Short-term disability leave provides benefit-eligible administrative, service and support employees, as well as certain non-regular academic employees as approved by the chancellor and president, a percentage of income replacement for up to 20 weeks within a rolling 12-month period if they are unable to work due to a serious health condition. It is not available to faculty and retirees. 

Find additional information in the HR-309 Short-Term Disability Plan Policy. 

For questions, reach out to the HR Service Center. 

Short-Term Disability Leave Overview

Income Replacement

Provides income replacement during a qualified medical event: 

  • Application and medical documentation required 
  • Runs concurrently with FMLA, which provides job protection 
  • Base Plan covers 60% of the employee’s salary; employees may use available leave to supplement or purchase the optional Buy-Up Plan to cover the remaining 40% of pay

Up to 20 Weeks*

Available up to 800 hours* in a rolling 12-month period: 

  • Used for continuous time off or reduced work schedules with a minimum of one-day increments 

* Hours are prorated for employees working less than 100% FTE 

Elimination Period

Seven calendar days between when a qualifying medical event occurs and when short-term disability benefits begin: 

  • Required for each qualifying medical event for which short-term disability benefits are requested 
  • Must use available leave accruals to cover elimination period 
  • Unless otherwise requested, the standard order for covering the elimination period is banked sick leave (if available), PTO, unpaid leave 

Automatic Base Coverage

Automatically enrolled in the Base Plan at no cost to the employee: 

  • The Base Plan covers 60% of the employee’s salary; no employee premiums are required to use this benefit 
  • Employees may use available leave to supplement their short-term disability to receive income of up to 100%
  • Employees can elect to purchase additional short-term disability coverage, called the Buy-Up Plan, which covers the 40% income replacement not covered by the Base Plan 

Applying for Short-Term Disability Leave

Because short-term disability leave is one of the qualifying leave types — along with caregiver leave and parental leave — employees must first apply to use short-term disability leave. Visit Taking Extended Leave for information on applying, taking and returning from short-term disability leave. 

Please note, a fitness for duty form must be submitted before your first day back at work.