Long Term Disability Leaves

Contact Information

Contact Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial
800-210-0268
Your Account: mylincolnportal.com

Contact Dartmouth

Email:  Disability@Dartmouth.edu
Phone: 603-646-6825

Long Term Disability Policy

Please click here to review the full Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy, which includes additional information not found on this website.

About the Benefit

In the event an employee's disability continues beyond 180 days, they may be eligible for benefits through the long-term disability plan.

For more information about eligibility and enrollment in the benefit, please visit our Long Term Disability Benefit webpage.

Transitioning to Long Term Disability (LTD)

If an employee is out of work on short-term disability, their assigned STD Disability Case Manager (DCM) at Lincoln Financial Group will begin communicating the transition process to LTD benefits, prior to reaching the 180 day elimination period from "date of disability"; around day 77 (week 11) of STD benefits.

(SEIU members should refer to their current contract agreement). 

Duration of LTD Benefits

As long as your disability is medically supported, you are eligible to receive LTD income until you reach the maximum benefit period as outlined below:

• Prior to Age 60 - End of the month in which participant attains the age of 65
• Age 61 but prior to age 65 - 4 years and 6 months from date of benefit commencement
• Age 65 but prior to age 69 - End of the month in which participant attains the age of 70
• Age 69 - 18 months following date of benefit commencement
• On or after age 70 - 12 months following date of benefit commencement
  
  

Your LTD benefit may end prior to your reaching age 65 if any of the following occurs:

• If after the first 30 consecutive months following commencement of the Total Disability it is determined that you are able to engage in any substantial gainful activity that is engaged in by other individuals of similar age, education, training and work experience;
• If you fail to undergo a medical examination, as required by Lincoln Financial;
• If you fail to remain under the care of an appropriate physician or provider and fully cooperate with the physician or provider in the treatment of your disability;
• If you are no longer totally disabled;
• If you become employed by another employer or become engaged in self-employment.
• In the event of your death.

Affect on Other Benefits

• Your current benefit elections will continue and the applicable deductions will continue to be made from your monthly LTD benefit check if eligible or you will receive a bill;
• You will continue to receive Dartmouth's contributions into the retirement plan you were in at the time of your disability leave, which is based on your full LTD benefit prior to any offsets;
• You will have the option to change your health benefit elections annually during open enrollment; no changes may be made to your LTD elected percentage or life insurance benefit once your short-term disability has begun.
• You will also retain your employee privileges at the Dartmouth College Library and at other College events for the duration of your LTD leave.
• LTD participants are not eligible for Staff or Gilman loans.

Tranistioning to SSDI and Medicare & SSDI

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

As part of your LTD leave benefit you are required to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). It will be your responsibility to provide a copy of your SSDI approval or denial to us, as well as Lincoln Financial, as soon as you receive it.

Should you be awarded a SSDI benefit, you may receive a payment for an earlier period of time (retroactive for past benefits). If your SSDI award includes benefits for an earlier period of time, this results in an overpayment. This overpayment is due to receiving income from SSDI for the same period of time that Dartmouth paid you a monthly LTD benefit that was not reduced by the SSDI award amount. In the event of an overpayment, it will be your responsibility to repay Dartmouth within 30 days of you being notified of this overpayment.

Medicare

Most LTD claimants become eligible for Medicare after two years on disability and are required to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B as primary medical insurance coverage. Dartmouth offers a Medicare gap plan through Cigna Health, to help supplement Medicare Part A & Part B Plans. The Dartmouth College Medicare Supplement plan (DCMS) is available for disabled employees. The cost of the DCMS Plan will be based on your employment status at the time of disability. While on LTD, you will also continue to receive a medical credit toward the cost of your eligible dependents. Family members under age 65 will continue to be eligible to participate in Dartmouth's medical plans; as offered. Family members who are Medicare eligible may also enroll in the DCMS Plan as a secondary payer to Medicare.

Should you become eligible for Medicare you will need to elect both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage. There is a separate cost for Medicare Part B.  You will not need to elect Medicare Part D coverage as you will be automatically enrolled in the Medicare Part D plan through Express Scripts, when you enroll in the DCMS plan. Once approved for Medicare, please contact the Benefits Department to provide a copy of your Medicare ID card for enrollment into the DCMS Plan.