Benefits: Open Enrollment

Long Term Disability (LTD) Plan

SU offers a voluntary Long Term Disability (LTD) Plan insured through The Standard.

Benefit Design

The LTD Plan is designed to pay a benefit in the event that an eligible employee cannot work because of a covered illness or injury. The Plan provides that a portion of covered income is replaced and paid directly to the disabled employee. The Standard will pay 60 percent of your insured pre-disability earnings (reduced by deductible income from other sources such as Social Security or Worker's Compensation) while on an approved disability following a six month waiting period. The minimum monthly benefit is $100 and the maximum monthly benefit is $12,000. Because premiums are being paid with after-tax dollars, the benefit is not subject to federal tax. A Medical History Statement is required for new enrollees after their initial enrollment period.

Important Considerations for Exempt (Salaried) Employees

SU currently provides long term disability benefits to exempt employees through the Salary Continuation Plan. To help you decide if you should supplement this coverage by electing the voluntary LTD Plan, please consider the following:

For Salary Continuation Plan benefits to be paid beyond 12 months, you must, among other things, receive a Social Security Disability Award (SSDA) by the end of your first year of disability. (Note: it can be difficult to obtain a SSDA within the 12 month period).
If you do not receive a SSDA and you are not able to return to work after one year of disability, you are no longer covered under any salary replacement plan from SU.
If you do receive a SSDA before the end of your first year of disability, SU's Salary Continuation Plan will pay 50 percent of your base annual salary minus your SSDA and certain other reductions. Generally, earnings from the Salary Continuation plan are completely taxable.

As an eligible exempt employee, if you enroll for coverage under the voluntary LTD Plan and are approved to receive the benefit:

You will begin receiving 60 percent of your pre-disability earnings after the six month waiting period (reduced by any deductible income and subject to Plan limitations). These earnings are completely non-taxable.
The definition of disability does not rely on qualifying for a SSDA.
Benefits under SU's Salary Continuation Plan are reduced by benefits paid under the voluntary LTD Plan.

Important Considerations for Non-Exempt (Hourly) Employees

Non-exempt employees are covered by New York State Statutory Benefits (if eligible, supplemented by SU) for short term periods of disability up to 26 weeks. If you are disabled and unable to work for longer than 6 months, any compensation will cease.

If you enroll in Long Term Disability coverage under the voluntary LTD Plan and are approved to receive the benefit, you will begin receiving 60 percent of your pre-disability earnings after the six month waiting period (reduced by any deductible income and subject to plan limitations). These earnings are completely non-taxable.

Contributions

There are no changes in the 2010 LTD rates. In general, monthly premiums are determined by multiplying monthly gross pay by the rates below and dividing by 100.

2010 LTD Rates

Age Cost/Hundred Per Month

Under age 30 $  .20

30 through 34 $  .24

35 through 39 $  .30

40 through 44 $  .44

45 through 49 $  .66

50 through 54 $  .96

55 through 59 $1.24

60 through 64 $1.29

65 through 69 $1.37

70 through 74 $1.77

Age 75+ $2.70

Rates listed here are based on the 12-month calendar year. Actual deductions from each paycheck will vary depending upon your deduction cycle.

For example, an employee age 43 with an annual gross pay of $40,000 would have a monthly premium of $14.67 ($40,000 / 12 * .44 / 100).

Before you decide, consider the following:

Will you be able to meet your financial obligations if you become disabled and unable to work for an extended period of time?
Will your personal savings provide an adequate cushion for your family's needs (college tuition, mortgage and other loan payments, living expenses, etc.) in the event of loss of income due to disability?
Do you have access to other Long Term Disability insurance? How does the cost compare to our group rate?

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The Open Enrollment webpages summarize your Syracuse University benefit options. Every effort has been made to ensure this information is accurate. However, the programs are governed by legal documents and insurance contracts. If there is any difference between the information on these webpages and the official documents and contracts, the official documents and contracts will rule. SU benefits are governed by current laws and operated according to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. We will notify you if changes in plans are necessary to comply with the law or with IRS regulations.
Employees electing to participate in the SU benefit plans are bound by the terms of the governing Plan documents. If you have any questions regarding the plans, you may request a copy of the Plan document from the Plan Administrator by contacting the HR Service Center at the number indicated at the end of this page.
As is the case with all benefits offered by SU, (1) the Plan Administrator has the discretionary authority to interpret the terms of the Plan and such interpretation will be binding on all interested parties to the fullest extent permitted by law, and (2) the University reserves the right to modify or terminate the Plan at any time.

Helpful Links

Need help? HR staff is available to assist you. Call the HR Service Center at 315-443-4042, or email hrservic@syr.edu.

2010 LTD Rates
Age	Cost/Hundred Per Month
Under age 30	$ .20
30 through 34	$ .24
35 through 39	$ .30
40 through 44	$ .44
45 through 49	$ .66
50 through 54	$ .96
55 through 59	$1.24
60 through 64	$1.29
65 through 69	$1.37
70 through 74	$1.77
Age 75+	$2.70