- The plan provides benefit payments for a maximum
of 28 weeks to disabled members. - Pregnancy related disability.
- Benefits are paid based on current income and
are paid at the rate of either $350.00 or
$250.00 per week.
Important Information
FORMS HOTLINE: 212-539-0539
Who is covered?
All eligible in-service members are covered for benefits under the UFT Welfare Fund Disability Plan.
What are the benefits?
The benefits are $350 per week to maximum of 28 weeks, except for Paraprofessionals and other groups within the same salary range, whose benefits are $250 per week to a maximum of 28 weeks.
Is there a waiting period?
Yes.
Regular Pedagogical Appointees: There is a consecutive 28-day unpaid waiting period after you have exhausted your Sick Bank (Cumulative Absence Reserve- CAR) and have been removed from the Department of Education payroll. The Department’s grace period (applicable only to regularly appointed pedagogues) runs concurrently with the 28-day unpaid waiting period.
However, if you have borrowed sick days, these borrowed days are not considered part of the 28-day unpaid waiting period. Therefore, the 28-day unpaid waiting period begins after the borrowed days are exhausted.
Paraprofessionals and Non-pedagogical employees: There is a consecutive 14-day unpaid waiting period which begins after all leave balances are exhausted. However, if you have borrowed sick days, these borrowed days are not considered part of the 14-day unpaid waiting period. Therefore, the 14-day unpaid waiting period begins after the borrowed days are exhausted. Grace period is not applicable to Paraprofessionals.
Summer vacation period days are excluded in either case.
Rules and Regulations
If an eligible member becomes disabled, the UFT Welfare Fund, following the 28-day unpaid waiting period for pedagogues or the 14-day unpaid waiting period for nonpedagogues and paraprofessionals, will pay benefits in the amount and for the period specified below.
A. Disability Defined
Disability shall mean only that period during which an eligible member is prevented from performing the duties of his or her employment in any occupation or employment as a result of injury or mental or physical illness as determined by the Fund.
The Welfare Fund has found that not all members who apply for disability benefits are actually disabled. Therefore, a physician has been retained as the Fund’s Medical Advisor to review all disability claims. The Medical Advisor initially determines whether the member is disabled and, if so, for how long the member is considered by the Fund to be disabled.
After reviewing each claim, the Medical Advisor may take one or more of the following actions:
1. authorize payment for all or part of the period of the disability claim;
2. request additional medical documentation;
3. determine that an examination(s) by a physician designated by the Medical Advisor is required (at no charge to the member);
4. reject the claim.
All claimants shall be subject to examination(s) by a designated physician and shall furnish such proof of illness or injury, as the Fund Office shall, in its discretion, direct.
Pregnancy Related Disability
In the case of pregnancy related disability, experience has shown that disability as defined above usually occurs during the 9th month of pregnancy and in the 6 weeks immediately following the delivery. Therefore, examination by a designated physician will not be required during those periods. If pregnancy related disability is claimed for any other period, the usual rules described above regarding examination will be followed.
B. Amount Payable Defined
The amount payable, subject to the exclusions and limitations set forth below, is as follows:
1. Members, other than those included in (2) below, are eligible for a disability benefit of $350 per week (Monday through Friday).
2. Paraprofessionals and other groups within the same salary range are eligible for a disability benefit of $250 per week (Monday through Friday).
3. Fractional weeks are payable at a daily rate equal to 1/5 of the weekly benefit.
4. By law, FICA (Social Security Tax) must be deducted from disability payments unless the member is exempt from Social Security taxes. If exempt, the member should submit a copy of a recent pay stub to the Fund Office with the initial claim.
5. Any member receiving government benefits relating to this disability (i.e. Social Security Disability, Worker’s Compensation etc.) cannot exceed 100% of his/her pre-disability income when combined with the UFT Welfare Fund Disability benefit.