Disability

Thomas County Schools offers disability coverage through Lincoln Financial to protect one of your most valuable assets—your ability to earn an income. Short Term Disability (STD) provides benefits for up to 11 weeks after a 14-day waiting period, while Long Term Disability (LTD) starts on the 91st day and may continue until age 65 or Social Security Normal Retirement Age. You may also use your sick leave to maintain 100% of your pre-disability income while on disability leave. Disability coverage helps you manage regular expenses if you're unable to work due to illness or injury, offering crucial financial protection when you need it most.

 

Premium Information

Important Documents

The Short Term and Long Term Disability plans include a pre-existing condition exclusion for disabilities that occur within the first 12 months of coverage. A pre-existing condition is any condition for which you received medical treatment, consultation, or services, including prescriptions, in the 3 months before your coverage start date. After 12 months of continuous coverage, this exclusion no longer applies.

Summary of Benefits

Short Term Disability Plan

  • Pays on the 15th day after accident or sickness begins
  • Maximum Benefit Period: 11 weeks
  • Benefit Amount: Up to 60% of earnings paid weekly to a max of $1,385 per week

 

Long Term Disability Plan

  • Pays on the 91st day after accident or sickness begins
  • Maximum Benefit Period: To age 65 or Social Security Normal Retirement Age
  • Benefit Amount: Up to 60% of earnings to a max of $6,000 per month 

Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusion

Example: 

Suppose you enroll in the Short Term and Long Term Disability plans on January 1, 2025. In the three months leading up to your effective date (October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024), you received treatment for a back injury. If you were to experience a disability related to that back injury within the first 12 months of your coverage (until January 1, 2026), your claim would be denied due to the pre-existing condition exclusion. However, if your coverage has been active for 12 months and you later become disabled due to the same back injury, the exclusion would no longer apply, and you would be eligible for benefits for a disability caused by the back injury.

Benefit and Deduction Example

Short-Term Disability Benefit Example: (35 years old):

Annual Salary: $60,000

Monthly Salary: $5,000

Monthly Premium: $24.92

Weekly Benefit Paid: $692.31

 

Long-Term Disability Example: (35 years old):

Annual Salary: $60,000

Monthly Salary: $5,000

Monthly Premium: $11.55

Monthly Benefit Paid: $3,000

Need to File a Claim?

To file a Short Term or Long Term Disability claim, contact Miranda McInnis at (229) 584-9114 or email mmcinnis@tcjackets.net. 

Non-Medical Enrollment and Questions:
(866) 606-6865

Medical Enrollment and Questions:
(800) 610-1863

General Questions: help@tcjacketsbenefits.net

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