The Basic Long-Term Disability (LTD) Plan is available to AFSCME members only, after four years of service. At four years of service, you are automatically enrolled. The Basic LTD Plan will pay you 50% of your salary up to $1,200 per month. The University will continue most of your benefits if you become totally disabled under the conditions of this plan.

The University will coordinate its cash benefits ($1,200 maximum) with those you receive from a public source, such as Social Security, so that your cash benefits do not exceed 75% of your predisability base salary. For AFSCME staff members, the predisability net monthly base income is used for coordination if it is less than 75% of your gross monthly predisability base salary.

Your benefits will begin after you have exhausted all your sick benefits (including extended sick benefits) and your vacation pay. Disability income is taxable.

How to Apply for LTD Benefits
If you believe you may need to apply for LTD, you should contact Work~Connections at 734-615-0643. Work~Connections will work with you to obtain the necessary information. If it appears you may qualify for LTD, Work~Connections will coordinate the application process with the Benefits Office. For more information, visit the Work~Connections Web site at http://www.umich.edu/~connect/.

Definition of Disability
University disability plans define disability as a time when you are totally disabled, no longer able to engage in any occupation or employment for which you are suited by education, training, or experience, and the disability is expected to last at least 12 months.

If it is determined that your total disability is not expected to last more than 12 months, your application will be denied. If it is uncertain whether your disability will last a year or more, determination of disability may be delayed until you have shown that you were totally disabled for 12 consecutive months.

Note: Being out of work for 12 continuous months does not necessarily qualify you as being totally disabled.

Reduced Appointment
If your appointment is reduced—voluntarily or involuntarily—while you are covered by this plan, your disability benefits will be calculated using the base salary for your reduced appointment. There is one exception, however. Your disability benefits will be calculated using your base salary prior to the reduction in appointment if:

• There is satisfactory evidence that your appointment and/or base salary were reduced because of your disability, and
• You are approved for benefits within two years of such reduction. The approval date for benefits under the Plan is the date the Claims Administrator, RSKCo, provides written approval.

Extended Sick Pay
If you are on extended sick pay, the Plan will not consider a salary increase of more than your average increase over your last three years of work (or, if it is greater, the increase in your department during the current year). Retroactive salary adjustments will be considered only if the salary was proposed in writing to Human Resources before your last day of work.

Retirement, Retirement Furlough, and Sabbatical
Basic Long-Term Disability benefits will not be paid if you apply for disability benefits after you are scheduled to retire or take retirement furlough, or during scheduled retirement furlough or sabbatical.

Coverage During Leaves of Absence
As shown in the table below, you continue to be eligible for coverage under the Basic Long-Term Disability Plan during many different kinds of leaves.

Note: Continued coverage is not available during a reduction in force, educational leave, or military leave, or when coverage is available from another employee.

Footnotes
¹If there is a "Yes" in your "Eligibility Accrues During Leave" column, you will be enrolled when you meet your years of service criteria, even if you are on a leave when you meet the criteria. If there is a "No" in your column, you will not be enrolled automatically until you have returned to work in an eligible appointment for at least 20 continuous work days at the appointment effort that was in effect when your leave began.

²When calculating salary, the Benefits Office assumes that you have an ongoing appointment with the same percent of effort. When your salary fluctuates during the 12-month period prior to your last day of work, your benefits will be based on the greater of:

• your annual base salary as of your last day of work, or
• your annual base salary for the 12 consecutive months prior to the last day of work.

³Use your average base salary over the entire 12-month period as the basis for determining your predisability base salary.

⁴Benefits will not be paid in lieu of furlough or sabbatical.

If You Become Disabled
Participants who become disabled receive:

Exclusions
The plan will not pay benefits if your disability occurs:

• due to an intentionally self-inflicted injury or illness;
• due to war or acts of war, declared or undeclared;
• while you are committing or attempting to commit a crime;
• while you are participating in a riot;
• while you are in jail or in prison.

When Do Plan Benefits End?
Your Basic Long-Term Disability Plan benefits end on the earliest of the following dates:

• the day you are no longer totally disabled as determined by the Claims Administrator at its sole discretion and are able to return to work at least half time;
• the end of the month in which you retire (in most cases, age 65) Refer to the chart below;
• the end of the month in which your University employment is terminated;
• your scheduled retirement date;
• the date you go to jail or prison;
• the end of the month in which you die.

However:

• If you are disabled and meet the requirements for age and years of continuous service under the Retirement Plan, you may retire at any time.
• Your participation in the Basic Long-Term Disability Plan will end at the time of retirement.

Your Plan benefits may end if:

• You fail to provide documents or medical information requested by the Plan;
• You fail to follow reasonable medical advice;
• You fail to cooperate in obtaining rehabilitation or employment;
• You otherwise fail to abide by the terms of the Plan.

In each of the above cases, your employment with the University will terminate on the same date your Basic Long-Term Disability benefits end.