Boost to short-term disability benefit

In-service members enrolled in the UFT Welfare Fund gained two benefit improvements in November: an increase in the weekly short-term disability benefit and more coverage of a special formula for newborns and others with nutrition-intake deficiencies.

“We have been working to enhance these two benefits for some time,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “They are vital for the members they affect.”

Starting Nov. 1, the UFT Welfare Fund’s short-term disability benefit increased $100 per week, bringing weekly payments to $575 for teachers and other pedagogues and $475 for paraprofessionals and others in the same income band.

The disability benefit, which is paid for a maximum of 52 weeks, is available to DOE-employed UFT members facing a serious illness or injury that renders them temporarily unable to work. It kicks in after a member has exhausted their Cumulative Absence Reserve and is on an authorized medical leave of absence without pay, such as a restoration of health leave or a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. Pregnancy-related disability is also covered.

UFT Welfare Fund annual coverage of enteral formula has also tripled, from a maximum of $2,500 per calendar year to a new maximum of $7,500 per year. The coverage increase is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024. Enteral formula is a liquid or powder product that is medically formulated to assist with nutrient-intake deficiencies. These oral treatments are often prescribed for newborns with digestive issues.

Mulgrew said he hoped the two improved benefits would bring some peace of mind to UFT members during a health crisis. “In the midst of medical challenges, you shouldn’t have to worry about the financial impact,” he said. “Our goal, as always, is to strengthen the benefits that support you and your family in your time of need.”

If you have questions about these benefit enhancements, call a UFT Welfare Fund health benefit representative at 212-539-0500 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.