Disability and Paid Family Leave
How Disability Benefit Payments Work
| Disability Plan | Benefit amount | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| USC Basic | 70% of weekly gross pay up to a maximum determined by USC | maximum of 52 weeks |
| USC Supplemental | 100% of weekly gross pay | One week for each year of employment up to a maximum of 10 weeks |
| 80% of weekly gross pay | For remainder of 52 weeks | |
| USC Long Term | 70% of monthly gross pay | Until age 65 |
Maximum Duration Of Benefit
| Age at Onset of Disability | Duration of Benefits |
|---|---|
| 61 or younger | Attainment of age 65 |
| 62 but not yet 63 | 3 years and 6 months |
| 63 but not yet 65 | 3 years |
| 64 but not yet 65 | 2 years and 6 months |
| 65 but not yet 66 | 2 years |
| 66 but not yet 67 | 1 year and 9 months |
| 67 but not yet 68 | 1 year and 6 months |
| 68 but not yet 69 | 1 year and 3 months |
| 69 or older | 1 year |
Disability
California state law requires that all employees be provided with disability benefit insurance. Disability benefits replace part of your income if an injury or illness prevents you from working.
New employees are automatically enrolled in the USC Basic Disability Plan, which mirrors the California State Disability plan. You also can choose to decline enrollment in the USC plan and enroll in the state disability plan instead—forms are available at capsnet.usc.edu or from the USC Disability Office. Either way, your coverage begins the first day of employment.
After 12 months of full-time, active employment, benefits-eligible employees are also eligible for the USC Supplemental Disability Plan. The Supplemental Plan provides benefits at a higher percentage of your pay for a period up to 52 weeks. In addition, USC pays for long-term disability for all employees enrolled in the Supplemental Disability Plan. You can enroll in Supplemental Disability on eTrac.
Both the Basic and Supplemental Plans require an employee contribution, which is paid through payroll reduction (in pre-tax dollars). The state determines the annual state rate. USC determines the annual basic and supplemental rate. All rates are subject to change at any time.
You can change your disability plan during open enrollment.
If you have a disabling illness or injury, 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 6am and 4:45pm Pacific time. Participants in the state disability plan must contact the California Employment Development Department nearest their home. Your disability must be medically certified and you must file a claim with the disability administrator to collect benefits.
Questions? More information about USC disability plans is available at capsnet.usc.edu/DIS/Index.cfm or by calling the USC Disability Office at (213) 740-5875.
Paid Family Leave
Paid Family Leave (PFL) insurance is a state-mandated program that that provides compensation for a period of up to six weeks (after a seven-day waiting period) for individuals who take time off of work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or domestic partner (as defined by Section 297 of the California Family Code), or to bond with a new child due to birth, adoption, or foster care placement. By law, all employees participate in the program and are automatically enrolled the first day of employment; your contribution to PFL is included in your contribution to USC's Basic Disability Plan. The state determines the annual rate and benefit amounts.
If you need time off to care for a seriously ill family member or bond with a new child (subject to the definitions above), first notify your supervisor and home department coordinator. To file a claim, call Sedgwick CMS at (800) 495-2315 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Pacific time. Your claim for benefits will be taken over the phone. The disability of the seriously ill relative must be medically certified and you must file a claim with the plan administrator to collect benefits. The benefit payments are limited to six weeks in any 12-month period and will not be paid if you are receiving disability, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation or wages.
More information about PFL is available by calling the USC Disability Office at (213) 740-5875, or at capsnet.usc.edu/paidfamilyleave/index.cfm. The website helps explain how benefits under PFL relate to unpaid leave and job protection in relation to the federal Family Care Medical Leave and state California Family Rights Act.