Short-Term Disability Insurance

Bethel provides benefits-eligible employees with short-term disability salary continuation for circumstances which render the employee disabled and unable to work in their current position. Not all medical issues are disabling. Some examples of medical conditions that are not disabling include surgeries that may prohibit driving, but do not create disability, conditions that allow an employee to continue their functions remotely or on a part time basis, conditions that are generally not recognized as disabling and any other condition that does not cause the employee to be unable to continue his/her job duties, even if they are modified.

Postpartum disability including the disability caused by the birth of a child may covered under this policy if the employee is not eligible for paid parental leave.

Any claim of a disabling condition must be accompanied by a physician’s statement that includes substantial information to assist in determining whether a condition is disabling and for what period of time. Information from a physician which is incomplete and/or does not provide enough information to determine disability must be supplemented by the claimant on a timely basis to consider whether the condition is covered under this policy.

• 0 to 6 months of service- not eligible
• 6 months to 120 months of service- 50% of base weekly earnings
• 121 months + of service - 60% of base weekly earnings

Short-term disability salary continuation:

1. only applies during continuous (non-intermittent) disability
2. begins on the 6th consecutive day of disability leave
3. is based on the specific period of disability as determined by a licensed physician
4. covers disability for a maximum of six months of disability
5. can only be used once every 2 years

A physician's statement is required at the start of disability and a physician's statement of medical release may be required before an employee may return to work following short-term disability. In cases where use of short-term disability benefits can be anticipated, the employee is expected to provide written notification to his/her supervisor one month in advance.