| When dealing with a disability, people often think only of | | | | then 80% income replacement for the remainder of |
| permanent and total disability or long-term disability. | | | | the approved STD period. |
| Usually, employee’s time off have three levels, | | | | If you select the STD additional benefit, the 100% - |
| namely: | | | | 80% STD income replacement is not payable under |
| • sick leave for the person needing a few days off | | | | California workers’ compensation laws. |
| • short term disability (STD) for brief periods of | | | | In case of an industrial injury or illness, a maximum of |
| disability for one or more weeks | | | | 70% STD income replacement will be due to an |
| • long-term disability (LTD) for extended periods of | | | | individual. The STD waiting period will stay equal to the |
| disability | | | | amount of waiting period days you elected in either the |
| The County of Los Angeles provides STD Plan that | | | | core or additional benefit. |
| offers income replacement to ill, injured or pregnant | | | | Waiting Period Defined |
| County employees. In case a dispute ensues under the | | | | Most Short Term Disability plans do not start paying |
| plan, Short Term disability lawyers must be consulted. | | | | until the employee has been absent for one week or |
| According to the latest US Census, about 12% of the | | | | until the sick leave has expired – whichever comes |
| working age population of Los Angeles had some | | | | first. |
| type of disability. Approximately 42% of those | | | | The waiting period begins on the “first day of |
| reporting disabilities are employed compared to 74% | | | | disability, as certified by your health care practitioner, |
| of those without a disability. | | | | and ends the date you are entitled to receive STD |
| Short Term Disability Defined | | | | payments”. |
| Disability, under STD, means that the condition | | | | A “day” for purposes of the waiting period, is |
| prevents an individual to perform regular and | | | | considered a “calendar day”. This includes |
| customary job duties, or modified job duties, as a | | | | weekends, holidays, and any other regular day off. |
| County employee. This definition considers the | | | | You are not entitled to STD payments during the |
| following factors: | | | | waiting period. |
| 1. The severity of medical condition | | | | Duration of Benefits |
| 2. The kind of work performed | | | | If approved by the Third Party Administrator (TPA), |
| 3. The duration of disability | | | | STD benefits may carry on for up to 182 calendar |
| 4. The type of work capable of performing | | | | days from the first day of disability without any work |
| Short Term Disability Benefits | | | | pay. |
| Employers pay a portion of their employees’ salary | | | | The duration of a disability depends on the |
| between the time sick leave is exhausted and | | | | circumstances as determined by the TPA, based on |
| long-term disability starts. | | | | medical information received from your health care |
| The typical benefit is between 50% and 75% of | | | | practitioner. |
| salary. Some larger employers will pay 100% of the | | | | STD Payments in Los Angeles County |
| salary based on length of service before reducing the | | | | STD payments are paid by the County of Los |
| benefit to a lesser percentage. | | | | Angeles, not the TPA. |
| The payment is usually a percentage of gross weekly | | | | Under the Plan, STD benefits are never paid for the |
| salary without bonuses, commissions or overtime that | | | | following: |
| will be specified in the plan document. | | | | • Injuries sustained upon commission of a felony; |
| How to Receive STD Benefits | | | | • War Injuries; |
| To reap the benefits under the STD Plan, one must be | | | | • Injuries inflicted upon oneself; or |
| enrolled to it. During enrollment, the prospective | | | | • When a disability is not acceptable by prevailing |
| employees must choose between the two benefits, | | | | medical facts and medication, as determined by the |
| namely: | | | | TPA |
| • Core benefit which is a 14-day waiting period | | | | Residents of LA County may now enjoy benefits |
| followed by 70% income replacement; or | | | | whenever a short-term injury occurs. Just consult your |
| • Additional benefit which is a 7-day waiting period | | | | short-term disability lawyer for guidance and you are |
| followed by 100% income replacement for 21 days, | | | | ready to file your claim. |