All full-time employees and part-time employees who are eligible for health insurance are eligible to participate in the long-term disability insurance program. The University pays the full cost of the program. Employees are covered on the first day of the month following one year of service; the waiting period is waived if the employee worked for an employer, within three months of beginning SUNY employment, where they were covered by a similar plan. The carrier is The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, administrator for TIAA-CREF.
The plan provides benefits after six months of total disability. Benefits are 60% of your monthly salary as of the date you become disabled, with a maximum payment of $7500 per month. Benefits are reduced by benefits you may receive from other sources such as Social Security disability, disability retirement from ERS or TRS, or Workers Compensation. The plan also provides an annuity premium benefit, which makes retirement contributions for you based on your full salary. Contributions are made to TIAA-CREF, irrespective of which retirement system you are enrolled in. Both the income benefit and the annuity premium benefit increase by 3% each year. If you remain totally disabled, benefits are payable per the following schedule:
- If the age when total disability starts is less than 60 the maximum duration of benefits is to age 65.
- If the age when total disability starts is 60 but less than 65 the maximum duration of benefits is 4 and 1/2 years.
- If the age when total disability starts is age 65 but less than 68 and 1/2 the maximum duration of benefits is to age 70.
- If the age when total disability starts is age 68 and 1/2 and over the maximum duration of benefits is up to one year.
For additional information please refer to: Group Total Disability Insurance Policy
Group Total Disability Insurance Certificate
SUNY LTD Application(UUP and Unclassified MC Employees) - this form is available on our Forms page.