Planning ahead and understanding your benefits can help you feel more prepared for the unexpected.
Short-term and long-term disability insurance benefits can sometimes feel confusing, so it’s our goal to break them down in an easy-to-understand way to help you plan with confidence.
Disability insurance is optional and employer-paid, and it can play an important role in protecting your income during a medical leave of absence when you are unable to work.
Both insurances include a waiting period and are designed to replace a portion of your income — not your full paycheck — after that waiting period.
Short-term disability helps replace income during shorter-term medical absences, such as recovery from surgery, illness or childbirth.
Long-term disability provides income protection if you are unable to work for a longer period of time due to serious illness, injury or disability.
Employees may enroll in one of the two long-term disability options offered by WVU.
Long-term disability is designed to protect your income if you are unable to return to work for an extended period after short-term coverage ends, though enrollment in short-term disability is not required to enroll long-term.
Enrolling or making changes to your disability options can be made during the annual Open Enrollment period, which typically begins in April. Open Enrollment is the only time of year outside of a qualifying life event that you can add or drop most benefits.
Some employees choose only one option, while others may choose both for more complete income protection and added peace of mind. Your decision may depend on factors such as your sick leave balance, financial situation and comfort with risk. Everyone’s situation is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
To help ensure you’re enrolled in the disability coverage that best fits your needs, we encourage you to do the following:
Review your current elections. The easiest way to view your benefits is by reviewing benefit deductions on your pay statement and referencing the benefits on your pay statement chart.
Explore the disability insurances offered in greater detail.
For questions, contact Shared Services at 304-293-6006 or SharedServices@mail.wvu.edu.