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Long-term disability insurance
The SEBB Program provides employer-paid and employee-paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance to school employees who are eligible for the employer contribution toward SEBB benefits. These benefits are provided through Standard Insurance Company. If you are eligible for SEBB benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in employer-paid LTD insurance coverage, even if you waive SEBB medical coverage.
Employer-paid and employee-paid LTD insurance are not available to employees eligible for benefits under WAC 182-31-130.
You will also be automatically enrolled in employee-paid LTD insurance coverage. Note: Your SEBB long-term disability benefit is different from the state’s new long-term care benefit, which is called The WA Cares Fund.
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What is employer-paid LTD insurance?
LTD insurance protects a portion of your salary if you are unable to work due to serious injury or illness. When you enroll in LTD coverage, it pays you a percentage of your monthly earnings if you become disabled.
If eligible, you will automatically be enrolled in employer-paid LTD insurance, even if you waive medical coverage. You do not need to provide evidence of insurability (proof of good health).
The SEBB Program's school employee benefits include employer-paid LTD insurance at no cost to you.
Employer-paid LTD provides:
- Benefit: 60 percent of the first $667 of your predisability earnings, reduced by any deductible income (like Social Security disability).
- Minimum: $100/month
- Maximum: $400/month
Benefits start after the benefit-waiting period, which is the longer of:
- 90 days;
- The entire period of sick leave (excluding shared leave) for which the employee is eligible;
- The “fractionated period” of paid time off (PTO) for which the employee is eligible, if your employer has a PTO plan, as those terms are defined in the policy;
- The entire period of other non-vacation salaried continuation leave for which the employee is eligible; or
- The end of Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave for which the employee is receiving benefits.
Benefits continue during disability up to the maximum benefit period. The maximum benefit period is determined by your age when disability begins.
What is employee-paid LTD insurance?
If you are eligible for employer-paid LTD, the SEBB Program will automatically enroll you in a plan that covers 60 percent of your insured income (your monthly insured earnings before you become disabled, up to $16,667). You do not need evidence of insurability.
At any time, you can reduce to a lower-cost 50-percent coverage level or decline the coverage. If you later decide to enroll in or increase coverage, you will have to provide evidence of insurability and be approved by the insurer. An increase in coverage takes effect the day the evidence of insurability is approved.
What are predisability earnings?
Predisability earnings means your base monthly rate of earnings and any additional time, responsibility and incentive (TRI Pay) from your employer, including:
- Contributions you make through a salary reduction agreement with your employer to:
- An Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 401(k), 403(b), 408(k), 408(p), or 457 deferred compensation arrangement; or
- An executive nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement.
- Amounts contributed to your fringe benefits according to a salary reduction agreement under an IRC Section 125 plan.
The 60 percent coverage level provides:
- Benefit: 60 percent of the first $16,667 of your predisability earnings, reduced by any deductible income
- Minimum: $100/month or 10 percent of the LTD benefit before deductible income, whichever is greater
- Maximum: $10,000/month
Benefits start after the benefit-waiting period, which is the longer of:
- 90 days;
- The entire period of sick leave (excluding shared leave) for which the employee is eligible;
- The “fractionated period” of paid time off (PTO) for which the employee is eligible, if your employer has a PTO plan, as those terms are defined in the policy;
- The entire period of other non-vacation salaried continuation leave for which the employee is eligible; or
- The end of Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave for which the employee is receiving benefits.
Benefits continue during disability up to the maximum benefit period. The maximum benefit period is determined by your age when disability begins.
The 50 percent coverage level provides:
- Benefit: 50 percent of the first $16,667 of your predisability earnings, reduced by any deductible income
- Minimum: $100/month or 10 percent of the LTD benefit before deductible income, whichever is greater
- Maximum: $8,333/month
Benefits start after the benefit-waiting period, which is the longer of:
- 90 days;
- The entire period of sick leave (excluding shared leave) for which the employee is eligible;
- The “fractionated period” of paid time off (PTO) for which the employee is eligible, if your employer has a PTO plan, as those terms are defined in the policy;
- The entire period of other non-vacation salaried continuation leave for which the employee is eligible; or
- The end of Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave for which the employee is receiving benefits.
Benefits continue during disability up to the maximum benefit period. The maximum benefit period is determined by your age when disability begins.
How do I reduce or decline employee-paid LTD?
At any time, you can reduce to a lower-cost 50-percent coverage level or decline the employee-paid coverage using SEBB My Account or by submitting the Long-Term Disability Insurance Enrollment/Change form to your payroll or benefits office. If you later decide to enroll in or increase coverage, you will have to provide evidence of insurability and be approved by the insurer.
How much does employee-paid LTD insurance cost?
View LTD insurance rates. To find your premium, use the premium calculator on Standard's website.
Contact
For help with enrollment and premium payments
Your payroll or benefits office
For help with benefits or plan details
Standard Insurance Company
Phone: 1-833-229-4177
Online: Standard for school employees