Long-Term Disability
Ohio State strives to offer benefits that enhance financial security for you and your family. Upon an approved claim, long-term disability (LTD) benefits provide income protection after a 90 calendar day waiting period when your extended disability prevents you from working.
Ohio State partners with Unum, a leading insurance provider, to offer LTD to eligible employees. Contact Unum at (866) 245-3013 one month in advance to start the claims application process if you are expecting to be off work for more than 90 calendar days.
Documents and Resources
Long-Term Disability Benefit Details
Upon an approved claim, long-term disability (LTD) coverage provides 60% of your regular base monthly pay, to a maximum of $5,000 per month. LTD payments are distributed monthly and considered taxable income.
You may use vacation time while receiving LTD benefits to supplement your income. However, you cannot supplement your LTD benefits with sick time or paid parental time. Using sick time or paid parental time while receiving LTD payments will result in a reduction of your LTD payment. Any other disability payments for which you may be eligible—such as Workers’ Compensation, Social Security and state retirement system benefits—will also offset your LTD payments.
You must coordinate any paid time off you wish to use during your leave of absence and disability benefit period with your department/manager to avoid pay errors.
Faculty and staff who hold a qualifying appointment of at least 50% FTE are eligible for this benefit at no cost. The university pays 100% of the premiums, so there is no direct contribution by you. You are eligible for LTD on day one of your employment with Ohio State.
Pre-Existing Conditions
No benefits are paid for a disability that is due to a pre-existing condition. Under the plan, a “pre existing condition” refers to any injury, sickness, mental illness, substance abuse or pregnancy that began before you were insured.
You have a pre-existing condition if:
- You received medical treatment, consultation, care or services or took prescribed drugs or medicines in the three months prior to your coverage effective date, and
- The disability begins in the first 12 months after your coverage effective date unless you have been treatment-free for three consecutive months after your coverage effective date.
Situations when you should file a long-term disability claim include:
- Your physician has determined you are unable to work due to an illness, injury or medical condition and has estimated you will be off work longer than 90 calendar days.
- You have an existing short-term disability claim and are not expected to return to work within 90 calendar days. In this case, a new claim does not need to be filed, because a long-term disability review will be completed in order to determine ongoing eligibility.
Steps to filing a long-term disability claim:
- Call Unum at the toll-free number listed below to initiate a claim.
- The following information is required to initiate a claim:
- Policy number 121156
- Physician’s name, address, fax and phone number
- Brief description of your medical condition, including date of injury or beginning of illness and whether it is work-related
- Dates of your first, most recent and next scheduled doctor’s appointments
- Last day worked, first day absent from work and date you expect to return to work
- Work restrictions provided by your physician
- Notify your physician that you have filed a disability claim and that medical records will be requested by Unum.
- Fax or mail a copy of the signed Unum Authorization and Ohio State Authorization forms to Unum at the fax number listed below.
- Contact HR Connection at 614-247-myHR (6947) for questions related to disability plan coverage, other Ohio State benefits, coordination of medical leave and return to work.
Prompt and complete information from you and your physician will help assure a timely decision and payment if you are eligible.
Unum
Phone: (866) 245-3013
Fax: (800) 447-2498
M-F: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST
When you are on an approved leave of absence, you may be eligible to continue some or all of your university benefits. More information about continued benefit coverage during an approved leave of absence can be found on the Leaves of Absence page.
Eligibility
Faculty Group Practice Long Term Disability (FGP LTD) provides income protection for physicians previously employed by OSU Physicians, Inc. (OSUP) who became employed by The Ohio State University on or after July 1, 2011.
Benefit
Upon an approved claim, FGP LTD coverage provides 60% of your regular monthly pay based on your FGP associated earnings up to a maximum of $10,000 per month.
File a Claim
Follow the above procedure for filing a claim. The FGP LTD Policy number is 210818.
Faculty and staff with a qualifying appointment of at least 50% FTE, and earning a base salary of $100,000 or more will have an opportunity to enroll in a Supplemental Individual Disability Insurance (SIDI) plan. These individualized plans provide additional coverage over and above the university’s long-term disability plan. The benefit is available on a voluntary basis, and premiums will be paid through post-tax payroll deductions.
SIDI enrollment is not available at the time of hire. Eligible employees will be provided information during a special annual enrollment period. When you are eligible to apply for SIDI, you will receive email communication from OSU HR and information will be mailed to your home from the insurance carrier, Unum.
SIDI Program Highlights:
- You must earn $100,000 or more of income with 50% FTE to be eligible
- SIDI covers 60% of OSU base salary, less Group LTD, to a maximum of $10,000/month
- If you have outside Disability coverage, it may off-set the OSU SIDI benefit
- No medical underwriting
- Payroll deductions are taken on an after-tax basis
- Policy is portable at the 25% discounted rate should you leave OSU
If you have questions about your existing SIDI policy through OSU, please email our Executive Benefits Consultants at aonidi@aon.com.
A Return to Work Release Form is required in order to return to work following your FML or medical leave for your own serious health condition. Integrated Absence Management and Vocational Services staff in the Office of Human Resources, who assist with disability benefits and leave services, may coordinate with your physician and department to develop return-to-work and remain-at-work goals and expectations. This may include the identification of temporary transitional work placements in accordance with the Transitional Work Policy based on your skills, restrictions and departmental needs.
You must also request your return from leave in Workday.
It’s important for you to be familiar with Ohio State’s leave policies. If you are unable to return to work, please review these policies, including the Family and Medical Leave Policy and Unpaid Leave Policy. Classified Civil Service (CCS) employees should also review Rules for CCS Chapter 73: Leave Policies related to unpaid leaves and disability separation. Additional information is also available at CCS Disability Separation.
Integrated Absence Management and Vocational Services staff in the Office of Human Resources, who coordinate disability benefits and leave services, can assist you with referrals to other benefits and resources that you may be eligible to receive, including, but not limited to, OPERS disability retirement, STRS disability retirement and Social Security benefits.
This is intended to be an overview. Refer to the Plan Document for complete information. In the event the information on these pages differs from the Plan Document, the Plan Document will govern.
