Your Guide to
UC Disability
Benefits
Your Guide to UC Disability Benefits
KEY DEADLINES
WITHIN 31 DAYS OF BEING HIRED BY UC
• Enroll in Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Voluntary Long-Term
Disability or both now when you won’t need to submit a
statement of health.
BEFORE DISABILITY LEAVE BEGINS
As soon as you know you need to take a disability leave:
• Talk with your supervisor, the person or oce coordinating
your leave, or the UC Retirement Administration Service
Center (if you’re eligible for UCRP Disability) about your
situation.
• See your doctor—to be certied for disability income, you
need to be under a doctor’s continuous care.
• File claim(s) for disability benets (see page 14 for details).
DURING YOUR DISABILITY PERIOD
Keep your supervisor updated regarding your status and any
changes in your planned return to work date.
As soon as possible after your last day on pay status:
• You’ll receive a billing invoice from UCPath for the applicable
portion of your premiums to continue your benets.
• If you have a 403(b) loan, make arrangements to continue or
suspend payments or to repay the loan in full.
Track the maximum continuation periods for your benet plans
and take action to convert or port if desired.
AFTER YOUR DISABILITY ENDS
Within 31 days after you return to work:
• Contact your leave coordinator as soon as you return to work.
At a minimum, you’ll need to review your benets within 31
days after you return to work. When you return, you’ll need to
follow the appropriate process to restart your benets.
• Contact UCPath to make sure that any deductions from your
paycheck for 403(b) loan repayments will resume.
Soon after you return to work:
• Contact your leave coordinator to nd out if you need to
restart payments on any previous UCRP service credit
purchase you have in progress.
• Consider a service credit purchase for your time on leave (see
page 25 for details).
Got questions?
For general information, UC publications and forms,
and details on benet plans check out UCnet
(ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu). UC’s disability policies
are available at ucal.us/disabilitypubs.
For questions about your Voluntary Disability coverage,
contact Lincoln Financial at 800-838-4461, or visit mylincol-
nportal.com, code: UNIVERSITY.
To review your benets, sign in to your UCPath account at
ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu.
Tip
Remember that when you’re applying for disability and
making changes to your benets, it’s your responsibility to
meet the deadlines set by UC and the insurance carrier. Be
sure to leave yourself enough time to do this.
1
Chapter Title
Introduction
Having the right disability insurance in place is a critical—and
often overlooked—piece of your nancial safety net. It can give
you essential peace of mind should illness or injury ever prevent
you from working for a long time. This type of insurance can also
replace a portion of your salary during pregnancy and for the rst
few weeks after childbirth.
As a UC employee, you have a wide range of options for disability
coverage. This guide outlines:
• The types and amounts of disability coverage that may be
available to you
• How the plans work together
• How to apply for disability benets
• How benets are paid
• Your options for continuing other UC benets during your disability
• What happens when your disability ends or your coverage
runs out
It also includes important information to consider about your
choices regarding Voluntary Disability insurance, for which you
pay the premiums.
If you’re a faculty member, some of the information in this fact
sheet may not apply to you. For more information about what
you need to know and do, please see the Disability Benets for
Faculty Fact Sheet (ucal.us/disabilityfaculty).
If you expect to become pregnant, the Pregnancy, Newborn Child
and Adopted Child Fact Sheet (ucal.us/pregnancy) provides
information specic to your situation.
Please note that this is a summary of your benets only;
additional requirements, limitations and exclusions may apply.
Refer to applicable plan documents and regulations for details.
The Group Disability Income policy issued by the carrier and
the University of California Group Insurance Regulations and
other applicable UC policies will take precedence if there is a
dierence between the provisions therein and those of this
document.
2
3
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
UC’s Disability Plans ..........................................................................................................................................4
Making Choices about Voluntary Disability ............................................................5
Understanding UCRP Disability ....................................................................................................7
How the Plans Work Together..........................................................................................................9
Examples of How the Plans Work Together ..............................................................11
How to Apply for Disability...................................................................................................................14
Once You’ve Applied: What Happens Next ..............................................................15
Continuing Other UC Benets While on Disability.....................................16
Continuing Your Benets: What You Need To Do .........................................20
Disability and Your Retirement Benets .......................................................................21
During Your Disability ....................................................................................................................................22
When Your Disability Leave Ends................................................................................................23
If You Decide to Retire ...................................................................................................................................25
4
UC’s Disability Plans
UC’s Disability Plans
UC employees have access to a variety of disability benet
options. They work in concert with each other to provide you
with varying amounts of coverage. In most cases, disability
coverage from all sources combined can provide you with a
maximum of 60 percent of your eligible earnings.
DISABILITY INSURANCE PLANS
If you’re eligible for full, mid-level or core benets, UC oers the
following plans:
Basic Disability covers up to 55 percent of your eligible monthly
earnings to a maximum of $800 per month. The six month
benet period includes a 14-day waiting period before you begin
receiving benets, and you must use up to 22 days of sick leave,
if available. If you’re an employee eligible for benets, you’re
covered at no cost to you.This plan doesn’t cover work-related
injuries or illnesses (see “Other Disability Leave and Benet
Options”). While you’re receiving Basic Disability income, UC
continues to pay its portion of your medical premiums. Since UC
pays for this coverage, your Basic Disability income is generally
taxable.
Voluntary Short-Term Disability (VSTD) supplements your
Basic Disability coverage. This plan oers more comprehensive
coverage—60 percent of your eligible earnings, with a maximum
benet of $15,000 per month. As with Basic Disability, the six
month benet period includes a 14-day waiting period, and you
must use up to 22 days of sick leave, if available. This plan is a
good option to cover short-term needs such as pregnancy, most
illnesses and minor surgeries.
Since VSTD is employee-paid and supplements Basic Disability
coverage, the income you receive is partially taxable.
1
Voluntary Long-Term Disability (VLTD) provides benets
starting six months after your date of disability or when VSTD
benets end, whichever is later.
The plan pays 60 percent of your eligible earnings, with a
maximum benet payment of $15,000 per month, and benets
can last until your Social Security normal retirement age. This
type of plan doesn’t pay for the rst six months of disability, but
oers long-term benets in cases of catastrophic injury or
illness, or permanently disabling conditions.
After 24 months of VLTD, the denition of disability becomes
more restrictive. If you still qualify, you receive up to 60 percent
of your eligible earnings until your disability ends or you reach
the Social Security normal retirement age, whichever is earlier.
There are a few exceptions:
• If your disability is due to a mental health or substance abuse
diagnosis, VLTD benets are limited to 24 months.
• If your disability is related to a condition you were diagnosed
with or had treatment for prior to your initial enrollment in
Voluntary Disability Insurance and your disability leave begins
within one year after your enrollment, you will not be eligible
for VLTD benets for that condition. (You will be eligible for
VSTD or Basic Disability benets.)
You pay the entire premium for VSTD and VLTD. The cost varies
depending on your age, salary and your UC Retirement Plan
eligibility.
VLTD may provide payments for work-related disabilities, in
coordination with Workers’ Compensation. If you are receiving
other sources of income (Workers’ Compensation, UCRP
Disability, Social Security disability income, state disability) that
exceed 60 percent of your eligible income, VLTD would pay a
minimum of $100 per month.
VLTD income is generally not taxable, since you pay the
premiums with after-tax dollars.
You may choose to purchase VSTD, VLTD or both.
See “Making Choices about Voluntary Disability” on page 5 for
additional important information about these plans.
DISABILITY INCOME FROM UCRP
UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) disability income is available to you
if you’re a member of UCRP, meet the vesting requirements and
have a disability that’s expected to last 12 months or longer. It
replaces a maximum of 25 to 40 percent of your salary, depend-
ing on when you joined UCRP and the amount of service credit
you have. You may also be eligible to have UC contribute some
portion of the cost of your medical and dental premiums while
you receive UCRP disability income. UCRP disability income is
generally taxable.
If you receive disability income from UCRP, it will be factored
into the amount of income you’re eligible to receive from your
VSTD or VLTD benets. If you are approved for UCRP income
after you’ve begun receiving payments from Lincoln Financial,
you may be responsible for repaying Lincoln Financial for any
excess benets you received.
If you’re a Safety member, you’ll nd UCRP disability
information that applies to you in the Summary Plan Description
for Safety Members, at ucal.us/UCRPsafety.
Important! See your doctor.
To receive benets under any form of disability coverage,
you must be under a doctor’s continuous care.
1
Participants in the VSTD plan receive one monthly benet check which in-
cludes both the UC-paid $800 Basic Disability benet and an additional amount
from VSTD, bringing their total payment to 60 percent of their of eligible earn-
ings, up to a maximum of $15,000 per month. The $800 Basic Disability benet
is taxable, but VSTD benets are not.
5
Making Choices About Voluntary Disability
Making Choices About
Voluntary Disability
It is important to note that Savings Choice participants are
not members of UCRP, and are therefore not eligible for UCRP
disability income.
OTHER DISABILITY LEAVE AND BENEFIT OPTIONS
If your disability is work-related, state Workers’ Compensation
benets may provide you with up to two-thirds of your salary
(up to a maximum of $1,251.38 per week in 2019). You can
supplement the Workers’ Comp benets up to 100 percent of
your salary by using accrued sick leave. Once you use up your
sick leave, you may be eligible for Workers’ Comp Extended Sick
Leave, which will supplement your Workers’ Compensation up to
80 percent of your salary.
To learn more about Workers’ Compensation, contact the
Workers’ Compensation manager at your location (there’s a
directory of UC Workers’ Compensation managers at
ucal.us/workerscompmanagers). Or see California’s Workers’
Compensation website, www.dir.ca.gov/dwc.
If your location participates in the Catastrophic Leave
Donation Program and you are a non-represented sta
member, you may be able to extend your time on full pay and
benets. You’ll nd information about this program in the
“Leaves of Absence” policy document at policy.ucop.edu/
doc/4010406/PPSM-2-210. If you belong to a union, please see
the collective bargaining agreement that applies to you.
If you contribute to Social Security (or have in the past), contact
the agency to nd out about disability benets for which you
may be eligible. You may qualify based on contributions by a
spouse or former spouse. To learn more, go to the Social
Security website at www.ssa.gov/disability.
You must apply with the Social Security Administration for
benet payments under that plan when it is determined that the
total disability will extend beyond a 12-month period. If you do
not apply for Social Security disability benets, your Voluntary
Disability benet may still be reduced by an estimated Social
Security disability benet amount. If the application is denied
by the Social Security Administration, UC requires you to appeal
the denial to the full extent aorded under the Social Security
appeals process. If you do not appeal the denial your benet will
still be reduced by an estimate Social Security Disability benet
amount.
If Social Security disability benets are awarded and the amount
you are eligible to receive was overestimated, you will be
reimbursed for that amount by the insurance carrier (Lincoln
Financial).
The choices you make about Voluntary Disability will have
important repercussions for you and your family if you need to
use your coverage. Here are some issues to consider in deciding
how to tailor your coverage:
THREE KEY THINGS TO KNOW:
• UC does not participate in California State Disability
Insurance (CA-SDI). If you’ve worked for UC for less than 18
months and your previous employer was in California, you may
be eligible for CA-SDI benets under your previous employer.
• Enrolling in Voluntary Short-Term Disability (VSTD) and/or
Voluntary Long-Term Disability (VLTD) allows you to replace
substantially more of your salary than employer-paid Basic
Disability alone. You may nd that the comparatively higher
level of replacement income from VSTD and VLTD provides
crucial help in covering not only your usual living expenses,
but the extra medical costs that can come with a lengthy
period of disability.
• If you think you may need this type of insurance, it’s to your
advantage to enroll when you’re rst hired, during your new
hire period of initial eligibility, or PIE. (This is usually a 31-day
period that starts on your hire date.) Unlike other benets,
VSTD and VLTD aren’t usually open for enrollment during
UC’s annual Open Enrollment period. If you want to enroll
later, you’ll have to submit a statement of health, which could
disqualify you from adding coverage based on a current or
pre-existing medical condition.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
• Are you considering becoming pregnant? If you think you
may become pregnant, it’s wise to sign up for VSTD. For
most pregnancies, the disability period begins two weeks
before birth and ends six weeks after birth (eight weeks for
a Caesarian section), so a plan such as VLTD, which only
covers disabilities lasting more than 6 months, wouldn’t pay
a benet. Don’t wait until you’re pregnant to enroll. You’ll be
required to submit a statement of health, and if you’re already
pregnant, your enrollment application will not be accepted.
• Do you have a lot of non-negotiable monthly expenses? If
you’ve recently purchased a new house, for instance, you may
not want to risk a long period without income to help pay your
mortgage. Enrolling in both VSTD and VLTD provides you with
the most protection for all types of disabilities.
Social Security normal retirement age
Full retirement age (also called “normal retirement age”) had
been 65 for many years. However, beginning with people
born in 1938 or later, that age gradually increases until it
reaches 67 for people born after 1959. Go to SSA.gov to
calculate your retirement age.
6
Making Choices About
Voluntary Disability
Making Choices About Voluntary Disability
• How much sick leave have you accrued? If you have been
with UC for a long time and have a lot of accrued sick leave
that you could use during the rst six months of a disability,
you might only need VLTD. If you don’t have much, you might
consider VSTD.
• How’s your savings cushion? If you have substantial savings
that could tide you over the rst six months of a disability,
you might choose VLTD only. If not, you should consider both
VSTD and VLTD for the most protection.
• Are you eligible for disability income through UCRP? If you
are not (for example, if you are a Savings Choice participant),
you may want the extra protection oered by VSTD and/or
VLTD.
To estimate the premiums for VSTD and VLTD, use the Insurance
Premium Estimator on ucal.us/premiumestimator.
Denition of disability: The denition of disability changes with
the type of coverage you receive:
• Basic and Voluntary Short-Term Disability—In order to receive
benets, you must be disabled from your job at UC, based on
the demands and duties of your position.
• Voluntary Long-Term Disability—For the rst 24 months
of VLTD benets, in order to receive benets, you must be
disabled from your own occupation, based on the demands
and duties that employers (throughout the national economy)
ordinarily require for that occupation. From the 25th
month onward, you must be disabled from any occupation
(throughout the national economy) for which you are
reasonably suited.
(Note that UCRP denes disability dierently; for details, please
see “Understanding UCRP Disability” at right.)
Pre-existing conditions: Following enrollment in the plan
(either during the new hire period of guaranteed issue or
following approval of a statement of health by the carrier), the
Basic and VSTD Plans do not have exclusions for pre-existing
conditions.
The VLTD Plan has some exclusions for disabilities resulting from
medical conditions diagnosed or treated prior to enrollment in
the plan. See UC’s Disability Policy for complete information.
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse: VLTD benets for these
issues are generally limited to a 24-month lifetime maximum
benet, unless you remain continuously hospitalized or in an
extended treatment plan.
7
Understanding UCRP Disability
Understanding UCRP Disability
UCRP disability income diers in several ways from Basic and
Voluntary Disability. First, you do not need to enroll in UCRP
disability; it becomes available to you if you are a UCRP member,
based on your years of service credit and the date you joined
UCRP. If you enrolled in the Savings Choice retirement plan, you
are not a member of UCRP, and not eligible for UCRP disability
benets.
The disability date that UCRP uses to determine when pay-
ments begin may be dierent than the date the other disability
plans use. Under UCRP Disability, there is no set waiting period.
Instead, your benets are payable beginning on your disability
date, which is the later of:
• The rst of the month in which the Retirement Administration
Service Center receives your application; or
• The day after your last day on pay status.
UCRP’s denitions of disability, which determine your eligibility
for disability income under UCRP are dierent, too—and vary
depending on when you joined UCRP.
If you’re an inactive UCRP member and you left your UCRP
accumulations in the Plan, you are eligible to apply for disability
income within 12 months of leaving UC employment if medical
evidence shows that you would have been entitled to disability
income as of your separation date.
HOW UCRP DEFINES DISABILITY:
If you rst joined UCRP on or after April 1, 1980, disability is
dened as an inability to engage in gainful employment activity
permanently or for extended and uncertain duration as a result
of a physical and/or mental impairment. In the rst year
following your disability date, gainful employment is activity
that would earn at least 50 percent of your nal salary*. After
that, gainful employment is activity that would earn in excess of
the annually published monthly Social Security dollar amount
(for 2024, $1,550 per month).
If you rst joined UCRP before April 1, 1980, disability is
dened as an inability to earn 80 percent or more of your nal
salary*; this denition applies in the rst two years following
your disability date. Beginning the third year after your disability
date, it’s an inability to earn 70 percent or more of your nal
salary*.
If you have separate periods of UCRP service that began both
before and after April 1, 1980, the denition that applies to you
will be based on the rst date you joined UCRP.
UCRP DISABILITY INCOME: HOW MUCH?
The amount of UCRP disability income available to you is
dened as a percentage of your nal salary. The specics vary
based on when you joined UCRP and your years of service credit.
IF YOU JOINED UCRP BEFORE JULY 1, 2013 (1976 TIER)
Generally, the maximum possible benet is 40 percent of your
nal salary.
If you pay into Social Security, your benet is calculated as:
• 15 percent of nal salary, plus 2.5 percent of nal salary per
year of service credit greater than two, up to 40 percent of
your nal salary.
• A Social Security oset of $106.40, to cover what UC paid into
Social Security on your behalf, will be subtracted from this
amount.
Years of Service Credit Percentage of Final Salary
5+ 22.50%
6+ 25.00%
7+ 27.50%
8+ 30.00%
9+ 32.50%
10+ 35.00%
11+ 37.50%
12+ 40.00%
* Final salary is your full-time equivalent compensation as of your UCRP
disability date (or as of your medical separation date, if higher). If you worked
less than your full and normal appointment during the last 12 months, your
nal salary will be the higher of your regular and normal appointment
percentage or your average percentage of time on pay status over the 36
months of continuous service before your separation date. However, if your
doctor had you reduce the percentage of time you worked during this period
because of your disability, your nal salary will be calculated as if you had
continued to work at your normal percentage of time. Full-time equivalent
compensation is 100 percent of the covered compensation you would earn if
employed full-time. This includes payment for approved leave of absence with
pay, as well as amounts such as shift dierentials. Not included are overtime or
“by agreement” payments.
8
Understanding UCRP Disability
Understanding UCRP Disability
If you do not pay into Social Security, your benet is
calculated as:
• 25 percent of nal salary, plus 5 percent of nal salary per
year of service credit greater than two, up to 40 percent of
your nal salary.
• For each eligible child, add 5 percent of nal salary up to
20 percent additional salary total.
Percentage of Final Salary
Years of
Service
Credit
No
eligible
children
One
eligible
child
Two
eligible
children
Three
eligible
children
Four
eligible
children
5–12 40% 45% 50% 55% 60%
(maximum)
IF YOU JOINED UCRP AFTER JULY 1, 2013 (2013 OR
2016 TIER)
The maximum possible benet is 25 percent of your nal salary.
Your benet is calculated as:
• 8 percent of nal salary, plus 1.7 percent of nal salary per
year of service credit greater than two, up to 25 percent of
your nal salary (see table below).
Years of Service Credit Percentage of Final Salary
5+ 13.10%
6+ 14.80%
7+ 16.50%
8+ 18.20%
9+ 19.90%
10+ 21.60%
11+ 23.30%
12+ 25.00%
If you have separate periods of service in the 1976 Tier and the
2013, Modied 2013 or 2016 Tier, your benet is calculated as
the greater of:
• A weighted average of 1976 Tier, 2013 Tier, Modied 2013
Tier and 2016 Tier calculations or
• Disability income based on your 1976 Tier service alone.
COST OF LIVING INCREASES
If you’re receiving UCRP disability income, you’ll receive an
annual cost of living increase (COLA). Your rst COLA will be
payable beginning in the July after you’ve received disability
income for one year.
The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase
for the preceding year, and generally equals 100 percent of the
CPI increase up to 2 percent; and 75 percent of the CPI increase
over 4 percent. The maximum COLA is 6 percent. If the CPI
decreases, UCRP disability benets are not reduced.
SERVICE CREDIT AND DISABILITY:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
BASICS
Your service credit is the unit that describes how much time you
have worked as a UCRP member. If you work one year at full
time, that’s one year of service credit. One year of work at 50
percent time is one-half year of service credit. To be eligible for
UCRP disability, you need to have at least ve years of service
credit.
SERVICE CREDIT PURCHASE
Service credit that determines your eligibility for disability
income may include service credit you purchased for an earlier
period of UC employment. Service credit that you purchased for
a leave period does not count toward your eligibility for UCRP
disability, but it will be included in the calculation of your UCRP
disability benet.
SAVINGS CHOICE SERVICE CREDIT
If you earned service credit as a Savings Choice participant and
you elected to switch to Pension Choice (part of UCRP), your
Savings Choice service credit may be included in determining
your eligibility for disability income. It will not be used to calcu-
late the amount of your disability benet.
RECIPROCITY
If you’ve earned service credit in a retirement plan with which
UC has reciprocity or another special arrangement (such as
CalPERS), that service credit may be included in determining
your eligibility for disability income. (It won’t, though, be used to
calculate the amount of your disability benet.)
EARNING SERVICE CREDIT DURING UCRP DISABILITY
Generally, you don’t earn service credit when you’re not on
active pay status. But while receiving UCRP disability income,
you may be eligible to earn service credit at the same rate as
your last twelve months on pay status before your UCRP
disability date. You will be eligible to accrue service credit until
your potential retirement income is equal to or greater than your
UCRP disability income. This is called reaching your service cap.
9
How the Plans Work Together
How the Plans Work Together
For Safety Members, if you are approved for duty-related
disability income, any service credit you accrue will be the same
as your service credit as a Safety member. If you are approved
for non-duty related disability income, any service credit will be
earned as non-Safety service credit that is not coordinated with
Social Security.
One more thing: Any service credit you’ve earned while on
disability does not aect your disability benet—but when you
retire, this service credit may increase your retirement benet
and UC’s contribution toward your retiree health insurance, if
you’re eligible.
WHAT UC PAYS TOWARD HEALTH PREMIUMS
DURING UCRP DISABILITY
If you are approved for UCRP disability income, you may be
eligible to continue some health and welfare benets. If you’re
eligible, the percentage of the UC contribution toward your
medical and dental premiums would be the greater of:
• 50 percent of UC’s contribution before you began your
disability leave; or
• The percentage of UC’s contribution for which you would
otherwise be eligible in retirement, based on your age, your
years of service and when you joined UCRP (see ucal.us/
ucrphwb for details).
You pay the full cost of the vision, legal and AD&D plans.
Please note that to be eligible for UC contributions to your
medical and dental premiums while on UCRP disability, you
must be enrolled in, or eligible to enroll in, UC-sponsored
employee health benets. If you have separated, your approved
UCRP disability date must be within 120 days of your separation
from UC employment. For more details about eligibility, please
see UCnet.
IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE
If you become disabled and are eligible to retire, you may do so
at any time and need not apply for UCRP disability income. It
may, though, be to your advantage to apply for disability:
Depending upon your age, years of service credit and other
factors, you may be eligible for a higher monthly income benet
and higher UC medical and dental contributions if you’re
approved for UCRP disability income than if you retire.
If you become eligible to retire while receiving UCRP disability
income, you may elect to retire at any time. If you elect to retire
with a monthly income option and your retirement date is within
120 days of your UCRP disability income termination date, your
medical and dental insurance will continue even if you have fewer
than 10 years of service credit, with UC making 50 percent of its
maximum contribution.
Also, you may elect to apply for retirement income while your
disability income application is pending. Be aware that your
application for UCRP Disability must be received prior to the date
your retirement election is irrevocable. It becomes irrevocable on
your retirement date, or 15 days after the date on your retirement
conrmation letter, whichever is later.
If your disability claim is approved, you will have to choose whether
to accept disability income and revoke your retirement election or
to withdraw your disability application and continue to receive
retirement benets. If you choose to revoke your retirement
election and accept disability income instead, any retirement
income you received will be deducted from your disability benets.
All UC disability benets are designed to work together. The length
of your coverage depends on whether you purchase Voluntary
Short- and/or Long-Term Disability and whether you are eligible for
UCRP Disability.
Remember that in most cases, disability coverage from all
sources combined can provide you with a maximum of 60
percent of your eligible earnings. In some cases, you might
receive disability income from VSTD while your application for
Workers’ Compensation or UCRP Disability is pending. If your
application with the second source is approved, you may need to
reimburse the VSTD plan for any duplicate benets you receive.
(For more details, see “During Your Disability: Receiving
Disability Benets” on page 22.)
You’re also required to use up to 22 days of accrued sick leave,
if you have it, before you begin receiving Voluntary Short-Term
Disability benets. (This is a good thing, as you’ll continue to
receive full pay and benets while using sick leave.) If you have
more than 22 days of sick leave, you may use that, as well as
vacation leave, if you wish. If you don’t have enough sick and/
or vacation leave to cover the waiting period, the rest of the
waiting period will be unpaid. (See the examples on page 11 for
illustrations of how sick and vacation leave combine with various
types of disability coverage.)
Table 1, UC-Sponsored Disability Plans on page 10 summarizes the
dierences among the UC plans.
10
How the Plans Work Together
How the Plans Work Together
TABLE 1: UC-SPONSORED DISABILITY PLANS
Basic Disability Voluntary Short-Term
Disability
Voluntary Long-Term
Disability
UCRP Disability*
What it pays Maximum of 55% of eligible
earnings; cap of $800 per
month
Maximum of 60% of eligible
earnings (combined with
other benets such as Basic
Disability and Workers’
Compensation); cap of
$15,000 per month
Maximum of 60% of eligible
earnings (combined with
other benets such as
Workers’ Compensation); cap
of $15,000 per month
1976 Tier: Maximum of 40%
of nal salary (minus $106.40)
2013 or 2016 Tier: Maximum
of 25% of nal salary
Length of
coverage
6 months maximum
(including waiting period)
6 months maximum
(including waiting period)
To the Social Security normal
retirement age
If Disability Date** is before
age 65, the later of 5 years or
until age 65 (for members
coordinated with Social
Security) or 67 (for members
not coordinated with Social
Security). If Disability Date is
on or after age 65, the later of
12 months or age 70. Safety
members approved for
duty-related disability income
can continue as long as they
remain disabled.
Waiting period 14 days (you are required to
use up to 22 days of sick
leave, if available)
14 days (you are required to
use up to 22 days of sick
leave, if available)
Benets begin the later of 6
months after the date of
disability or when short-term
benets end
No waiting period. Benets
are payable beginning on
your UCRP disability date.
See “Understanding UCRP
Disability” section for details.
Who’s eligible Employees eligible for full,
mid-level or core benets
Employees eligible for full,
mid-level or core benets
who enroll and pay the
premiums
Employees eligible for full,
mid-level or core benets
who enroll and pay the
premiums
UCRP members who meet
the UC disability denitions
criteria** and have a
minimum of 5 years service
credit*** (or 2 years
minimum service credit for
members who joined before
April 1, 1980)
Cost to you None—UC pays Depends on your age and
salary
Depends on your age, salary
and UCRP tier
Included in your UCRP
contribution
Do UC medical,
dental, other
benets
continue?
Yes. UC’s contributions for
medical continue. If your
leave is an approved Family
and Medical Leave (FML),
UC’s contributions for dental
and vision also continue for
up to 12 weeks. If your dis-
ability leave is for pregnancy,
UC’s contributions for health
benets may extend further.
If your leave is not FML, you
may continue dental and
vision coverage if you pay the
full premiums (your cost and
UC’s).
Yes. UC’s contributions for
medical continue. If your
leave is an approved Family
and Medical Leave (FML),
UC’s contributions for dental
and vision also continue for
up to 12 weeks. If your dis-
ability leave is for pregnancy,
UC’s contributions for health
benets may extend further.
If your leave is not FML, you
may continue dental and
vision coverage if you pay the
full premiums (your cost and
UC’s).
Only if you choose to
continue these benets and
pay both UC’s and your
portion of premiums.
Generally, yes, provided the
member was enrolled as of
the date of separation and
the UCRP disability date is
within 120 days of separation
from UC employment. See
“Understanding UCRP Dis-
ability” on page 7 for details.
* If you have separate periods of UCRP service in both tiers, see “How UCRP Denes Disability,” on page 7 for the information that applies to you.
** “Disability date” and “disability denitions” are not the same for UCRP disability and for Basic/Voluntary Disability. For details about the UCRP disability date and
denitions, see “Understanding UCRP Disability” on page 7.
*** Service credit earned as a Savings Choice participant (before a switch to Pension Choice) or at a reciprocal system like CalPERS can count towards eligibility; see page 8
for more details.
11
Examples of How the Plans Work Together
Examples of How the
Plans Work Together
Your disability benets can combine in various ways to provide you with income and benets while you’re unable to work. These
examples below illustrate some potential disability scenarios and coverage.
NON-WORK RELATED INJURY OR ILLNESS
Scenario 1: You are in a car accident and, as a result of your injuries, you are unable to work for three months. You have accrued
15 sick days.
BASIC DISABILITY INSURANCE ONLY
Week
Week 1 through 3
Week 4 through Week 12
• Waiting period: Use
15 days of sick leave
• Full pay and benets
• Basic Disability
• 55% of monthly earnings to maximum benet payment of
$800 per month
• Health and insurance benets continue during waiting period; see chart on page 17
for your options when you begin receiving disability benets
Date of disability
BASIC AND VOLUNTARY SHORT-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE
Week
Week 1 through 3
Week 3 through Week 12
• Waiting period: Use
15 days of sick leave
• Full pay and benets
• Basic and Voluntary Short-Term Disability
• 60% of monthly earnings to maximum benet
payment of $15,000 per month
• Health and insurance benets continue during waiting period; see chart on page 17
for your options when you begin receiving disability benets
Date of disability
12
Examples of How the Plans Work Together
Scenario 2: You’ve been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer and your doctor says your treatment will prevent you from working
for the next 18 months. You are a UCRP member in the 1976 Tier with 12 years of service credit. You have accrued 17 sick days.
BASIC DISABILITY INSURANCE AND UCRP DISABILITY INCOME
Week Week 1 through Week 3.5 Week 3.5 through Week 26 Week 27 through Week 78
• Waiting period: Use
17 days of sick leave
• Full pay and benets
• 15% of income up to $800
from Basic Disability
• 40% of your nal salary
from UCRP Disability
(minus $106.40 if you are
1976 Tier member and pay
into Social Security)
• 40% of your nal salary from UCRP Disability (minus $106.40
if you are 1976 Tier member and pay Social Security)
• Health and insurance
benets continue
• Medical and dental insurance continue and UC pays a portion of the premiums; see chart on
page 17 for your options
Date of disability
If you had enrolled in Voluntary Short- and Long-Term Disability, your benets would be enhanced as follows:
BASIC AND VOLUNTARY SHORT- AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE AND UCRP DISABILITY INCOME
Week Week 1 through Week 3.5 Week 3.5 through Week 26 Week 27 through Week 78
• Waiting period: Use
17 days of sick leave
• Full pay and benets
• Combination of Basic,
Voluntary Short-Term
Disability Insurance and
UCRP Disability benets
• 60% of income
• Voluntary Long-Term Disability and UCRP Disability
• 60% of income
• Health and insurance
benets continue
• Medical and dental insurance continue and UC pays a portion of the premiums; see chart on
page 17 for your options
Date of disability
Examples of How the
Plans Work Together
13
Chapter Title
Examples of How the Plans Work Together
WORK-RELATED INJURY OR ILLNESS
Scenario 1: While painting a UC building, you fall from the scaolding and break your leg. You are unable to work for four months.
You have 20 days of sick leave. This scenario assumes that you le a Basic Disability claim prior to approval of your Workers’
Compensation claim, that your Workers’ Compensation claim is approved by day 20 and that you choose not to use vacation time to
make up for lost salary during week 13 through week 16.
BASIC DISABILITY INSURANCE ONLY
Week Week 1 through Week 12 Week 13 through Week 16
• 20 days of sick leave
• As of the 21st day, Workers’
Compensation pays 2/3 of
salary; 1/3 of pay is
Extended Sick Leave
• Full pay and benets
• Workers’ Compensation and Extended Sick Leave
• 80% of salary
• Health and insurance benets continue as if you are working
Date of disability
Scenario 2: You are diagnosed with a severe back problem and are unable to work for 12 months. Because you believe your problem
is related to heavy lifting at work, you apply for Workers’ Compensation. However, your claim decision is put on 90-day delay while
the insurer gathers the necessary documentation and evidence. You have 25 days of sick leave. You also have Basic and Voluntary
Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
BASIC AND VOLUNTARY SHORT- AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE: BEFORE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPROVED
Week
Week 1 through 4
Week 5 through Week 52
• Waiting Period:
22 days of sick leave
• Full pay and benets
• Basic and Voluntary Disability
• 60% of salary
• Health and insurance
benets as if you are working
• Medical only unless on approved FMLA leave, then medical, dental, vision
Date of disability
Once the Workers’ Compensation claim is approved, your benets are recongured as described below. Please note that Workers’
Compensation will repay the Basic and Voluntary Disability plan for the benets you received or you may need to reimburse the disability
carrier for any duplicate benets; you will not receive both Workers’ Compensation and Basic/Voluntary Disability benets for that period.
BASIC AND VOLUNTARY SHORT- AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE: AFTER WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPROVED
Week Week 1 through Week 14 Week 15 through Week 41 Week 42 through Week 52
• Combination of Workers’
Compensation (up to 2/3
of salary up to $1,251.38
per week; this scenario
assumes that Workers’
Compensation pays the full
2/3); sick leave (1/3)
• Full pay and benets
• Workers’ Compensation and Extended Sick Leave
• 80% of salary
• Workers’ Compensation and
Voluntary Long-Term Disability
• 60% of salary
• Health and insurance benets as if you are working • See chart on page 17 for health and
insurance benets
Date of disability
14
How to Apply for Disability
How to Apply for Disability
START RIGHT AWAY
Even if you have a lot of sick leave that you use during the rst
part of your disability, it’s a good idea to apply for disability
benets as soon as possible. This will give you the best chance of
avoiding a gap in income while paperwork is being processed.
Here are the steps to take to apply for benets:
STEP 1:
See your doctor. No matter what form of disability coverage
you apply for, in order for you to receive benets, your physician
needs to certify the date your disability began and you need to
be under a doctor’s continuous care.
STEP 2:
Notify your supervisor or department chair and the person or
oce responsible for coordinating leaves at your location. (If
your injury or illness is work-related, report this to the Workers’
Compensation oce at your location as well.)
STEP 3:
For Basic and Voluntary Disability
You can le your claim online, (mylincolnportal.com code:
UNIVERSITY) and check on its status after you le. For more
details about the claims process, please see Your Guide to Filing
for Disability, at ucal.us/LMguidetoling. You can call Lincoln
Financial with questions at 800-838-4461.
For UCRP Disability
You can apply for UCRP Disability on UC Retirement At Your
Service (UCRAYS; retirementatyourservice.ucop.edu) or request
the required forms from the UC Retirement Administration
Service Center (800-888-8267). (Your disability date is based on
when your application is received.) It’s especially important to
apply for UCRP disability income (if you’re eligible for it) as
soon as it appears that you won’t be able to work for 12 months
or more.
STEP 4:
Compile your records
It’s your responsibility to make sure your doctor forwards your
medical records to the carrier and/or the UC Retirement Admin-
istration Service Center—your claim can’t be processed without
them. You need to ll out and sign a medical authorization
form giving the doctor permission to forward the records. After
you’ve done so, it’s a good idea to follow up to make sure your
doctor got the authorization and that the records have been
sent. If your doctor charges any fees for sending your records,
you’re responsible for paying those fees.
You may also need to provide:
• Information about other disability benets you receive or are
eligible to receive
• Information about your education, work activities and related
activities. (This will help UC understand your disability in
relation to your usual employment responsibilities and other
activities in your life.)
• For UCRP, identity records such as your spouse or domestic
partner’s birth certicate or a marriage certicate or
partnership declaration (This will help UC determine eligibility
for continuing UC benets for your family members.)
CONSIDER ALL YOUR OPTIONS
If you’re eligible to retire under UCRP at the time you apply for
disability benets, you may want to compare your potential
retirement benet with your disability income. If the retirement
benet is higher, you may prefer to retire rather than apply
for disability income. You can get the calculations that will
allow you to compare the two choices on UCRAYS
(retirementatyourservice.ucop.edu) or by contacting the UC
Retirement Administration Service Center (800-888-8267).
Note that if you’re eligible to retire, you may elect to receive
retirement income while your UCRP disability application is
pending. If you’re approved for and you accept disability income,
your retirement election will be revoked and the amount you
received in retirement income will be deducted from your
disability benets.
STAY IN TOUCH
Disability benets are complex, and each individual situation is
unique. To ensure that you get the help you need, it’s important
for you to stay in communication with your supervisor or
department chair and person or oce coordinating your leave
and, if you’re applying for UCRP disability income, the UC
Retirement Administration Service Center.
California Employees:
Have you worked for UC for less than 18 months?
If so—and if your previous employer was in California—you’ll
need to le a claim directly with the California Employment
Development Department (EDD) in order to receive
California State Disability Benets (CA-SDI). While UC itself
does not participate in CA-SDI, employees who’ve recently
worked elsewhere in the state may be eligible under their
previous employer. If so, any CA-SDI income you are eligible
for will be deducted from your UC disability benets.
15
Once You’ve Applied: What Happens Next
IF YOU’VE APPLIED FOR BASIC OR VOLUNTARY
DISABILITY:
• Within a few days of receiving your claim, a case manager
from the insurance carrier will call you to guide you through
the process.
• To determine your eligibility, the carrier will review the
medical facts of your case in light of your job and occupation.
• Once the carrier has all the necessary information, it will
notify you in writing (within a few days) of whether your claim
has been approved or denied.
• Once your claim is approved, the carrier will mail checks to
your home every two weeks.
• If your claim is denied, the letter notifying you of the denial
will include information about your right to appeal.
CLAIM DENIALS
In the event that your claim is denied, either in full or in part, the
insurance carrier will notify you in writing within 90 days after the
later of your date of disability or the date your claim form was led.*
The carrier’s notice of denial shall include:
• The specic reason or reasons for denial with reference to
those policy provisions on which the denial is based;
• A description of any additional material or information
necessary to complete the claim and an explanation of why
that material or information is necessary; and
• The steps to be taken if you or your beneciary wish to have
the decision reviewed.
HOW TO APPEAL
You, the claimant, or your authorized representative, may appeal
a denied claim within 60 days after you receive the carrier’s
notice of denial. You have the right to:
• Submit a request for review, in writing, to the carrier;
• Review pertinent documents; and
• Submit issues and comments in writing to the carrier.
The carrier will make a full and fair review of the claim and may
require additional documents as it deems necessary or desir-
able in making such a review. A nal decision on the review shall
be made not later than 60 days following receipt of the written
request for review. If special circumstances require an extension
of time for processing, you will be notied of the reasons for the
extension, and a decision shall be made not later than 120 days
following receipt of the request for review. The nal decision on
review shall be furnished in writing and shall include the reasons
for the decision with reference, again, to those policy provisions
upon which the nal decision is based.
IF YOU’VE APPLIED FOR UCRP DISABILITY:
• Once the UC Retirement Administration Service Center
receives your application, you’ll be notied when specic
documentation is needed or if you need to take other actions.
You can reach out with questions by UCRAYS secure message,
or by contacting the UC Retirement Administration Service
Center at 800-888-8267. (Your information will be held in
condence and will be released or exchanged with others only
with your written consent.)
• If the medical evidence you submit is inconclusive, you may
need to have an independent medical examination.
• In most cases, UC partners with Lincoln Financial who will
conduct the medical evaluation and make a recommendation
of approval or denial. You will receive a packet of information
from Lincoln Financial shortly after the UC Retirement
Administration Service Center receives your application. UC
will make the nal determination of eligibility.
• UC may need to review your potential qualications for
other types of work. If so, you may be asked to meet with a
vocational rehabilitation professional to help you explore the
options available to you and/or regain the skills you need to
return to work.
• UC will review your case once it has the information it needs
from you, your medical providers and others. You’ll receive a
written notice of the decision.
• If your application is approved, you’ll receive a letter specifying
your UCRP disability date, the amount of your monthly
benet, the terms and conditions of the approval, your health
insurance coverage (if applicable) and when you can expect to
receive your rst payment.
• If you have been paying both employee and employer portions
of your medical, dental, legal and/or vision plan premiums,
you should contact UCPath to request reimbursement of any
premium costs that may be owed you.
• The rst payment you’ll receive will include benets
retroactive to your UCRP disability date (note that if you’re
receiving Voluntary Disability Income, you may owe some or
all of this amount to the disability insurance carrier). After
that, your benets will be paid at the rst of each month. For
example, your benet payment for May would be payable the
rst of June.
• If your application is denied, you’ll receive an explanation for
the denial in writing. If you don’t agree with the decision, you
have the right to appeal.
• Your request for an appeal must be submitted in writing within
60 days from the date you receive the denial notice and include
documentation to support your claim. Send the request to the
Disability Unit, UC Retirement Administration Service Center,
P.O. Box 24570, Oakland, CA 94623-1570.
Once You’ve Applied:
What Happens Next
* In the unlikely event that the carrier does not respond to your claim within the
time limits set forth above, you should automatically assume that your claim has
been denied and you should begin the appeal process at that time. However,
failure to do so will not waive your right to appeal.
16
Continuing UC Benets While on Disability
Continuing UC Benets
While on Disability
You have a variety of options for continuing your other UC
benets (for both you and eligible family members) during your
disability period.
The information and tables on the following pages summarize
the benets you may and may not continue, based on the type
of disability coverage you have; the costs of continuing these
benets while you’re on disability; and what you’ll need to do to
continue them.
You won’t accrue vacation or sick leave while on disability leave.
For additional details, see the personnel policy or collective
bargaining agreement that applies to you.
If your disability leave is considered a Family and Medical Leave
(FML), then UC’s contributions to the premiums for your health
coverage (medical, dental, vision) will continue for up to
12 weeks. See the Pregnancy, Newborn Child and Adopted Child
Fact Sheet (ucal.us/pregnancy) for information about additional
weeks of benets coverage during a Pregnancy Disability Leave.
For details about the criteria for Family and Medical Leaves,
please see the Family and Medical Leave Fact Sheet (ucal.us/fml).
If you’re approved for UCRP Disability, you may be able to
continue your medical, dental, legal, vision, accidental death &
dismemberment (AD&D) and pet insurance coverage if you meet
these criteria:
• You apply for UCRP disability income within 120 days of your
separation from employment; and
• You were enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in the benet
when you left UC employment; and
• You elect to continue coverage when you apply for UCRP
disability income; and
• You have continuous coverage until the date your disability
income begins (unless you had a nancial hardship that
prevented you from maintaining coverage); and
• You have not been on a leave without pay for more than
24 months.
To learn more about continuing other benets while on UCRP
Disability, see “Understanding UCRP Disability” on page 7.
17
Chapter Title
Continuing UC Benets While on Disability
TABLE 2—BENEFITS YOU CAN CONTINUE
Under Basic and/or Voluntary Disability Under UCRP Disability
Benet How long
coverage
continues*
Cost to you What you need to know How long
coverage
continues*
Cost to you What you need
to know
Medical Basic
Disability or
Basic + VSTD:
6 months
VSTD + VLTD,
or VLTD only:
Up to a total
of two years,
if you remain
employed
While on Basic
Disability or
Basic + VSTD:
Employee
share of
premium
While on
VLTD: Full
premium
(Employee +
UC portions)
You must be on pay status** or
receiving disability benets in order
for UC to contribute its portion of
premium for your benets for the
time periods indicated. The UC
contribution ends the last day of the
month following the month in which
Basic and/or VSTD benets end.
However, if your disability is an
approved Family and Medical Leave,
UC’s contributions to the cost of pre-
miums continue for up to 12 weeks,
even if you are not on pay status
or receiving disability benets (for
example, during part of your waiting
period not covered by accrued sick
leave). See the Pregnancy, Newborn
Child and Adopted Child Fact Sheet
for information about additional
weeks of benets coverage during a
Pregnancy Disability Leave.
The length of
your disability
period
Your premium
depends on
the UC
contribution
for which you
are eligible.
The UC
contribution is
the higher of
50% or the
percentage
you would
receive if you
were retired.
You must meet certain
conditions to be
eligible to continue
this benet under
UCRP; see “Under-
standing UCRP
Disability” section.
Dental,
Vision
Up to 2 years,
if you remain
employed
Full premium
(Employee +
UC portions)
If your disability is an approved
Family and Medical Leave, UC’s
contributions to the cost of premi-
ums continue for up to 12 weeks.
See the Pregnancy, Newborn Child
and Adopted Child Fact Sheet for
information about additional
weeks of benets coverage during
a Pregnancy Disability Leave.
The length of
your disability
period
Dental: Same
as Medical,
above;
Vision: The
premium you
would pay if
you were
retired
You need to meet
certain conditions to
be eligible to continue
this benet under
UCRP; see “Under-
standing UCRP
Disability” section.
Accident,
Critical
Illness and
Hospital
Indemnity
Up to 2 years,
if you remain
employed
Full premium If you want coverage to continue
beyond 2 years, you may apply to
port coverage within 31 days of
the end of the 2-year period.
N/A N/A N/A
Legal Up to 2 years,
if you remain
employed
Full premium The length of
your disability
period
The premium
you would pay
if you were
retired
You need to meet
certain conditions to
be eligible to continue
this benet under
UCRP; see “Under-
standing UCRP
Disability” section.
Basic Life,
Core Life
Up to 4 months,
beginning the
month after
your disabil-
ity begins, if
you remain
employed
None If you want to continue coverage
beyond 4 months, you must apply
for conversion within 31 days of
the end of the 4-month period.
Your UC group
coverage
ends after
four months
or when you
leave active
UC pay status.
You may
convert to
an individual
policy if you
pay the full
premium.
Coverage may not be
the same and may be
more expensive.
* From the beginning of the disability benet period for each disability plan, as described on page 4. The disability benet period includes the 14-day waiting period.
** “Pay status” refers to any period of time for which an employee receives pay for time worked, including compensatory time o. Time on pay status also includes time on
paid leave.
18
Continuing UC Benets While on Disability
Continuing UC Benets
While on Disability
TABLE 2—BENEFITS YOU CAN CONTINUE
Under Basic and/or Voluntary Disability Under UCRP Disability
Benet How long
coverage
continues*
Cost to you What you need to know How long
coverage
continues*
Cost to you What you need
to know
Supplemental
Life
Up to 2 years,
if you remain
employed
Your premium.
(If you become
totally disabled
while enrolled,
you may qualify
to continue
your coverage
without paying
premium.
Contact the
carrier for
information.)
If you leave UC employment, you
may continue coverage at group
rates for up to 6 months, if you
have a UCRP disability application
(see page 20) pending and le a
premium waiver application.
You may port (continue) group
term or convert to an individual
policy if you pay the full premium.
Coverage may not be the same
and may be more expensive.
N/A N/A N/A
Basic
Dependent
Life,
Expanded
Dependent
Life
4 months (up
to 2 years if
you continue
Supplemental
Life)
Your premium You may port (continue) group
term or convert to an individual
policy if you pay the full premium.
Coverage may not be the same
and may be more expensive.
N/A N/A N/A
AD&D Up to 2 years,
if you remain
employed
Your premium The length of
your disability
period
The premium
you would pay
if you were
retired
You need to meet
certain conditions to
be eligible to continue
this benet under
UCRP; see “Under-
standing UCRP
Disability” section.
Health
Flexible
Spending
Account
Contributions
stop when
you go o
pay status,
unless your
leave is Family
and Medical
Leave. You
may continue
under COBRA,
if eligible.
N/A You’ll need to complete the appro-
priate form for your location if you
choose to continue this benet
during FML only. You can still be
reimbursed for eligible expenses
you incurred through the end of
the pay period for which you made
your last contribution. Be sure to
submit your claims by the ling
deadline for the year following
your leave; otherwise you’ll lose
any money left in your account.
N/A N/A Not eligible
Auto/Home/
Renters
Insurance
To end of policy
contract year
Your premium N/A Your premium N/A
Pet Insurance To end of policy
contract year
Your premium N/A Your premium N/A
Bright
Horizons
Caregiving
Services
Length of
your leave
You pay
only for the
services of any
caregiver you
hire.
N/A N/A N/A
* From the beginning of the disability benet period for each disability plan, as described on page 4. The disability benet period includes the 14-day waiting period.
19
Chapter Title
Continuing UC Benets While on Disability
TABLE 3—BENEFITS YOU CANNOT CONTINUE
Under Basic and/or Voluntary Disability Under UCRP Disability
Benet When coverage ends What you need to know When coverage ends What you need to know
Basic and Voluntary
Disability
(for disabilities
other than cause of
present leave)*
Last active day at work
before disability begins
Your payments will be
discontinued when you’re
placed onto an unpaid
leave or a paid leave that
does not allow for
continuation of these plans.
N/A N/A
Business Travel
Accident,
Workers’
Compensation
Last active day at work
before disability begins
N/A N/A N/A
DepCare Flexible
Spending Account
Contributions and
coverage stop when you
go o pay status.
You can still be reimbursed
for eligible expenses you
incurred through the end
of the pay period for which
you made your last
contribution. Be sure to
submit your claims by the
ling deadline for the year
following your leave;
otherwise you’ll lose any
money left in your account.
N/A N/A
Parking/Commuter Contributions and
coverage stop when you go
o pay status.
N/A N/A N/A
Unemployment
Insurance
Last active day at work N/A N/A N/A
Service Credit
Purchase
Your payroll deductions
end when you go o pay
status.
N/A N/A N/A
ScholarShare Your payroll deductions
stop when you go o pay
status.
N/A N/A
* For example, if an individual suers a second (unrelated) disabling condition while on disability leave, the second condition will not be covered.
20
Continuing Your Benets: What You Need to Do
Continuing Your Benets:
What You Need to Do
ARRANGE TO PAY YOUR PREMIUMS
For any benets you choose to continue, you will need to pay
your portion of premiums through UCPath. You should make
these arrangements as soon as you know you want to continue
your benets. (See “Understanding UCRP Disability” on
page 7 for important information about continuing benets
under UCRP.)
LET US KNOW YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS
If your health plan covers only a certain service area, a change in
your permanent address could aect your eligibility.
So be sure to keep UC posted on your correct address:
Update it online by signing in to your UCPath account
(ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu).
If you’ll be away from your medical plan’s service area more than
two months during your disability leave, and you must transfer
to a UC-sponsored medical or dental plan in your new location,
contact UCPath. You’ll need to transfer within 31 days of the
date you leave the original service area. And check with your
medical and dental plan carrier about whether you, and/or
eligible family members, need to select a new primary care
physician or dentist.
MORE OPTIONS FOR CONTINUING YOUR
BENEFITS: COBRA AND CALCOBRA
If your disability leave expires or you don’t return to work, you
(and/or enrolled family members) may have the option to contin-
ue medical, dental, vision, and health exible spending account
benets under COBRA. COBRA coverage is identical to the
UC-sponsored coverage you had immediately prior to qualifying
for continuation coverage. The federal COBRA period runs for
18 months; if you have exhausted this coverage period and are
enrolled in an eligible plan, you and/or eligible family members
may be able to extend your UC-sponsored medical coverage
under CalCOBRA for up to an additional 18 months.
Though it’s not required, UC will extend COBRA continuation
coverage to eligible enrolled domestic partners, and/or
domestic partner’s eligible children or grandchildren. See the
“Eligible Family Members” chart on pages 13–14 of A Complete
Guide to Your UC Health and Welfare Benets (ucal.us/
healthguide) for details on family members who may qualify.
Deadlines: You’ll need to apply no later than 60 days from
the date you lose coverage by reason of a qualifying event, or
60 days from the date you receive notice of your continuation
rights—whichever is later. Talk with your local Benets Oce
about how to apply, or go online to ucal.us/COBRA.
CONVERTING OR PORTING TO AN INDIVIDUAL POLICY
For certain plans—medical, accident, critical illness, hospital
indemnity, legal and life insurance—you may be able to convert
or port your UC- or COBRA-sponsored coverage to an individual
policy. Note that converting or porting to an individual policy
may provide you with fewer benets than you’d have by
continuing coverage through UC. You can’t convert or port
dental, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) or vision
benets to an individual policy.
Deadlines: For medical coverage, you need to apply for
conversion no later than 31 days after your UC-sponsored or
COBRA continuation coverage ends. For the other benets, you
must apply within 31 days after your UC-sponsored coverage
ends. (This assumes your coverage has been continuous; if you
no longer have coverage, then you’re not eligible to convert or
port to an individual policy.)
Contact your local Benets Oce to learn how to apply to
covert or port coverage.
MAKING YOUR LIFE INSURANCE PORTABLE
If you’re enrolled in Supplemental Life insurance, you may be
eligible for the Prudential Portability benet. This allows you to
buy a Prudential group term-life policy for similar amounts to
what you carry in Supplemental Life, Basic Dependent Life or
Expanded Dependent Life.
Deadline: You’ll need to apply for the portability benet within
31 days after your Supplemental Life insurance ends. For details
about how to apply, see your Life Insurance plan booklet online
at ucal.us/EOCs.
CONTINUING YOUR LIFE INSURANCE
WITHOUT PAYING PREMIUMS
If you’re enrolled in Supplemental Life insurance, become totally
disabled before age 65, and your disability continues for at least
six consecutive months, you may qualify to continue coverage
without paying premiums.
Deadline: You’ll need to provide written proof of your disability
to the insurance carrier no later than one year after the
disability begins. To learn more, please contact Prudential at
800-524-0542.
21
Chapter Title
Disability and Your Retirement Benets
Disability and Your
Retirement Benets
UCRP AND CAP
If you’re receiving Basic or Voluntary Disability benets only,
you don’t earn University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP)
service credit. Your UCRP contributions and any Capital
Accumulation Payment (CAP) balance you have will remain on
deposit and you can’t withdraw them.
If you’re receiving UCRP disability income, you can’t withdraw
your UCRP accumulations. But, if you have a CAP balance and
are approved for UCRP disability, you must take a distribution.
You can roll it over into UC’s DC, 403(b) or 457(b) plans or an
IRA that accepts direct rollovers.
It’s often a good idea to roll over your CAP if you can: If your
CAP balance is paid directly to you, your Basic or Voluntary
Disability insurer will reduce your benet for that month by the
amount of the CAP.
If your application for UCRP disability income is denied and
you separate from UC employment, contact the UC Retirement
Administration Service Center at 800-888-8267 to discuss your
options.
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PROGRAM
Contributions to the Retirement Savings Program (DC Plan,
403(b) Plan and 457(b) Plan) stop with your last paycheck.
As long as you have not been separated from UC employment,
you can leave your money on deposit. (If you have been
separated from employment with UC, you can leave money in
any plan that has a balance of at least $2,000.)
If you’re on leave without pay and receiving benets from a UC-
sponsored disability insurance plan, you may be eligible to take
total or partial distributions from the 403(b) plan. For details
on how to arrange this, contact Fidelity Retirement Services at
myUCretirement.com, or 866-682-7787.
403(B) LOANS
If you have taken a loan through the 403(b) Plan, within 90 days
of your last day on pay status (or, if you’re receiving UCRP
Disability, within 90 days of your disability date), you may:
• Arrange to suspend 403(b) loan repayments for up to
12 months during your disability leave
• Arrange to make monthly payments
• Make a full payment covering the period you’ll be o pay
status
• Repay the total outstanding amount of the loan before you go
o pay status
For details on how to arrange these options, contact Fidelity
Retirement Services at myUCretirement.com, or 866-682-7787.
When you return to work, you’ll need to resume payments.
Depending on the terms of your loan, your payment amount
may change, as you may need to repay the same amount over a
shorter timeframe.
If you’re receiving UCRP disability income, you’re not allowed to
borrow any additional funds from your 403(b) account.
TAXES AND ROLLOVERS
In most cases, you will owe taxes and, possibly, early distribution
penalties on any taxable distribution that you don’t roll over
(such as a required CAP distribution). For details about tax
withholding and your rollover options, see the Special Tax
Notice for UC Retirement Plan Distributions, which is available
online at ucal.us/specialtaxnotice.
SOCIAL SECURITY
If your retirement benets are coordinated with Social Security
and you receive Basic Disability benets, both you and UC
contribute to Social Security based on your disability income.
For Voluntary Short-Term or Long-Term Disability, neither you
nor UC contributes.
22
During Your Disability
During Your Disability
RECEIVING DISABILITY BENEFITS
Depending on the type of disability coverage you have, you may
receive benets from one carrier before another. If your disabil-
ity is work-related, for instance, Workers’ Compensation is the
rst insurer responsible for covering your lost wages. But since
Workers’ Comp claims often take longer to process than Basic
or Voluntary Disability claims, you may receive benets from
the Basic or Voluntary carrier until your Workers’ Comp claim is
processed. If one plan pays you benets while another considers
your claim, you may be required to reimburse the rst plan for
any duplicate benets you receive later. If you have questions
about this process, please contact the case manager with your
disability insurance plan.
RE-EVALUATION OF YOUR ELIGIBILITY
For as long as you receive disability benets, you will be required
to provide the insurance carrier and/or UCRP with additional
documentation of your medical, legal or nancial situation.
You’re expected to submit the requested information as soon
as you can. You also need to let the carrier or UCRP know of
any other changes that could aect your eligibility for disability
income, such as other disability benets, pay you receive for any
work you do, or a change in the status of your eligible children.
(Any earnings may reduce the disability income you receive and
overpayments of disability income will need to be repaid.)
MEDICAL TREATMENT
If a doctor prescribes treatment to help you return to work,
you’re expected to follow that treatment. If you don’t, you could
lose your disability benets. (This doesn’t apply to treatment
that’s experimental, or that’s recommended rather than
required.)
LENGTH OF YOUR DISABILITY
The length of time you receive benets depends on the type of
coverage you receive.
Under Basic and/or Voluntary Short-Term Disability, your
disability benets period is 6 months (including the 14-day
waiting period).
Under Voluntary Long-Term Disability, benets usually may
continue to the Social Security normal retirement age (see box,
page 4).
The maximum benet period for disability—after which you
age-out of the plan and will no longer receive benets—is shown
in the following table:
Age at Disability Maximum Benet Period
Greater of Social Security normal
retirement age or
less than age 60 to age 65 (but not less than 5 years)
60 60 months
61 48 months
62 42 months
63 36 months
64 30 months
65 24 months
66 21 months
67 18 months
68 15 months
69 and over 12 months
However, after you’ve received 24 months of benets, the
denition of disability changes. (See page 6 for more informa-
tion on the denition of disability.) If you can’t meet the new
denition and can’t return to your previous job, you may need to
search for a dierent job that’s a better match for your current
abilities. Talk with the disability specialist at your location to
learn more.
Disabilities related to mental illness or substance abuse are
generally limited to a 24-month lifetime maximum benet under
VLTD, unless you remain continuously hospitalized or in an
extended treatment plan.
Important!
If you’re receiving UCRP disability income and are enrolled in
a UC-sponsored medical plan, and you or an enrolled family
member are eligible for Medicare Part A, UC requires that
you (or your family member) enroll in Medicare Parts A and
B. If you don’t, you’ll be permanently disenrolled from
your UC-sponsored medical plan. To learn more, see the
Medicare Fact Sheet (ucal.us/medicarefacts) or contact your
Benets Oce.
23
Chapter Title
When Your Disability Leave Ends
When Your Disability
Leave Ends
If you are approved for UCRP Disability benets, you may be
eligible to receive benets until the earliest of:
• The date you are no longer disabled as dened by UCRP
• Age 65 or ve years if you are not yet age 65 on your UCRP
disability date (age 67 if your membership is not coordinated
with Social Security)
• Age 70 or 12 months (or later) if you are age 65 or older on
your UCRP disability date
• The date you retire from UC
• For Safety members approved for duty-related disability, the
date you are no longer disabled as dened by UCRP or you
retire from UC
If your disability leave ends because you return to health, you’ll
need to contact your supervisor or department head, as well as
your leave coordinator, to discuss your potential return to work.
If you’ve already been receiving UCRP disability and are eligible
to retire, you may want to consider retiring. (See “If You Decide
to Retire,” on page 25.)
If you’re not eligible to retire and your disability prevents you
from returning to your previous job, you may need to consult
with a vocational rehabilitation specialist to help you identify
other types of work you can do. (See “Working Part-Time.”)
If you’re receiving UCRP disability income and UCRP no longer
considers you disabled based on information about your
condition, your benet will end. You’ll receive 60 days notice and
have an opportunity to appeal if you disagree. If eligible, you
may elect to retire even if you decide to appeal the termination
of your disability benet.
RETURNING TO WORK
RETURNING TO YOUR PREVIOUS JOB
Your job is protected for a period of time if your disability leave
qualies as a Family and Medical Leave. See the Family and
Medical Leave Fact Sheet, available online at ucal.us/fml for more
details. There are also some protections under Workers
Compensation if your disability is work-related. Generally,
though, your department is not required to hold your job open
indenitely if you’re unable to return to it.
If you’ve been approved for UCRP disability income, your UC
employment usually will be terminated. If you’re able to work
again, ask about rehabilitation services at your location, and for
information about other appropriate positions.
WORKING PART-TIME
If you can’t return to your previous job because of disability-
related work restrictions, UC may be able to accommodate your
needs. You may be able to work part-time and receive partial
disability benets. See the Partial Disability: Stay at Work/Return
to Work Fact Sheet, available online at ucal.us/stayatwork for
more details.
Additional UC services may be available to help you adjust to
or accommodate your disability. You may be able to modify or
change your job duties, or use adaptive equipment. Vocational
rehabilitation services may help you discover other forms of
suitable employment. Talk to your supervisor, leave coordinator
or the UCRP Disability Unit about these possibilities. (If your
disability is work-related, check with the Workers Compensation
oce.)
24
When Your Disability Leave Ends
RESTARTING YOUR HEALTH BENEFITS: WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW
For benets you decided to continue during your disability—
including medical, dental, vision, accident, critical illness,
hospital indemnity, life insurance plans and accidental death and
dismemberment—your coverage continues once you are placed
on active pay status upon your return to work.
For benets that you didn’t have the option to continue,
other than Voluntary Disability (see below), your coverage
resumes the rst day you’re actively at work. (For Basic
Disability, coverage restarts the day after your rst active day
back at work.)
Your retirement plan contributions and savings deductions
resume automatically and you begin earning UCRP service
credit when you return to pay status, so long as you return to a
UCRP-eligible position.
If you have a previous UCRP service credit purchase in progress,
payments should restart automatically when you return to work.
If not, though, you’ll need to contact UCPath to get them started
again. Your payment period will be extended, but the monthly
payment amount won’t change. For more information, see the
UCRP Service Credit Purchase Guide at ucal.us/purchase.
For benets you opted not to continue, as well as for
Voluntary Disability (which is discontined when you are on leave
without pay), there’s a deadline for starting them up again:
generally, within 31 days of your return to work, based on your
Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE). Your PIE is the time during which
you (and/or eligible family members) are allowed to enroll in
UC-sponsored benet plans. Your PIE starts the rst day of
eligibility (for example, the day you return to work or pay status).
It ends 31 days later, or, if the 31st day falls on a weekend, on
the next working day. UC denes a working day as a normal
business day (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) for
your local Benets or Payroll Oce.
The specics of re-enrollment vary depending on the length of
your leave and the plan you were enrolled in:
If you were on disability and/or leave for less than 120 days,
you may re-enroll in the same plans, with the same coverage
level, as when you left.
If your disability leave was 120 days or more, you’re treated as
a newly eligible employee and may enroll in any UC-sponsored
plans for which you’re eligible.
If you return to work in a new calendar year, you will have a
new election for some plans, regardless of the length of your
leave. Check with UCPath for more information.
RESTARTING YOUR BENEFITS: WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
All Benets
When you return to work, it is your responsibility to
reestablish your benets within your 31-day PIE.
Contact UCPath as soon as you return to work. At a minimum,
you’ll need to review your benets within 31 days after you
return to work. When you return, you’ll need to follow the
appropriate process to restart your benets. If you return to
work in a new appointment, that appointment will determine the
benets you’re eligible for.
Supplemental Life Insurance
Contact your leave coordinator to nd out if you need to
re-enroll, and conrm the correct process for your location.
Voluntary Disability
During your period of disability leave without pay, your
voluntary disability insurance premiums were automatically
waived; premiums were not deducted from your paycheck
during your leave, even though you may have continued paying
for other benets, like medical and dental.
Whether and how you re-enroll depends on the length of
your leave:
• If your leave is less than 120 days, you will be automatically
re-enrolled into your previous Basic and Voluntary Disability
plans.
• If your leave is 120 days or longer, you will have a PIE to
enroll via UCPath online in Voluntary Short-Term Disability,
Long-Term Disability or both.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
Contact your leave coordinator to nd out if you need to
re-enroll, and conrm the correct process for your location.
DepCare FSA, Health FSA and TIP
During your new PIE, you may re-enroll in the DepCare and
Health Flexible Spending Accounts. If your leave was less than
120 days, you may enroll for the rest of the plan year. Your
contribution must be the same as before you went on leave. If
your leave was 120 days or longer or you return in a new plan
(calendar) year, you may choose a new annual contribution.
When Your Disability
Leave Ends
Tip
Check your pay stub
Once you get your rst pay stub after returning to work,
check it over to make sure that you’re enrolled in the
benets you chose. If questions or problems crop up, contact
UCPath right away.
25
If You Decide to Retire
If You Decide to Retire
Automobile and Homeowner/Renter’s Insurance
If you continued coverage, you can restart payroll deductions
when you go back on pay status. If you didn’t continue
coverage, you can re-enroll any time by calling the insurance
company directly.
Vacation and Sick Leave
Once you start receiving paychecks again, you’ll begin accruing
vacation and sick leave. For additional details, see the personnel
policy or collective bargaining agreement that applies to you.
Unemployment Insurance
Your coverage resumes automatically when you return to
pay status.
If you’ve moved during your leave
If you have been out of your medical or dental plan’s service
area during your leave, you may be able to transfer back to your
previous plan within 31 days of your return to the area. You
(and/or your eligible family members) might also need to select
a primary care physician or dentist. Get in touch with UCPath
to learn about your options. To change providers, contact your
medical carrier or dental carrier.
Purchasing UCRP service credit
When you return to work at UC, you may be able to establish
service credit for a period of unpaid leave of absence, provided it
was for at least 4 weeks or more. You will receive an additional
notice when you reach your maximum age factor. Rules for
establishing service credit for a leave period while on disability
include minimum and maximum periods that can be purchased,
a payment schedule, and other restrictions. Generally, the
sooner you begin to establish service credit, the less it will likely
cost you. For more information, see the UCRP Service Credit
Purchase Guide, available online at: ucal.us/purchase.
FROM DISABILITY TO RETIREMENT
If you’re receiving UCRP disability, you’ll be notied three to six
months before your UC retirement benet would equal your
disability benet. (At this point you’re considered to have
reached your service cap and will no longer accrue UCRP service
credit.) At that time, you may prefer to retire rather than
continue to receive disability income. If you have not reached
your maximum age factor, you may be eligible for higher
retirement income if you wait.
You’ll also be notied four months before the date you would
reach the maximum eligibility age for receiving disability income.
If you’re covered by UC group health insurance as part of your
UCRP disability benet and you retire without a lapse in UCRP
income, your insurance coverage will continue automatically into
retirement.
For more information, please see the From Disability to
Retirement Fact Sheet, at ucal.us/disabilitytoretire or contact the
UC Retirement Administration Service Center.
If you decide to retire, call the UC Retirement Administration
Service Center (800-888-8267) and follow these steps.
STEP 1:
Request a Personal Retirement Prole. UC can prepare your
prole only when you’re within 120 days of your retirement date.
Your prole will include up-to-date information summarizing
your UCRP benet options. Requesting the prole doesn’t
commit you to taking any particular retirement action. The
prole is intended as a personalized planning tool to help you
make informed choices.
STEP 2:
Look over your retirement prole and review your choices.
Make your retirement choices on the form sent with the prole.
Contact the UC Retirement Administration Service Center by
UCRAYS secure message or by phone if you have questions or
would like to discuss your options. (Note that this is the part of
the process when you need to make a nal decision: The
decision is irrevocable from the retirement date specied on
your election form, or 15 days after the date of the conrmation
statement that the UC Retirement Administration Service
Center will send you, whichever is later. See below.)
STEP 3:
Submit your election form to the UC Retirement Administra-
tion Service Center. When the election process is complete, the
service center will send you a letter conrming your benet
amount.
You should also be sure to review the From Disability to
Retirement Fact Sheet (ucal.us/disabilitytoretire) and the
Medicare Fact Sheet (ucal.us/medicarefacts).
Your Guide to
UC Disability
Benefits
Your Guide to UC Disability Benefits
1008 W6/24
By authority of the Regents, University of California Human Resources, located in Oakland,
administers all benet plans in accordance with applicable plan documents and regulations,
custodial agreements, University of California Group Insurance Regulations, group
insurance contracts, and state and federal laws. No person is authorized to provide benets
information not contained in these source documents, and information not contained in
these source documents cannot be relied upon as having been authorized by the Regents.
Source documents are available for inspection upon request (800-888-8267). What is
written here does not constitute a guarantee of plan coverage or benets—particular rules
and eligibility requirements must be met before benets can be received. The University of
California intends to continue the benets described here indenitely; however, the
benets of all employees, retirees and plan beneciaries are subject to change or
termination at the time of contract renewal or at any other time by the University or other
governing authorities. The University also reserves the right to determine new premiums,
employer contributions and monthly costs at any time. Health and welfare benets are not
accrued or vested benet entitlements. UC’s contribution toward the monthly cost of the
coverage is determined by UC and may change or stop altogether, and may be aected by
the state of California’s annual budget appropriation. If you belong to an exclusively
represented bargaining unit, some of your benets may dier from the ones described here.
For more information, employees should contact their Human Resources Oce and retirees
should call the UC Retirement Administration Service Center (800-888-8267).
In conformance with applicable law and University policy, the University is an armative
action/equal opportunity employer. Please send inquiries regarding the University’s
armative action and equal opportunity policies for sta to Systemwide AA/EEO Policy
Coordinator, University of California, Oce of the President, 1111 Franklin Street, Oakland,
CA 94607, and for faculty to the Oce of Academic Personnel and Programs, University of
California, Oce of the President, 1111 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
