Your ability to earn an income may be your most valuable asset. Your family's lifestyle, your home, your children's education and your retirement may all hinge on your ability to work and earn an income. What if you suddenly became too sick or hurt to work, how would you continue your lifestyle? Without an income, years of hard-earned savings could evaporate in a matter of months, even weeks. That's why your association wants to help you to protect your income and your family's financial security with Disability Income Protection insurance.
You are eligible if:
You may select a monthly benefit amount from $500 to $3,000 in $100 increments. Benefits you will be paid cannot exceed 66 2/3% of your basic monthly pay when combined with all other Income Benefits you are entitled to from any other source. See the Reduction of Benefits Section.
Benefits are not payable for any time during the 12 month waiting period. Once the 12 month waiting period has been satisfied, benefits for a total disability which begins prior to age 61 are payable to age 65. However, if your disability begins between ages 61 and 69, the following schedule applies. Monthly benefits will be paid up to the maximum benefit period shown. The benefit period will end on the date you fail to give the required proof of continuing total or partial disability, your total or partial disability ends , the maximum benefit period ends, or you die.
Basic Monthly Pay is the monthly rate of pay from your employer. The rate will be that in effect on the day before total disability begins. Basic monthly pay does not include overtime pay, bonuses, or other extra compensation.
During the waiting period and next 24 months, total disability means the inability to perform the material duties of your regular occupation that you were performing on the day before total disability begins. Once benefits are paid for 24 months, total disability means the inability to perform the material duties of any gainful job for which you are reasonably fit by training, education or experience. You need not be confined to a hospital or your home, but you must be under a doctor's regular care to receive benefits.
Total Disability means one that continuously disables you so that you are unable to perform the material duties of your regular occupation for the first 24 months following the 12 month disability waiting period. Once benefits are paid for 24 months, total disability means the complete inability to perform the material duties of any gainful job for which you are reasonably fit by training, education or experience. You need not be confined to a hospital or your home, but you must be under a doctors regular care to receive benefits and must not be working at a gainful occupation.
Partial Disability means one that you cannot perform the material duties of your regular occupation but you are able to perform at least one of these duties on a part-time basis or at least one but not all of these duties on a full-time basis. Your regular occupation is the job you were performing on the day before disability began. Partial disability benefits are payable only if you are earning less than 80% of your basic monthly pay at the time partial disability employment begins. To be considered partially disabled, you must be under the regular care of a physician. Partial disability must begin within 31 days after a period of total disability for which monthly benefits are payable and must be a result of the injury or sickness that caused the total disability. The monthly benefit amount for partial disability is your monthly benefit for total disability less the wages you earn while partially disabled.
Successive periods of total disability from the same or related causes, will be considered one period of total disability, unless separated by at least 6 continuous months or more of active employment or due to entirely unrelated causes.
Once you qualify for total disability you will not be required to pay any premiums for the Long Term Disability coverage while you are receiving benefits. Once the disability ends and you return to full-time work, you may keep the coverage in force by resuming premium payments.
Once you have received benefits under the plan for one disability, coverage will automatically terminate once the benefits are exhausted. Additional injuries or sickness contracted during the disability will not extend the coverage beyond the benefit duration. You may reapply for coverage, once you have returned to active employment for at least 30 days.
If you are totally or partially disabled for at least 90 consecutive days and die while receiving benefits for such disability, an amount equal to 2 times your last monthly benefit will be paid to your spouse or children.
A maximum of 12 monthly payments will be paid while under this plan for all disabilities resulting from, or caused by self-reported symptoms or musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders of the neck and back as described in your group certificate.
If disability is due to alcoholism, drug addiction or a mental, nervous or emotional disorder, or any combination of these, a maximum of 12 monthly benefits will be paid while such disability continues. Limited benefits may be paid beyond this 12 month period if you are confined in a hospital on the last day of the month for which the 12th monthly benefit is to be paid, but no beyond the maximum benefit period or the date you are discharged from the hospital.
The amount of monthly benefit selected is the maximum benefit you will receive under the group policy. The benefit will be reduced by any other benefits you are entitled to receive that month from:
In no event will the monthly benefit paid under the group policy exceed 66 2/3% of your basic monthly salary or be less than $100.
Disabilities are not covered if they result from: war or acts of war; intentionally self-inflicted injuries, committing a crime or an attempt to do so; pregnancy (complications of pregnancy will be covered) or any impairment or disease specifically excluded from the insured's coverage.
Pre-existing condition limitations are defined as an injury or sickness for which a person incurred charges, received medical treatment, consulted a physician or took prescribed drugs within 12 months prior to the date his or her insurance took effect. Disabilities resulting from pre-existing conditions are not covered under this plan until the person has not incurred charges, received medical treatment, consulted a physician or taken prescribed drugs for such conditions, or any complication of it for 12 continuous months or the person stays insured under the plan for 24 continuous months.
All coverage is subject to approval by New York Life. Once approved your coverage will become effective on the first payday the premium is deducted from your paycheck. You must be actively at work on that day, otherwise coverage is effective the day you return to full-time work.
Your Long Term Disability protection is renewable through age 70 provided the group policy remains in force. Earlier termination can only occur if (1) you fail to pay the required premium when due (2) you retire or cease to be actively engaged in full time employment of at least 20 hours per week in your profession for reasons other than total disability (3) your disability benefits have been paid for the maximum benefit period, or (4) you are no longer a Member of APWU.
Once insured, you will receive a Certificate of Insurance evidencing coverage which is provided under Group Policy G-29315-2/Face (Policy form GMR)
The validity of any amount of insurance which has been in force for two years during the insured’s life will not be contested except for non-payment of premium contributions.
Future benefits are subject to change by agreement between New York Life and the group policyholder. Rates can be changed by New York Life on any premium due date and on any date in which benefits are changed.
Once you receive your certificate of insurance, if you're not 100% satisfied within the first 30 days, we'll send you a full refund of any premiums paid during that period and your certificate will be considered never issued. You will be under no further obligation.
Call the following toll-free number
Please Note: You must notify the Voluntary Benefits Plan of any address change, employment status change, change in union membership status, life status change (i.e., marriage, divorce, beneficiary or name change) or benefit changes requested. Notice must be in writing.
The Voluntary Benefits Plan P.O. Box 12009 Cheshire, CT 06410
Phone: 1-800-422-4492 Fax: 1-203-754-7847
This is a summary of the benefits available under the Group Insurance Policy issued ot the Voluntary Benefits Plan Trust (underwritten by New York Life). For specific provisions please refer to your Certificate of Insurance.
New York Life Insurance Company 51 Madison Ave New York, NY 10010
Licensed Agent: David B. Hudon. Connecticut State License #396975
To find out more about your member benefits today, click here.