Employees who have been disabled for more than 26 weeks may be eligible for long term disability (LTD) benefits, which offer financial protection.

Features

Provided through The Hartford, the LTD benefit provides employees with income replacement equal to 66.67 percent of pre-disability base salary earnings up to $15,000 per month, including income received from Social Security and workers compensation, if applicable, in this total amount. 

Rules

Once approved for long term disability, most of an employee’s health and welfare benefits as an active, benefits-eligible employee may continue as long as the required monthly premium is paid. For any Medicare-eligible employees or dependents, Medicare becomes primary so it is important to contact both the Social Security office and the Benefits Team at (609) 258-3302 or by email to discuss next steps.

Employees on an approved LTD leave are no longer paid by the University so employees are billed the monthly benefit premiums by Princeton.

The University continues to make contributions to an employee’s Princeton University Retirement Plan account, based upon an employee’s pre-disability, annual base salary. These contributions continue until one is deemed no longer disabled, retires, or terminates, whichever comes first.

Cost

Enrollment in this plan is automatic with no cost to employees.

Eligibility

Employees are eligible for this plan as of their date of hire.

Deadlines and Application Process

The Office of Human Resources administers the LTD Plan.

If, after three months, an employee’s health care provider indicates that the short term disability leave may extend beyond 26 weeks, the employee is mailed information about the University's LTD Plan. Applying for LTD benefits at this time helps guard against an interruption in income in the event an employee is unable to return to work within the 26 week short term disability period and approved for LTD benefits.

If the 26 weeks of short term disability benefits end and the application for LTD benefits is pending, the employee may be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for 30 days. If the application is approved within this period, the LTD benefits is retroactive to the end of short term disability.

If, at the end of the 30 day unpaid leave of absence, the LTD application is pending, the unpaid leave of absence may be extended for an additional 30 days. However, if the application for LTD benefits is denied, employment is terminated.