Unfortunately, you have been diagnosed with a serious illness. The following outlines what do you need to do to ensure that your health and job needs are addressed. See the Work-Related Injury page if you have been injured at work.
Definition of Serious Illness
A serious health condition is defined as an illness, injury, impairment, or physical/mental condition that meets any one of the following:Involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility, including any period of incapacity or any subsequent treatment in connection with such inpatient care.
Continuing treatment by a health care provider that consists of a period of incapacity for more than three consecutive days that also involves treatment two or more times by a health care provider, or treatment at least once by a health care provider which results in a regimen of continuing treatment.
Periods of incapacity related to pregnancy and childbirth, including prenatal care.
Chronic conditions-episodic incapacity (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy), permanent/long-term conditions (e.g. Alzheimer's, terminal cancer), or multiple treatments (e.g. chemotherapy, dialysis).
Contact Integrated Disability if you are off work for more than five days due to illness (beyond normal colds, flu, etc.). You may be eligible to apply for a disability benefit.
Family and Medical Leave (FML)
If you have been employed by the university for one year, and have worked 1040 hours in the past 12 months, you are eligible for Family and Medical Leave (FML). FML provides eligible faculty and staff with up to 12 work weeks (480 hours) of leave due to serious illness. FML should be taken as paid sick leave as appropriate. If the sick leave balances are insufficient, FML may also be taken as leave without pay, vacation time, or compensatory time. Use of vacation leave or comp time is at the discretion of the employee and subject to departmental approval. Twelve weeks of FML may be taken all at once, intermittently, or on a reduced-leave schedule as approved. Intermittent leave may be taken hourly, daily, or at weekly intervals. Arrangements for intermittent leave must be coordinated with your department. Your health benefits will be maintained during your leave.To apply for FML, first make sure you understand your benefits and responsibilities. You can review policies 6.05 (Family and Medical Leave), 6.27 (Paid Leave Programs), and 6.45 (Unpaid Leave) for detailed information and contact the Office of Human Resources, Consulting Services, for consultation. Give your department verbal notice as soon as possible. Then, complete and submit an Application for Leave Form and a Medical Certification Statement for Leave Form to your department at least 30 days prior to your leave date, if forseeable. See the Continuing Benefits While on Leave booklet for more information.
Benefits/Compensation While You Are Disabled and Unable to Work
The university pays for your Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage, which compensates you beginning on the 91st day after the illness begins (with an approved claim). You may also have chosen to purchase Select-Term Disability (STD) coverage, which begins on calendar day 31 and is payable up to two months (with an approved claim). Note that there is no health care benefit associated with the Long-Term Disability coverage.Filing for Disability
Contact Integrated Disability for help in filing all of the paperwork needed to obtain disability or workers' compensation benefits.Returning to Work
Integrated Disability has a Transitional Work Program that assists you in returning to work if you have medical restrictions following an injury/illness.Terminal Illness Life Insurance Benefit
If you are eligible for Group Term Life Insurance, you have a Terminal Illness Life Insurance Benefit. When diagnosed with a terminal illness (defined as a life expectancy of 12 months or less), you can receive early payment of 50% of your eligible life insurance benefit, to a maximum of $50,000. If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, contact the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center immediately to apply for this benefit. When death occurs, the remaining life insurance benefit amount will be paid to the designated beneficiary(ies).Employee Assistance Program (UFSAP)
Dealing with a serious illness can be stressful in many ways. The University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program offers free, confidential, professional counseling and referral services to help you and your family with any issues that may arise during your illness.Social Security
Contact the Social Security Administration for information on disability benefits that may be available to you if you have worked in social security-eligible positions.Contact Information
For assistance, please contact the Office of Human Resources, Integrated Disability, or the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center.NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, contact the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center, refer to benefit plan booklets, or visit the Policy web site.
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