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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.
Starting January 1, 2022, 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.
On this page
- Changes to LTD benefit starting January 1, 2022
- What is employer-paid (basic) LTD insurance?
- What is employee-paid LTD insurance starting January 1, 2022?
- What is supplemental (employee-paid) LTD insurance through December 31, 2021?
- Terms and conditions apply
- What is the definition of a disability?
- What is the maximum benefit period?
Changes to LTD benefit starting January 1, 2022
For the 2022 plan year, the SEBB Program will automatically enroll all eligible employees in employee-paid LTD insurance with 60-percent coverage of insured income and a 90-day benefit waiting period, unless they are already enrolled. You will not need to provide evidence of insurability.
See What is employee-paid LTD insurance starting January 1, 2022 for details. You can also learn more with the FAQs, fact sheet, and brochure.
What if I already have supplemental LTD?
If you are already enrolled in employee-paid (formerly called supplemental) LTD insurance, you will continue to be insured for 60 percent of your predisability earnings, up to $16,667 a month.
Your monthly premium will change. View the LTD premiums or use the premium calculator on Standard's website.
What is employer-paid (basic) 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 (your monthly base pay), 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 starting January 1, 2022?
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). If you are already enrolled in employee-paid LTD insurance for 2021, you will remain at the 60-percent coverage level with a 90-day waiting period. 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.
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 2022 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.
If you do not actively change your LTD benefit election by December 31, 2021, you will be enrolled in the 60-percent plan with a 90-day waiting period. Premiums will be deducted from your paycheck for January 2022 coverage.
Check with your payroll or benefits office for when the LTD premium will be deducted from your paycheck for January coverage. The LTD deduction may be prior to January 1, 2022, depending on your employer's payroll cycle.
How much does employee-paid LTD insurance cost?
View LTD insurance rates. To find your 2022 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
