Disability Salary Continuation Plans

Disability Benefits

Disability benefits include:

  • Short-term disability benefit provided by the State
  • Long-term disability benefit provided by the State
  • Supplemental disability, which can be purchased from:
    • Liberty Mutual if you participate in TSERS retirement
      or
    • The Standard if you participate in the ORP retirement

Short-Term Disability – State Plan

Permanent employees working 75% time or more are covered under the North Carolina Disability Income Plan for short term disability at no cost after one year of membership in Teachers' & State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) or the Optional Retirement Program (ORP).

  • Benefits are equal to 50% of your annual base rate of compensation up to a maximum of $3,000/month
  • Short Term Disability is payable for a period not to exceed 365 days
  • There is a 60-day waiting period before benefits become payable.
  • Information on this program can be found in the N.C. Teachers and State Employees Retirement handbook.

Long-Term Disability – State Plan

  • Permanent employees working 75% time or more are covered under the Long Term disability plan at no cost after five years of participation in TSERS or ORP.
  • Benefits are equal to 65% of your annual base rate of compensation up to a maximum of $3,900/month.
  • If approved, the benefit continues as long as you remain permanently disabled and until you qualify for an unreduced service retirement
  • Information on this program can be found in the N.C. Teachers and State Employees Retirement handbook.

Supplemental Disability for Employees Participating in TSERS

Employees are encouraged to consider enrolling in a voluntary supplemental disability plan to provide disability coverage during the period you are not eligible for the state's short-term or long-term disability benefit (less than 1 year participation in TSERS), and to provide additional benefits after reaching eligibility.

  • Eligibility: Permanent employees regularly scheduled to work 75% time or more and participating in TSERS are eligible to enroll.
  • Carrier: Liberty Mutual
  • Benefit: 66 2/3% of your gross monthly salary up to $10,000, coordinated with certain other benefits.
  • Waiting Period before Benefits begin: 90 days
  • Rates: Your monthly premium for supplemental disability coverage is equal to your monthly salary mulitiplied by 0.00233.
    For example: Monthly base of $4,000 x 0.00233 = $9.32 monthly premium cost
  • Enrollment: If you do not enroll within 60 days of employment and choose to enroll at a later time, you will have to furnish evidence of insurability that is satisfactory to Liberty Mutual.
  • For more information contact your Human Resources benefits counselor at 828-262-3187 and see Supplemental Disability Information.

Supplemental Disability for Employees Participating in ORP

Employees are encouraged to consider enrolling in a voluntary supplemental disability plan to provide disability coverage during the period you are not eligible for the state's short-term or long-term disability benefit (less than 1 year participation in ORP), and to provide additional benefits after reaching eligibility.

  • Eligibility: Permanent employees regularly scheduled to work 75% time or more and participating in ORP are eligible to enroll.
  • Carrier: The Standard
  • Benefit: 66 2/3% of your monthly gross salary up to $10,000 and continued contributions of both the employer and employee ORP contribution amount deposited into your ORP account on your behalf.
  • Coverage: Provides replacement income while you are ineligible for the State's Disability Income Plan and supplements the State's plan when you are eligible.
  • Waiting Period before Benefits begin: 90 days
  • Rates: Monthly premiums are based on salary and a rate factor of .00209.
    For example: Monthly base of $4000 x .00209 = $8.36 per month.
  • Enrollment: If you do not enroll within 60 days of employment and choose to enroll at a later time, you will have to furnish evidence of insurability that is satisfactory to The Standard.
  • For addition information contact your HR benefits counselor at 828-262-3187 or see "The Standard" at Supplemental Disability Information.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is general in nature. Applicable laws and regulations are complex and subject to change. Information on this website cannot alter, modify, or otherwise change the controlling documents of any plan. For legal and tax advice employees should consult an attorney or tax adviser.