Disability Benefits
Disability benefits replace part of your income if an injury or illness prevents you from working. Your disability must be medically certified and you must file a claim with the disability administrator to collect benefits. California state law requires that all employees be provided with disability benefit insurance.
New employees are automatically enrolled in the USC Basic Disability Plan, which mirrors the California State Disability plan. After 12 months of active employment, new or rehired employees also are eligible for the USC Supplemental Disability Plan. Both the Basic and Supplemental Plans require an employee contribution. The Supplemental Plan provides for payment of a higher percentage of your pay for a period up to 52 weeks. In addition, USC pays for long-term disability benefits for all employees enrolled in the Supplemental Disability Plan. You can decide to join the California State Disability Plan instead of the university's disability plans.
Who's eligible?
All employees are eligible for the USC Basic Disability Plan or the state plan. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff only are eligible for the USC Supplemental Disability Plan.
Cost
You pay for the Basic and Supplemental plans through payroll reduction (in pretax dollars). The State of California determines what the Basic Plan rate will be by setting the rate for the state disability insurance. USC determines what the supplemental rate will be. The rates are subject to change at anytime.
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| Disability Benefit Payments |
| Disability Plan |
Benefit amount |
Duration |
| USC Basic Disability Plan |
70% of gross pay up to a maximum of $1,168 per week |
52 weeks |
| USC Supplemental Disability Plan |
100% of gross pay |
One week for each year of employment up to a maximum of 10 weeks |
| 80% of gross pay |
For remainder of 52 weeks |
| USC Long Term Disability Plan |
70% of gross pay |
Until age 65 or death |
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What do I need to do?
New employees are automatically enrolled in the USC Basic Disability Plan. At New Employee Orientation, you can complete the enrollment forms for the USC Supplemental Disability Plan to be effective after 12 months of active employment (There is a pre-existing condition clause in the plan.) You also can choose to decline enrollment in the USC disability plans and enroll in the California State Disability Plan. Contact the USC Disability Office for information and forms to complete.
If you have a disabling illness or injury, you should first notify your supervisor and home department coordinator. To file a claim for benefits, participants in the USC disability plans must call the university's disability administrator (Sedgwick CMS) at (800) 495-2315 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Or you can file a claim online by going to www.vpainc.com and clicking on "Benefits" and then on "file a Claim Online." Participants in the California State Disability Plan must contact the California Employment Development Department nearest their home.
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| Enroll |
Coverage starts |
Change or cancel |
| Automatically enrolled in USC Basic Plan. Complete enrollment forms for USC Supplemental Plan at Orientation |
Basic Plan coverage begins on first day of employment. Supplemental Plan coverage begins on first of the month after 12 months of active employment and completion of enrollment forms. |
During open enrollment or within 30 days of a status change |
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When can I make changes?
You can change your disability plan during open enrollment or within 30 days of a status change.
Questions?
More information about USC disability plans is available online at capsnet.usc.edu/DIS/Index.cfm or by calling the USC Disability Office at (213) 740-5875.
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