SUNY RF Benefits » Life Events » Disability

If you need to use either short-term or long-term disability benefits, you should also review the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Disability sections of this Web site.

Short Term Disability

Health Plan

For the period of time you receive income replacement through New York State Disability insurance for a non-work-related illness or injury, the RF will continue the benefits in effect at the time of your disability.

If you currently receive income replacement through Workers’ Compensation for a total disability caused by a work-related illness or injury sustained during RF employment, the RF will continue the benefits in effect at the time of your disability, either for the period of the total disability, or up to age 65, whichever comes first.

At age 65, you will be eligible to continue your health insurance coverage as a retiree if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Dental Plan

At age 65, you will be eligible to continue your dental insurance coverage as a retiree if you meet the eligibility criteria. Otherwise, you will be able to continue your dental coverage for the balance of the 18 months under COBRA, starting from the later of when your disability began or the end of your FMLA leave.

Vision Care Plan

If your coverage ends at age 65 while you are totally disabled, you will be eligible to continue your vision insurance coverage for the balance of the 18 months under COBRA, starting from the later of when your disability began or the end of your FMLA leave.

Basic Life Insurance

Basic Life and AD&D Insurance coverage in effect at the time of your disability will continue as long as you remain totally disabled and are collecting New York State Disability, Workers’ Compensation, Long-Term Disability, or Social Security Disability benefits.

Coverage is subject to the following limits. If you become disabled:

Before age 60, coverage ends at age 65.
At or after age 60, but before age 65, coverage ends after five years.
Between (and including) ages 65 and 68, coverage ends at age 70.
Age 69 or older, coverage ends after one year.

Optional Life Insurance

If you are eligible, you may continue Optional Life and AD&D Insurance coverage in effect at the time of your disability for the remainder of the disability provided you pay the full premium to the RF. The age limitations shown under Basic Life Insurance coverage continuation above, also apply to Optional Life Insurance.

Long Term Disability

Health Plan - Full-time Employees

If your disability extends beyond 180 days and you qualified for Long-Term Disability benefits before you became disabled, you are eligible to apply for benefits under the Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan, insured by The Standard.

If you are receiving Long-Term Disability payments, the benefits in effect at the time you became disabled will continue under the same terms and conditions that apply to active employees.

Based on your date of employment, coverage continues as outlined in the continuing benefits section of the Benefits Handbook or Postdoctoral Employee Benefits Handbook.

Dental Plan - Full-time Employees

If you are receiving Long-Term Disability payments, the benefits in effect at the time you became disabled will continue under the same terms and conditions that apply to active employees.

Based on your date of employment, coverage continues as outlined in the continuing benefits section of the Benefits Handbook or Postdoctoral Employee Benefits Handbook.

Vision Care Plan - Full-time Employees

If you are receiving Long-Term Disability payments, the benefits in effect at the time you became disabled will continue under the same terms and conditions that apply to active employees.

Based on your date of employment, coverage continues as outlined in the continuing benefits section of the Benefits Handbook or Postdoctoral Employee Benefits Handbook.

Basic Life Insurance

Coverage is subject to the following limits. If you become disabled:

Before age 60, coverage ends at age 65.
At or after age 60, but before age 65, coverage ends after five years.
Between (and including) ages 65 and 68, coverage ends at age 70.
Age 69 or older, coverage ends after one year.

Optional Life Insurance

The age limitations shown under Basic Life Insurance coverage continuation above, also apply to Optional Life Insurance.

Basic Retirement

If you are vested in the RF Basic Retirement Plan when you become totally disabled, The Standard will continue contributions to your annuity contract at the same rate as before the disability based on your annual salary at the time of your disability.

Contributions continue for as long as you receive Long-Term Disability benefits. You may change your allocation at any time by calling TIAA directly.

If you are not yet a vested member of the Basic Retirement Plan at the time your disability begins, contributions to your retirement account will not continue while you are receiving Long-Term Disability benefits.