Policy
Disability benefits may be payable from the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) for employees who meet certain eligibility criteria as established by SURS* and while on a leave of absence approved by Human Resources. Human Resources will offer the SURS Disability Application when there is reasonable belief that an employee will be away from work for their own serious health condition for a period of at least 60 calendar days, when the employee is projected to exhaust all payable benefit time prior to their return, and when the employee has sufficient approved leave, paid or unpaid, available to cover the 60-day waiting period required by SURS. SURS Disability Applications must be submitted no later than one year from the onset of the medical condition entitling the employee to disability benefits and requiring the leave of absence.
Human Resources will coordinate the submission of the Employer portion of the SURS Disability Application. The employee is responsible for submitting the Employee and Physician portions of the application. Until such time that an approval for SURS Disability benefits is received, the employee is expected to provide Human Resources with periodic medical information substantiating the continued need for leave.
Employees who are expected to receive SURS Disability payments will be asked to return their keys, credit card, laptop, and any other University property in their possession.
An employee who is approved for SURS Disability payments maintains eligibility for CMS insurance benefits. The employee will be direct billed by CMS for the normal cost of premiums. Failure to remit payment may result in the termination of insurance benefits.
While receiving SURS Disability payments, the employee will be expected to provide SURS with requested medical information. Failure to do so may result in the suspension or termination of SURS Disability benefits and may result in the loss of employment with the University.
Employees who are returning to work following receipt of SURS Disability benefits are required to provide a release to return to work to Human Resources as soon as possible. Human Resources reserves the right to take up to five business days to evaluate releases to return to work for employees who have been on SURS Disability for at least one year or for any time period when returning to work with restrictions.
*Eligibility criteria, benefit calculation and reductions, and other important information related to the SURS Disability benefit may be found on the SURS.org website.