SURS Disability
Employees who make contributions to a SURS retirement plan may be eligible for a SURS disability benefit if he or she becomes physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to reasonably perform of the duties of his or her position for at least sixty days.
The disability benefit amount will be the greater of:
- 50% of your basic compensation on the day you became disabled, or
- 50% of your average earning for the 24 months prior to the date you become disabled.
Basic compensation is your normal contract salary; it does not include your earnings for summer sessions or overtime. Your disability benefit is considered income and is subject to federal income taxes. However, disability benefits are not subject to Illinois state income taxes.
Eligibility
The employee must have two years of service credit with SURS to qualify for the benefit. However, some employees may qualify for the disability benefit before accruing two years of credit if the disability is due to an accident. All payable benefits must be exhausted before SURS disability payments may begin.
To apply for a SURS disability, employees must first start the FMLA application process.
For any questions regarding this benefit, please contact your Benefit Counselor in the Office of Human Resources.
Prudential Long Term Disability
Prudential Long Term Disability (LTD) is an optional program available to eligible faculty and staff to supplement income in the event of a disability. Employees may participate in the Prudential Long Term Disability plan in addition to the SURS disability benefit program.
New employees who apply within sixty days of their date of hire only need to complete the Prudential LTD Enrollment form, additional underwriting is not necessary. Employees applying outside of the initial sixty day new hire phase must complete the Enrollment form and the Health Statement Questionnaire.
Please review the Prudential Long Term Disability brochure for further plan information.
