Voluntary Short Term Disability

The Research Foundation offers eligible employees the option to purchase additional short-term disability coverage, beyond those provided by the New York State Disability Benefits Law (DBL).  The insurer is First Reliance Standard Life (for claims on or after 1/1/25).

• You pay the full cost of this benefit. See the Enrollment Kit for an illustration of cost based on salary (rates subject to change).
• You may purchase a weekly benefit in $100 increments not to exceed the lesser of $2,000 or 60 percent of salary.
• Your benefit is offset by the benefits provided by New York State Disability (DBL), but the benefit will never be less than $25 per week.
• You can receive benefits up to a maximum of 26 weeks. 

Eligibility

An employee working at least 50 percent of full time on a regular appointment and whose annual salary is at least $15,000 is eligible to enroll in the plan. 

If you enroll for the plan when you are first eligible to do so, you are guaranteed coverage without medical examinations or questions, and you will not be subject to any pre-existing condition exclusions.

For additional information, please refer to your Benefits Handbook. 

Enrollment

You may enroll via Employee Self Service (www.rfsuny.org/selfservice) during your initial 60 days of eligible employment. Enrollment at any other time must be done by submitting a completed Benefits Enrollment form and Voluntary Short-Term Disability Enrollment Form to your campus Benefits Office.