Long Term Disability: Full-Time Employees

Information for: Full-Time Employees

The Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance Plan is a benefit plan that provides you with long term income protection if you become disabled due to a covered injury, sickness or medical condition.  The monthly benefit amount is equal to a portion of your base salary in effect prior to your date of disability.

FIT offers an LTD Insurance plan through The Hartford.  Your coverage in this Plan is effective the first of the month coincident with or next following your date of hire. 

When enrolling in FIT’s LTD Insurance Plan, you can select from four different LTD coverage options.  The Basic LTD Insurance Plan Coverage Option is provided by FIT to you at no cost.  The benefit amount is equal to 60% of your monthly base salary (to a maximum benefit amount of $6,000 per month).  The benefit is payable to you if you have an approved long term disability (as determined by The Hartford) following a six-month Benefit Elimination (Waiting) Period.  There are also three other coverage options which you can choose from that offer a higher benefit amount and/or shorter Benefit Elimination Period.  These are known as the Enhanced LTD Insurance Plan Coverage Options.  If selected, you contribute towards the cost of an Enhanced Option via post-tax payroll contributions.  Contributions are based on your age and base annual salary.

Please refer to the chart below for a side-by-side comparison of the four LTD Insurance Plan Coverage Options available to you.

Option A

Cost and Benefit Amount
Paid for by FIT 60% of base salary* to a maximum (Basic LTD Option) benefit of $6,000 per month
Benefit Elimination Period
180 days

Option B

Cost and Benefit Amount
Based on age and base salary 60% of base salary* to a maximum amount, paid by employee on benefit of $6,000 per month on an after-tax basis
Benefit Elimination Period
90 days

Option C

Cost and Benefit Amount
Based on age and base salary 70% of base salary* to a maximum amount, paid by employee on benefit of $6,000 per month on an after-tax basis
Benefit Elimination Period
180 days

Option D

Cost and Benefit Amount
Based on age and base salary 70% of base salary* to a maximum amount, paid by employee on benefit of $6,000 per month on an after-tax basis
Benefit Elimination Period
90 days

* Base salary in effect prior to your date of disability.

You must select an LTD Insurance Plan Coverage Option within 31 days of your date of hire.  Costs associated with Options B, C, and D are provided to you during your Benefits Orientation.

Please note that there is a 12-month benefit waiting period for coverage of a disability related to a pre-existing condition for which you received Medical Care in the three (3) months before your coverage effective date.  This pre-existing condition coverage limitation would run concurrent with your Benefit Elimination Period.    

If you should become disabled, you must first complete the Benefit Elimination Period before your LTD Insurance Plan benefits are payable to you by The Hartford, if approved.  During the Benefit Elimination Period, you may receive income from other available sources such as your Sick Leave accruals, Vacation Leave accruals, and/or the Accident and Sickness Disability Plan benefit offered by the UCE of FIT Welfare Trust Fund, if you are enrolled in their benefit plan.  To receive LTD benefits, you must first apply and be approved by The Hartford.  If you are approved for LTD payments, you must first exhaust all your accrued Sick Leave days before The Hartford will make payments to you. 

For complete details about LTD coverage please refer to the Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan Booklet (.pdf).

You also have the opportunity to change your LTD Insurance Plan Coverage Option during the Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period held each November.  Changes made during this period become effective the following January 1st.  If you elect a higher benefit level during this period and you experience a disability caused by, contributed by, or resulting from a pre-existing condition for which you received Medical Care in the three (3) months before your coverage effective date, there is a 12-month waiting period before the higher level of benefit may be payable.  This pre-existing condition coverage limitation would run concurrent with your Benefit Elimination Period.  However, you may be eligible to receive your prior benefit level during the 12-month waiting period.

Provided to you at no cost are The Hartford’s Travel Assistance and Identity Protection Services. 

The Hartford Contact Info:
(Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability)
Group Benefits Division, Customer Service
(800) 523-2233