Short-term Disability (STD)
The University's Short-term Disability (STD) plan will help to replace lost income
from disabilities that last up to 11 weeks. The STD benefit is provided to eligible employees at no cost. It is important to note that
the STD earnings code (622) does not generate any pay. Please review the drop down
on how to record your time on your time sheet for more information.
Telephone: 866-779-1054 | Fax: 800-447-2498
Monday-Friday | 4:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Alaskan
All benefit-eligible full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible for the benefit. Coverage will begin on the first day of the month following your first 30 days of work.
There is no employee cost to this coverage.
Eligible employees are automatically enrolled for STD. There is nothing you need to do to enroll. There is no employee cost for this coverage. This is a fixed plan offered and no changes to the plan can be made.
If you experience a STD event, please contact Unum at 866-779-1054.
If approved for STD, use earnings code 622 on your time sheet for the time you are away on STD. This is an unpaid earnings code. Unum provides payment to you directly for your time on STD, not UA. Please do not use this code unless you have been approved for STD as using earnings code 622 on your time sheet will not generate any pay.
Below is some basic information on our STD plan. Please contact ua-benefits@alaska.edu for additional information.
What is a disability?
You are disabled when Unum determines that
- you are limited from performing the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation due to your sickness or injury
- you have a 20% or more loss in your weekly earnings due to the same sickness or injury
- you must be under the regular care of a physician in order to be considered disabled
Elimination Period (14 days)
STD is for short-term disabilities that will keep you from working and earning an
income for more than 14 calendar days. This 14-day period is the elimination period.
You must be continuously disabled through your elimination period and use your own
sick leave during this time. If you do not have sick leave remaining, please continue
to claim the sick leave earnings code (550) and this will automatically cascade through
your annual leave and/or Faculty Time Off, Personal Holiday, and leave without pay.
Benefit Paid to You
After the 14-day period has expired and you have been approved for STD, the benefit provides you with income protection up to 60% of your salary to a maximum of $800 per week for up to 11 weeks.
If applied for and approved, STD will cover 60% of your salary up to a maximum of $800 per week.
Yes.
Since Unum provides 60% of your pay up to $800 maximum benefit per week, employees may want to use paid leave balances to supplement their salary. This is not required but is an option available to employees with paid leave balances.
Please be aware that supplementing your salary will not necessarily produce 100% of your weekly pay.
- Use earnings code 622 for 3 days (24 hours) on your time sheet*
- Use earnings code 550 for 2 days (16 hours) on your time sheet*
* Based on a 40 hour work week employee. Overtime is not allowed while on STD.
- Use earnings code 622 for any time you are claiming STD up to a maximum of 3 days (24 hours)
- Use earnings code 010 for any time you are actively at work
- Use earnings code 550 for up to a maximum of 2 days (16 hours)
* Based on a 40 hour work week employee. Overtime is not allowed while on STD.
Sarah makes $27.50 per hour and works 40 hours per week. This totals $1,100 per week. Sarah is out on full time STD. Sarah would report on her time sheet 3 days (24 hours) of STD. This will total a $660 STD payment from Unum (24 hours * $27.50 per hour = $660). To supplement her pay, Sarah claims an additional 2 days (16 hours) of sick leave on her time sheet. This totals a $440 payment from UA on her sick leave hours (16 hours * $27.50 per hour = $440). Sarah will receive a total of $1,100 of paid leave a week while out on STD in this scenario ($660 STD + $440 sick leave = $1,100 total). This is Sarah’s standard weekly pay.
Justin makes $55.00 per hour and works 35 hours per week. This totals $1,925 per week. Justin is out on full time STD. Justin would report on his time sheet 3 days (21 hours) of STD. This will total $1,155. Since this is beyond the $800 per week maximum for STD, Justin will only receive $800 from Unum. Justin claims an additional 2 days (14 hours) of sick leave on his time sheet. This totals a $770 from UA on his sick leave hours (14 hours * $55 per hour = $770). Justin will receive a total of $1,570 of paid leave a week while out on STD in this scenario ($800 STD + $770 sick leave = $1,570). This is less than Justin’s standard weekly pay.
If you don't want to supplement your STD with your paid leave (or do not need to), please record earnings code 622 on your time sheet for the entire pay period. If you worked while out on STD, please be sure to record the correct 010 hours on your time sheet.
To initiate STD, please contact Unum.
Telephone: 866-779-1054 | Fax: 800-447-2498
Monday-Friday | 4:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Alaskan
Long-term Disability (LTD) should be discussed with Unum. For more information on LTD, please review our LTD webpage.