Sick Leave & Disability
The Board enables employees to accumulate "sick leave" days, for which you will receive full pay if you are injured or ill and cannot work. With consistent attendance and increased tenure, you may accumulate up to 90 days of sick leave credit. Sick leave must be exhausted before the disability benefit begins.
Disability coverage provides an income replacement benefit once your sick days are exhausted. You may choose from 7 different waiting periods: the shortest waiting period is 7 days, and the longest is 180 days. Sick days will reduce your elimination period in the event of disability. You may also choose any monthly benefit amount in increments of $100, from $400 up to $7,000, not to exceed 60% of your monthly earnings. The longer the benefit waiting period, the lower the premium. Benefits are available up to age 65 (or normal retirement age) if you remain disabled.
Premium Information: https://wcsbenefits.com/rates
Important Documents: https://wcsbenefits.com/resources
Pre-Existing Conditions
12 Month Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion
The plan pays a limited benefit for disabilities caused by pre-existing conditions during the first 12 months of disability coverage.
A pre-existing condition is a sickness or physical condition for which you have been diagnosed or treated during the immediate 6 months prior to your coverage effective date.
You may elect up to the maximum benefit as a new hire with no health questions. Future increases in coverage will be subject to the pre-existing condition limitation.
Expectant Mothers
A “normal delivery” is the only situation in a disability plan where there is a pre-set benefit period: 6 weeks after delivery. This does not mean that you will receive 6 weeks of payment from the disability plan. Sick leave will be used first, then, if you have met the waiting period you selected, the plan will pay benefits for the remainder of the 6 week period. If you deliver by C-section or complications require you to be out longer, benefits can extend beyond the 6-week period.
Disability & Sick Leave Considerations
You’re able to accumulate up to 90 days of sick leave for which you will receive full pay if you’re injured or ill and unable to work. You may enroll in the disability plan which provides an income replacement benefit once your sick leave days are exhausted. You may choose your monthly benefit amount and when you would like your benefit to start. Below are some key things to remember when evaluating your disability options:
- Consider your sick leave balance when making your disability plan election.
- To avoid overpaying for your disability plan benefit, be sure to choose a waiting period option that exceeds your sick leave balance.
- Depending on the dates and duration of your leave, and your accrued sick leave days, you may have a gap between your sick pay and when the disability benefit begins. Work days are used for your sick leave exhaustion, and calendar days are used for the disability plan waiting period.
- Benefits are payable up to age 65
- If age 66-69, there is a limit of benefit duration; more information is available in the SPD on the Resources page at https://wcsbenefits.com/resources
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Disability plans are not portable
Disability & Sick Leave Examples
Example 1: Sam has a scheduled knee replacement on March 1
- At Open Enrollment, Sam has 10 sick days in his bank.
- He anticipates being out of work for at least 6 weeks to recover.
- Sam elected the 14-day waiting period option.
- Disability provides income replacement for Sam once he has exhaused his sick leave balance and met the 14-day plan waiting period.
- How it Works:
- March 1 (Day 1) is the first day of leave.
- There is a 14-calendar-day waiting period where the employee uses his 10 sick leave days at 100% of his earnings, assuming the first two weeks are full work weeks.
- March 15 (Day 15) is when disability benefits begin. Then, the disability benefit is paid until the employee returns to work.
Example 2: Vanessa has a scheduled maternity leave on October 15.
- Vanessa has 35 sick days in her bank.
- She anticipates being out of work for 6 weeks to care for her new baby.
- Vanessa is enrolled in the 45-day waiting period option.
- No disability benefit is paid because she has not exhausted her sick leave, and she has not met the 45-day disability waiting period.
- Make sure to consider your eligiblity for paid parental leave.
- How it Works:
- October 16 (Day 1) is the first day of leave.
- There is a 45-calendar-day waiting period where the employee uses 35 of her sick leave days at 100% of her earnings.
- November 27 (Day 43) is 6 weeks from the first day of leave, and the return-to-work date.
- Employee has used approximately 35 sick days and returns to work.
- Employee's sick leave has not been exhausted, and the 45-day disability waiting period has not been met.
Example 3: Ms. Jones has an unexpected accident on August 15.
- Ms. Jones has 90 sick days in her bank.
- She will be out for an extended period of time with no expected return-to-work date.
- Ms. Jones is enrolled in the 180-day waiting period option.
- This benefit provides income replacement for the employee once she has exhausted her sick leave balance and met the 180-day total waiting period.
- How it Works:
- Mid-August (Day 1) is the first day of leave.
- There is a 180-day waiting period where the employee uses her sick leave, and in mid-January the sick leave is exhausted.
- The employee has no income. The sick leave has been exhausted, and the waiting period has not yet been satisfied.
- Mid-February (Day 180) is when disability benefits begin, and the disability benefit is paid until age 65 if the employee continues to remain disabled.
