upon completeion of the claim form, please submit the form directly to your Leave Management Coordinator.

U of A Leave Management Team
888 N Euclid Ave. Ste. 114
PO BOX 210158
Tucson, AZ 85721-0158

3. How will I receive my payments?

Upon approval, the carrier will send a weekly benefit payment directly to the address you provide on your claim form.

4. How long does it take to process a claim?

Please allow up to ten (10) business days for a claim to be processed.

5. Will any taxes be deducted from my weekly benefit check?

No. Since payroll taxes have been paid on the premium, no federal or state income tax is due on the benefit received. The insurance company will not deduct taxes from your weekly benefit check, nor will they be mailing you a W-2 at the end of the year.

6. How much does the Short Term Disability benefit pay?

Please see our Short Term Disability calculator.

7. Can I receive Short Term Disability payments if I am also receiving sick or vacation pay?

Yes. Benefit Payments will not be offset by the sick and/or vacation time paid during your continued leave.

8. How long can I receive Short Term Disability benefits?

The maximum benefit period is 26 weeks for Unum and 22-26 weeks for Standard Insurance.

9. What should I do if it appears my condition could become a Long Term Disability?

It is advantageous to file a Long Term Disability claim as early as the 3rd month of the onset of disability. Allowing a 3-month processing window can increase the likelihood of having a completed claim by the time your six-month waiting period has been satisfied.

10.Can I also apply to receive Compassionate Transfer of Leave contributions?

Yes. You are required to file a short-term disability claim first if you will also be applying for Compassionate Transfer of Leave. See the Compassionate Transfer of Leave Policy #201.1 for additional information.

For additional information, contact your Leave Advisor.