Disability Insurance

Disability Insurance through MMSD is provided by The Standard, a private insurance company. Under certain circumstances, disability insurance provides income continuation while an employee is unable to work due to a disability.  Below is general information about both short-term and long-term disability insurance through the Standard.  Additional resources related to disability insurance can be found on the right.  

Short-Term Disability (100% paid by Employee)

MMSD’s Short-Term Disability (STD) plan provides income continuation for benefits-eligible employees that enroll in the plan and are disabled and unable to work. For STD purposes, a disability means the employee has a medical condition that prevents them from working, including pregnancy or recovering from child birth.  

The STD plan is a voluntary benefit and premiums are paid 100% by the employee. Employees that want this benefit, should select the benefit when first enrolling in insurance. Late enrollment is allowed at any time, but longer benefit waiting periods will apply.

Employees in the teacher group are not eligible to enroll in Short-Term Disability since teachers are eligible to use the Teacher Sick Leave Bank. See Section 10.3 of Addendum A of the Employee Handbook for more information on the Teacher Sick Leave Bank.  

Benefit Waiting Period  

A benefit waiting period is the amount of time an employee must meet the disability criteria before benefits are payable. 

• General Waiting Period:  If you sign up for the STD plan when you are first eligible, the general waiting period applies before benefits are payable. The general waiting period is 14 calendar days. 
• Extended Waiting Period:  For employees that do not sign up for the STD plan when they are first eligible, they can enroll at any time, but will be subject to an extended 60-day waiting period for certain conditions during the first 12 months enrolled.  After the employee is enrolled for 12 months, only the general waiting period applies. 

During the waiting period, employees can use accumulated paid time off benefits (such as Personal Illness or vacation time) to continue their pay or they can take the time off unpaid. 

Benefits

STD benefits are payable to enrolled employees that meet the disability criteria after the applicable waiting period.  Benefits are equal to 66.67% of their prior wages subject to the waiting periods described above.  

Employees receiving STD benefits may supplement their STD payments up to 100% of their prior wages using their accrued paid time off benefits (e.g. vacation and personal illness time).  

Benefits start after the applicable waiting period and end after 75 calendar days or the employee becomes eligible for long-term disability benefits, whichever comes first.   

Submitting a Short-Term Disability Claim

Employees on an approved leave of absence are responsible for submitting an STD claim to The Standard.  For information on filing a short-term disability claim, click on the resource to the right.   

Long-Term Disability (100% paid by MMSD)

MMSD’s long-term disability (LTD) plan provides income continuation for all benefits-eligible employees.  Premiums are paid 100% by the District. Benefit eligible employees are automatically enrolled at no cost when they first become eligible. 

 

Benefit Waiting Period

The LTD plan begins paying benefits after a 75 calendar day waiting period.  During the waiting period, an employee can use accumulated time off benefits (such as Personal Illness and/or Vacation time) to sustain their income or take the time off unpaid.   

Benefits

The LTD plan provides up to 80% income continuation for up to two years if you become disabled and are unable to work in your own occupation. If  you become disabled while employed with the District and are unable to work in any occupation as a result of your disability, you can continue to receive LTD benefits up to 65 years of age, even if you are medically separated from the District.  

Employees on long-term disability benefits may be required to file for Social Security and/or WRS disability benefits and are required to report any income from these sources to the Standard. 

Employees receiving Long-Term Disability benefits may be eligible for a waiver of their health insurance premiums.  Email Benefits at Benefits@madison.k12.wi.us for more information on the health insurance Waiver of Premium benefit for LTD recipients.  

Submitting a Long-Term Disability Claim

Employees on an approved leave of absence are responsible for submitting an LTD claim to The Standard.  For information on filing a long-term disability claim, click on the resource to the right.   

Contact Information

Contact MMSD’s disability insurance carrier, The Standard, at 844-505-6021 to start your claim or speak to a claims adjustor. For additional questions, contact Benefits at benefits@madison.k12.wi.us or at (608) 663-1692.