Benefits Plans - Long-Term Disability Plans: Expanded Long-Term Disability -
Definition of Terms

The following terms have special meaning under the Expanded Long-Term Disability Plan.

Actively at work
Actively at work means you are present in the workplace at your regular appointment.  You are not considered “actively at work” if you are absent from the workplace for medical, child care, personal leaves, or for a leave without salary (LOA). 

Base salary
Your normal earnings for the year—not to exceed 2,080 hours. Base salary includes administrative differential and incentive pay. It excludes summer pay for University-year appointees as well as overtime, shift premium, longevity, and non-University earnings.

Benefits eligibility date
The first day of continuous service with an appointment of any percent of effort (including zero percent).

Claims Administrator
The person(s) or firm(s) the University selects to administer claims under this Plan, currently RSKCo and UNUMProvident.

Closed-period award
A sum of money paid to you for a specified retroactive period to resolve a Workers' Compensation petition or claim.

Continuous years of service
The period of employment that begins with your benefit eligibility date and ends with your last day of pay with an eligible appointment. Leaves and reductions in force do not cause a break in your service if you return to work within the specified time frame with an eligible appointment.

Disabled
The University's Claims Administrators have determined, at their sole discretion, that you are completely unable, except during periods of rehabilitative employment, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, to engage in any occupation or employment for wages or profit for which you are reasonably suited by education, training, or experience. The impairment must be expected to result in death or to have lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months from your last day of work. Practicing physicians, view the section Provisions for Practicing Physicians.

Eligible Appointment

• An appointment with fewer than four continuous years of service at 50% or greater effort and lasting at least eight continuous months.
• An appointment after four continuous years of service at 50% or greater effort and lasting at least eight continuous months.
• An appointment after five continuous years of service at less than 50% effort and lasting at least eight continuous months.
• In each case, you must be eligible to enroll in the University's Basic Retirement Plan for the entire period.

Extended sick time

• Non-bargained-for faculty and staff. Extended sick time refers to a University of Michigan program that provides for payment of 100% of your salary during the first six months of your recovery from an illness or injury, and 50% of your salary during the second six months of your recovery—or 100% of your salary during the first year and 50% of your salary during the second year. (See Standard Practice Guide 201.11-0 for staff and 201.11-1 for faculty.)
• Bargained-for staff. Your extended sick time is defined in your contract.

Faculty or staff member
A person in regular, active employment with the University of Michigan.

Medical leave of absence
A medical leave of absence may be granted when a staff member is unable to work because of personal illness or injury, or disability related to pregnancy, and has exhausted all sick and vacation time. (See Standard Practice Guide 201.11, 201.11-2.)

Other disability income
Any benefit and/or lost wages you receive or are entitled to receive from:

• Workers' Compensation. However, if you receive a Worker's Compensation Lump Sum Redemption while you are participating in the Basic or Expanded Long-Term Disability Plan, all cash benefits from the Basic or Expanded Long-Term Disability Plan will be suspended for one month.
• Social Security (including Medicare) disability or retirement programs, including payments to your dependents, regardless of who actually receives the payments because of your disability;
• any other government disability programs;
• any Veterans Administration benefits payable because of your current disability;
• any other public program for any related disability or disability-related retirement benefit to you and your dependents;
• the University's Travel Accident Program or other University benefit plans;
• earned income received as a disability beneficiary under partial disability benefits as a practicing physician.

Note: "Other disability income" does not include earnings from personal savings or benefits from individual disability policies.

Paid Time Off (PTO)
Under this plan, all present and/or future PTO accrual a disability applicant is eligible to receive.

Participant
A University of Michigan faculty or staff member who receives Long-Term Disability benefits.

Plan Administrator
The person or persons authorized by the University to interpret the administration of the Plan. At the present time, the Benefits Office is authorized to interpret the administration of the Plan under the supervision of the University's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Practicing physician
At the University of Michigan, a person licensed to practice medicine in the State of Michigan and who provides patient services at a University medical facility or affiliated hospital and does so immediately prior to the disability as part of any job requirement with the University.

Predisability salary
Your base salary before you were disabled.

PTO
See Paid Time Off

Redemption
A lump-sum settlement of a Workers' Compensation petition or claim related to past, present, and future liability.

Sick pay
All present and/or future sick time (including extended sick time pay) that a disability applicant is eligible to receive. (See Standard Practice Guide 201.11 for staff and 201.11-1 for faculty.)

Statement of Good Health
A form or forms specified by the Claims Administrator that you complete and submit to show the state of your health. This may include information supplied on forms specified by the Claims Administrator and/or an examination by qualified professionals (e.g., physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.).

TTY
TTY is a telecommunications device for hearing- or speech-impaired people. Social Security TTY use is limited to the special toll-free TTY service line at 1-800-325-0778. Voice calls should not be made to the TTY toll-free number, and TTY calls should not be made to other Social Security numbers established for voice callers.

Termination
A faculty or staff member's voluntary or involuntary separation from University of Michigan service.

Vacation Accrual
Under this plan, all present and/or future vacation accrual a disability applicant is eligible to receive. (See Standard Practice Guide 201.64-0 for staff and eligible faculty and 201.64-1 for instructional faculty.)

Waiting period
The period of consecutive days of disability you must wait before this Plan begins paying benefits. The waiting period begins with your last day of work. You must use up any sick time pay (including extended sick time), vacation accrual, and/or PTO accrual before benefit payments begin. And if you have less than four years of service, the Plan will not begin paying benefits until after you have used up any sick time pay (including extended sick time), vacation accrual, and/or PTO accrual; or until you have been totally disabled for six months—whichever occurs later.

Workers' Compensation
The State of Michigan Workers' Compensation Act may provide benefits if you experience a work-related illness or injury.

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