No short term disability in federal government

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just went to the Aflac website, where it says short term disability insurance is available through worksite payroll deduction only.

WHERE IS EVERYONE BUYING PRIVATE SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE?

Ask your financial planner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of confusion here between the leave bank and the voluntary leave transfer program. If you are a member of the leave bank (simply by donating one pay period's worth of annual leave per year), you just fill out a form and can get 480 hours, I believe, of sick leave. You do not have to beg anyone for it. Now the voluntary leave transfer program is different.

I am now a federal employee of 30 years and came down with mono during my first year. I had to use advanced sick leave and it took me many years to make that up. I immediately joined the leave bank after that and have stayed ever since. I've never had to use it, but I know its there if I need it. Even when I was a new employee without any annual leave, I was happy to donate 4 hours per year to make things easier for anyone else who had a situation like I had.

Np. Not all agencies have the leave bank. My large Department does not. Dh’s does however. We can still transfer hours to other employees.

I really believe op is being disingenuous. I have quite a few coworkers who were out with cancer or major issues and were able to come back after 12 weeks. Employers worked with them and accommodates them.

One of my coworkers got disability retirement when they couldn’t return to work.

[Anonymous]

Could someone please post the name of a company through which LTD and STD insurance are available? Not AFLAC, because your employer has to offer that. Has anyone used FedAdvantage or WAEPA?

[Anonymous]

And responding to 8:03 - my husband was treated for a brain tumor in his 30s and was out for 18 months. Thank God this was when he was at a firm and had good long term disability, because we would have been financially ruined.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Yes there is STD available to feds, but of course you had to buy into it before. It’s actually a great option that wasn’t available decades ago.

I’m sorry you’re in this situation but you can’t blame the employer. They’ve been as lenient as they can be.

Can you go back remote or part time?

A great option? It is incredibly expensive due to adverse selection. The only people that buy it are people that are pretty sure they're going to use it.

Short-term disability really should be part of the standard compensation package that is subsidized by employers. In the case of federal employees, I think the problem is that there are a lot of long-time employees with very large sick leave banks. They don't need short-term disability. But younger people do.

I agree, but many Gov branches (Fed, State, Local) are 50 years behind in their approach to providing appropriate benefits. Many school systems do not offer disability benefits either or the waiting period is a month long.

These orgs are still relying on sick leave to provide coverage for employees when they are ill. That may have been a good idea in the 1960s when many women quit work once they got married or became pregnant. Men died after their heart attack. And most people retired around 50 after working for 30 years.

I don't know PP. I guess you can always ask for more but, personally, I think govt' benefits' been more than fair and incredibly generous to its workers. But, yes, you can still ask for more if you feel not enough.

Do you really think not providing disability benefits is “incredibly generous”? Do you know that it can take months to recover from a stroke?

Well, that's why you have SL and AL. Even new workers get 1 day (4 SL and 4AL) every week. I think that's incredibly generous. If not enough, you can always leave.

Every OTHER week. That is not incredibly generous these days. It should be the bare minimum. Many feds have sought employment with the government because they are willing to trade the salaries of private industry for job security and decent benefits.

Yes every other week. We all understood the benefits before we signed up. The job security and decent benefits (mostly) have not changed. Again, you can always leave if you feel privates offer you better. It’s just never enough with some people.

The PP I responded to obviously doesn’t understand the benefits because they thought feds get 4 hours of annual leave every week. I am not a fed but I do think every job should offer the opportunity to purchase short and long term disability insurance. The safety net in this country is so tenuous, the least we can do is have an easy way to BUY some peace of mind.

Ok, so that was my typo and i corrected two posts down. I am not a pro-govt fed but, from benefits perspective, govt benefits are very generous. Try to keep in mind your benefits are not limited to AL and SL. Do you think private sectors allow you to take Social Security at 57 (i.e., Special Supplement which you can take until 62), health benefits for life (yours and your spouses)? pension that equates to more than a million dollars easy? I think some of you guys are just being unreasonable and frankly greedy.

And we make a lot less than our private sector counterparts. If you think having a federal job is such a great deal, then get one! Like it or not, “generous” federal benefits help to push private industry to offer more. Just remember if you get a sweet federal job, you will also have to deal with continual angst about shutdowns and furloughs, plus put up with a lifetime of criticism from people like you who think feds are greedy and lazy.

I am a long-time fed and even I think you are being greedy and (possibly) lazy. If you don't like it so much, why stay? I don't get you people. Shutdowns and furloughs are noneverminds. Empty theater.

I love my fed job. I was responding to someone who was botching about how good federal benefits are. They should get a federal job if they are so envious. Just be prepared to find your own STD. We pay 100/month for my policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just went to the Aflac website, where it says short term disability insurance is available through worksite payroll deduction only.

WHERE IS EVERYONE BUYING PRIVATE SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE?

Guardian is widely regarded as offering the best coverage for white collar workers. In particular they offer up to 24 months for mental illness, whereas other carries have much more limited mental illness coverage if any at all. Read the details carefully. Employer policies are inadequate for most people. They pay too small a percentage of your income, sometimes have taxable benefits, and have weak protections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to the Aflac website, where it says short term disability insurance is available through worksite payroll deduction only.

WHERE IS EVERYONE BUYING PRIVATE SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE?

I have a policy from The Standard.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to the Aflac website, where it says short term disability insurance is available through worksite payroll deduction only.

WHERE IS EVERYONE BUYING PRIVATE SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE?

Guardian is widely regarded as offering the best coverage for white collar workers. In particular they offer up to 24 months for mental illness, whereas other carries have much more limited mental illness coverage if any at all. Read the details carefully. Employer policies are inadequate for most people. They pay too small a percentage of your income, sometimes have taxable benefits, and have weak protections.

Did you buy from Guardian directly or go through a broker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of confusion here between the leave bank and the voluntary leave transfer program. If you are a member of the leave bank (simply by donating one pay period's worth of annual leave per year), you just fill out a form and can get 480 hours, I believe, of sick leave. You do not have to beg anyone for it. Now the voluntary leave transfer program is different.

I am now a federal employee of 30 years and came down with mono during my first year. I had to use advanced sick leave and it took me many years to make that up. I immediately joined the leave bank after that and have stayed ever since. I've never had to use it, but I know its there if I need it. Even when I was a new employee without any annual leave, I was happy to donate 4 hours per year to make things easier for anyone else who had a situation like I had.

Np. Not all agencies have the leave bank. My large Department does not. Dh’s does however. We can still transfer hours to other employees.

I really believe op is being disingenuous. I have quite a few coworkers who were out with cancer or major issues and were able to come back after 12 weeks. Employers worked with them and accommodates them.

One of my coworkers got disability retirement when they couldn’t return to work.

This is OP. Which part do you think I’m being disingenuous about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of confusion here between the leave bank and the voluntary leave transfer program. If you are a member of the leave bank (simply by donating one pay period's worth of annual leave per year), you just fill out a form and can get 480 hours, I believe, of sick leave. You do not have to beg anyone for it. Now the voluntary leave transfer program is different.

I am now a federal employee of 30 years and came down with mono during my first year. I had to use advanced sick leave and it took me many years to make that up. I immediately joined the leave bank after that and have stayed ever since. I've never had to use it, but I know its there if I need it. Even when I was a new employee without any annual leave, I was happy to donate 4 hours per year to make things easier for anyone else who had a situation like I had.

Np. Not all agencies have the leave bank. My large Department does not. Dh’s does however. We can still transfer hours to other employees.

I really believe op is being disingenuous. I have quite a few coworkers who were out with cancer or major issues and were able to come back after 12 weeks. Employers worked with them and accommodates them.

One of my coworkers got disability retirement when they couldn’t return to work.

This is OP again. It takes 12-18 months from when you apply to when you get a decision on disability retirement. (I don’t need disability retirement. I’m just offering these details to help everyone understand the system for federal employees.) Once you meet the criteria to qualify, which includes not being able to work for more than 12 months, even with accommodations, then you apply, and you wait 12-18 months for a decision. So you need to have at least 12-18 months of income, and probably more than that because it’s probably not immediately obvious that you need disability retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of confusion here between the leave bank and the voluntary leave transfer program. If you are a member of the leave bank (simply by donating one pay period's worth of annual leave per year), you just fill out a form and can get 480 hours, I believe, of sick leave. You do not have to beg anyone for it. Now the voluntary leave transfer program is different.

I am now a federal employee of 30 years and came down with mono during my first year. I had to use advanced sick leave and it took me many years to make that up. I immediately joined the leave bank after that and have stayed ever since. I've never had to use it, but I know its there if I need it. Even when I was a new employee without any annual leave, I was happy to donate 4 hours per year to make things easier for anyone else who had a situation like I had.

Np. Not all agencies have the leave bank. My large Department does not. Dh’s does however. We can still transfer hours to other employees.

I really believe op is being disingenuous. I have quite a few coworkers who were out with cancer or major issues and were able to come back after 12 weeks. Employers worked with them and accommodates them.

One of my coworkers got disability retirement when they couldn’t return to work.

This is OP again. It takes 12-18 months from when you apply to when you get a decision on disability retirement. (I don’t need disability retirement. I’m just offering these details to help everyone understand the system for federal employees.) Once you meet the criteria to qualify, which includes not being able to work for more than 12 months, even with accommodations, then you apply, and you wait 12-18 months for a decision. So you need to have at least 12-18 months of income, and probably more than that because it’s probably not immediately obvious that you need disability retirement.

This isn’t true. My coworker just went through it and it was 3-6 months (not sure when she actually got approved. She was in her 50s and had <5 years to live with a terminal diagnosis. She was fully paid by her leave and donations prior.

What is your specific illness op? Why is more than 12 weeks needed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there is STD available to feds, but of course you had to buy into it before. It’s actually a great option that wasn’t available decades ago.

I’m sorry you’re in this situation but you can’t blame the employer. They’ve been as lenient as they can be.

Can you go back remote or part time?

A great option? It is incredibly expensive due to adverse selection. The only people that buy it are people that are pretty sure they're going to use it.

Short-term disability really should be part of the standard compensation package that is subsidized by employers. In the case of federal employees, I think the problem is that there are a lot of long-time employees with very large sick leave banks. They don't need short-term disability. But younger people do.

I agree, but many Gov branches (Fed, State, Local) are 50 years behind in their approach to providing appropriate benefits. Many school systems do not offer disability benefits either or the waiting period is a month long.

These orgs are still relying on sick leave to provide coverage for employees when they are ill. That may have been a good idea in the 1960s when many women quit work once they got married or became pregnant. Men died after their heart attack. And most people retired around 50 after working for 30 years.

I don't know PP. I guess you can always ask for more but, personally, I think govt' benefits' been more than fair and incredibly generous to its workers. But, yes, you can still ask for more if you feel not enough.

Do you really think not providing disability benefits is “incredibly generous”? Do you know that it can take months to recover from a stroke?

Well, that's why you have SL and AL. Even new workers get 1 day (4 SL and 4AL) every week. I think that's incredibly generous. If not enough, you can always leave.

Every OTHER week. That is not incredibly generous these days. It should be the bare minimum. Many feds have sought employment with the government because they are willing to trade the salaries of private industry for job security and decent benefits.

Yes every other week. We all understood the benefits before we signed up. The job security and decent benefits (mostly) have not changed. Again, you can always leave if you feel privates offer you better. It’s just never enough with some people.

The PP I responded to obviously doesn’t understand the benefits because they thought feds get 4 hours of annual leave every week. I am not a fed but I do think every job should offer the opportunity to purchase short and long term disability insurance. The safety net in this country is so tenuous, the least we can do is have an easy way to BUY some peace of mind.

Ok, so that was my typo and i corrected two posts down. I am not a pro-govt fed but, from benefits perspective, govt benefits are very generous. Try to keep in mind your benefits are not limited to AL and SL. Do you think private sectors allow you to take Social Security at 57 (i.e., Special Supplement which you can take until 62), health benefits for life (yours and your spouses)? pension that equates to more than a million dollars easy? I think some of you guys are just being unreasonable and frankly greedy.

And we make a lot less than our private sector counterparts. If you think having a federal job is such a great deal, then get one! Like it or not, “generous” federal benefits help to push private industry to offer more. Just remember if you get a sweet federal job, you will also have to deal with continual angst about shutdowns and furloughs, plus put up with a lifetime of criticism from people like you who think feds are greedy and lazy.

I am a long-time fed and even I think you are being greedy and (possibly) lazy. If you don't like it so much, why stay? I don't get you people. Shutdowns and furloughs are noneverminds. Empty theater.

I love my fed job. I was responding to someone who was botching about how good federal benefits are. They should get a federal job if they are so envious. Just be prepared to find your own STD. We pay 100/month for my policy.

I am certain that PP was a fed. More appreciative fed but, nevertheless, a fed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to the Aflac website, where it says short term disability insurance is available through worksite payroll deduction only.

WHERE IS EVERYONE BUYING PRIVATE SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE?

Guardian is widely regarded as offering the best coverage for white collar workers. In particular they offer up to 24 months for mental illness, whereas other carries have much more limited mental illness coverage if any at all. Read the details carefully. Employer policies are inadequate for most people. They pay too small a percentage of your income, sometimes have taxable benefits, and have weak protections.

Did you buy from Guardian directly or go through a broker?

Through a broker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went to the Aflac website, where it says short term disability insurance is available through worksite payroll deduction only.

WHERE IS EVERYONE BUYING PRIVATE SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE?

Guardian is widely regarded as offering the best coverage for white collar workers. In particular they offer up to 24 months for mental illness, whereas other carries have much more limited mental illness coverage if any at all. Read the details carefully. Employer policies are inadequate for most people. They pay too small a percentage of your income, sometimes have taxable benefits, and have weak protections.

Did you buy from Guardian directly or go through a broker?

Through a broker.

Can you recommend your broker, please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of confusion here between the leave bank and the voluntary leave transfer program. If you are a member of the leave bank (simply by donating one pay period's worth of annual leave per year), you just fill out a form and can get 480 hours, I believe, of sick leave. You do not have to beg anyone for it. Now the voluntary leave transfer program is different.

I am now a federal employee of 30 years and came down with mono during my first year. I had to use advanced sick leave and it took me many years to make that up. I immediately joined the leave bank after that and have stayed ever since. I've never had to use it, but I know its there if I need it. Even when I was a new employee without any annual leave, I was happy to donate 4 hours per year to make things easier for anyone else who had a situation like I had.

Np. Not all agencies have the leave bank. My large Department does not. Dh’s does however. We can still transfer hours to other employees.

I really believe op is being disingenuous. I have quite a few coworkers who were out with cancer or major issues and were able to come back after 12 weeks. Employers worked with them and accommodates them.

One of my coworkers got disability retirement when they couldn’t return to work.

This is OP again. It takes 12-18 months from when you apply to when you get a decision on disability retirement. (I don’t need disability retirement. I’m just offering these details to help everyone understand the system for federal employees.) Once you meet the criteria to qualify, which includes not being able to work for more than 12 months, even with accommodations, then you apply, and you wait 12-18 months for a decision. So you need to have at least 12-18 months of income, and probably more than that because it’s probably not immediately obvious that you need disability retirement.

This isn’t true. My coworker just went through it and it was 3-6 months (not sure when she actually got approved. She was in her 50s and had <5 years to live with a terminal diagnosis. She was fully paid by her leave and donations prior.

What is your specific illness op? Why is more than 12 weeks needed?

This is OP. HR told me 12-18 months. This might differ based on how backed up OPM is in making disability retirement decisions, or maybe there is a fast track for terminal diagnoses. I don't know. Or maybe the person I spoke to in HR was incorrect, which is a whole separate problem. It's very hard to navigate all of this, especially when you're sick.