Temporary Disability Plan

If you are sick or injured and unable to work, the Temporary Disability Plan provides weekly income for up to 90 days from the date of your disability. Benefits may begin after you have been disabled and are unable to work for seven consecutive days. The Board of Pensions partners with Lincoln Financial Group to administer these benefits.

Amount of benefits

Generally, your temporary disability benefit is equal to 70% of your salary (up to the IRS annual compensation limit); the benefit is paid weekly. Disability benefits are reduced by income sources such as state-mandated disability benefits and workers' compensation.

These temporary disability benefits may be available for up to the first 90 consecutive days of your disability.

Enrollment

If you participate in the Covenant Package, Congregational Pastors Package, or Transitional Pastor’s Participation, you will automatically be enrolled.

If you do not participate in one of these benefits packages, your employer may:

• automatically enroll you and pay for the coverage, or
  
• offer the benefit for you to elect when you are first eligible or during Annual Enrollment, and you pay the cost
  

Cost

Either you or your employer may pay the full cost for temporary disability benefits coverage. If your employer pays the cost, temporary disability benefits are taxable when they are paid to you. If you pay for the coverage on an after-tax basis, temporary disability benefits are tax-free when they are paid to you.

When benefits begin

Generally, you must apply for temporary disability benefits within 30 days of your first absence from work caused by the disability. Once you apply for temporary disability benefits, if your disability is approved, payments begin after you are out of work for seven consecutive days because of the disability.

When benefits end

Disability benefits end:

• when you are no longer disabled
  
• when you return to work
  
• after you have been disabled for 90 consecutive days
  
• if you do not comply with plan requirements, or
  
• if you die
  

Your temporary disability benefits may also end if you start receiving long-term disability benefits in connection with your disability or when you are no longer eligible for this benefit.

Ongoing review process

Lincoln Financial reviews these benefits periodically during your disability and may ask for documents that verify your continued disability. To continue receiving benefits, you must undergo required evaluations, follow prescribed medical treatment, and provide requested documentation.

Other benefits during disability

A valuable feature of this coverage is that the benefits you have as an active employee through the Board of Pensions will continue during your temporary disability. Your employer will continue to pay dues for the Benefits Plan coverage you were enrolled in when the temporary disability began. You will still be responsible for any contributions to coverage you were making.

Applying for and receiving benefits

You may apply for benefits if you are unable to work for more than seven consecutive days while recovering from an illness or injury as long as a physician certifies your disability.

For a planned absence — for example, elective surgery such as a knee replacement — you may apply up to 30 days before the first day you are absent from work.

To start the application process, call Lincoln Financial at 888-970-2487 or log in to the Lincoln Financial website. The first time you log in, you will need to register using the code: BOARDPEN.

Appeals

If your application for temporary disability benefits is denied or your temporary disability benefits end before 90 consecutive days of disability, you have the right to appeal.