Long Term Disability for Active Employees

Overview

Long term disability coverage is an insurance plan to provide income for long-term illnesses and injuries.

Employees in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)

Employees contributing to the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) have their Long-Term Disability coverage through a program sponsored by ASRS.
The cost of this program is shared between the employee and the retirement system.
This program provides income replacement on a long-term basis when an employee is unable to work.
The benefit for ASRS members pays 66.67% of the employee's base wages, less any other income received, including Social Security disability benefits and any income received from workers' compensation.
There is a minimum benefit payable of $50 per month.
Your application for long-term disability is an indication to the City of Mesa that you intend to medically retire because you are unable to work. This means you will no longer be an active employee but rather, a medical retiree upon approval by the carrier.
- If for some reason you are not approved and are retirement eligible, you may elect to immediately file for retirement.
- If you are not eligible to retire, your employment with Mesa will be terminated under Personnel Rules Section 510, B 14 and Personnel Rules Section 910 D "Failure to maintain minimum standards, licenses or qualifications required for any position", and "This application shall be treated as the resignation from city employment upon decision from the provider".
Applying for Social Security Benefits may be a requirement from the carrier. The carrier will offset 85% of Social Security Benefits from your monthly benefit.

There is a 6-month waiting period before an employee is eligible to receive benefits under this plan.

The waiting period begins on the first day the employee is unable to perform all essential job duties of the job held when they became disabled.
During this waiting period, the carrier will determine whether or not the employee is eligible for benefits under the plan.
Once approved, the Long-Term Disability benefit/payment will be sent directly to the employee.
The definition of Total Disability changes after two years of receiving benefits. In order to continue receiving benefits after the first two years, the employee must be unable to perform any work for which employee is reasonably qualified by education, training, or experience.
Benefits are payable until the date you no longer meet the definition of total disability as determined by the carrier, when you become eligible to convert to a normal retirement as determined by ASRS, if you are no longer under the care of a licensed physician, if you refuse to go to an Independent Medical Exam when directed by the carrier, or if you withdraw your contributions from ASRS.
You may also be eligible to apply for Premium Waiver on your current Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance coverage amounts by completing the Life Insurance Premium Waiver application. If approved, you may continue coverage without paying premiums for a period of time after you medically retire.

If Premium Waiver is denied, you may be given the option to Convert or Port your existing coverage at your own expense. For additional information please review the Conversion and Portability Privileges portion of the Life Insurance section.

Life Insurance Premium Waiver and Conversion & Portability Privileges

Premium Waiver Application Form(PDF, 1MB)

You may also be eligible to apply for Premium Waiver on your current Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance coverage amounts by completing the Life Insurance Premium Waiver application. If approved, you may continue coverage without paying premiums for a period of time after you medically retire.

If Premium Waiver is denied, you may be given the option to Convert or Port your existing coverage at your own expense. For additional information please review the Conversion and Portability Privileges portion of the Life Insurance section.

How do ASRS employees file for LTD benefits:

Read the brochure from ASRS(PDF, 323KB) which provides detailed long-term disability information and review our Employee Benefits highlight sheet(PDF, 126KB) .
Discuss with your physician your limitations and if he/she feels you can no longer perform your essential job duties.
Call or email Employee Benefits to request and go over the LTD Application (480-644-2299 or benefits.info@mesaaz.gov)

Employees in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) and Elected Official Retirement System (EORS)

Certificate for Police and Fire(PDF, 251KB)

Certificate for Elected Officials
(PDF, 250KB)

We provide an employer paid and insured long-term disability benefit for its sworn Firefighters, Police Officers and Elected Officials.

Please note this is a separate benefit from the Public Safety disability retirement benefits (ordinary, temporary, and accidental). Public Safety and Elected Officials medical retirement information and retirement applications are handled in the City Clerk's Office.

The insured benefits will be offset (reduced) by PSPRS or EORS medical retirement benefits that are received.

The program provides partial income replacement on a long-term basis when an employee is unable to work due to a disability.
The monthly benefit for Public Safety and Elected Official employees is 60% of the first $8,333 of his/her base wages, less any other income the employee may receive, including (but not limited to) Public Safety or Elected Official Retirement disability pension and any income received from workers' compensation.
There is a minimum benefit payable of $100 per month (unless over-payment recovery applies).
There is a maximum benefit payable of $5,000 per month.
Maximum benefit period is normal retirement age (65), unless date of disability commenced at age 60 or greater, in which case maximum benefit period will be to a maximum of 60 months at age 60, 48 months at age 61, 42 months at age 62, 36 months at age 63, 30 months at age 64, 24 months at age 65, 21 months at age 66, 18 months at age 67, 15 months at age 68 and 12 months at age 69 or over.

There is a 180 day (6 month) waiting period before an employee is eligible to receive benefits under this plan.

The waiting period begins on the first day the employee is no longer able to perform all essential job duties of the job they held at the time they became disabled.
During this waiting period if a claim is filed, the carrier will determine whether or not the employee is eligible for benefits under the plan.
Once approved, the Long-Term Disability benefit will be sent directly to the employee from the carrier.
The definition of Total Disability changes after two years of benefits. In order to continue receiving benefits after the first two years, the employee must be "unable to perform all material duties of ANY occupation for which the employee is or may reasonably become qualified, based upon the employee's education, training or experience".