For purposes of this benefit, a disability is a physical or mental condition that results in you being unable to perform the duties of your occupation.

In order to be eligible for short-term disability benefits, you must be:

• Eligible for benefits under the Active Plan through employer contributions, or self-pay, at the time when your non-work related short-term disability begins, and
• Under the active care of a licensed physician during the entire period of your disability; your physician must certify your condition and limitations.

Benefits are not available to participants who are on continuation coverage under COBRA or the Low Cost Medical Plan.

For work-related disabilities, there is no weekly benefit payable under the Active Plan. You may seek compensation by filing a Workers Compensation claim. However, you may qualify for credit of hours to maintain eligibility for a period of time if you meet the eligibility requirements and file a claim.

• You and your physician are required to complete the Short-Term Disability Claim Form.
• Submit your completed form to the Health Benefits Department for review and processing via:

  
  E-Mail
  disability@carpenterbenefits.org

  
  Fax
  (312) 337-6496

  
  U.S. Mail
  Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Health Fund
  Attn: Disability Processing
  12 E. Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611-2789

Disability Benefits Begin

• For a non-work-related illness, your benefits start on the eighth (8th) day after you first become disabled. However, if your disability relating to an illness extends four (4) weeks or longer, benefits are payable retroactive to the first full day of disability.
• For a non-work-related accidental injury, benefits will start on the first full day of the disability.

Disability Benefits End

• Your disability benefit ends on the last day of the disability period certified by your attending physician;
• When you are no longer eligible for disability benefits;
• You reach a maximum of 52 weeks of benefits; or
• You die.

You may receive your benefits through a paper check mailed to your home or post office box.

In most cases, the short-term disability benefit payments you receive are taxable income. Tax Withholding rules regarding your payments are as follows:

• FICA and Medicare taxes are automatically deducted from your disability pay for the first six months from the date your disability commences; your last employer of record will match these deductions.
• Federal taxes are not deducted from your disability pay unless you request a deduction by submitting a completed IRS Form W-4S to the Health Benefits Department.
• State taxes are not deducted; as such, please seek the guidance of a tax professional.

Periodically, you and your attending physician must complete a Recertification of Short-Term Disability Claim Form to continue to your benefits. You will be notified in advance of the recertification requirement.

An additional disability for the same non-work-related injury or illness occurring within any 12-month period of time of your prior short-term disability claim will be considered as one and the same claim. Benefits extend a maximum of 52 weeks

A new disability claim will only begin if the following two criteria are met:

• The additional disability is due to an accidental non-work-related injury or illness which is unrelated to the previous disability;
• You have returned to work for at least 200 hours of covered employment with one or more employers prior to the onset of the additional disability; and
• You meet the eligibility requirements.

An additional disability unrelated to a previous short-term disability in which you have already collected the maximum 52 weeks of benefit, requires proof that you have recovered from the previous disability and were not disabled for a period of at least 12 consecutive months before you can apply for a new short-term disability benefit.

If you retire under the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Pension Fund, the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Millmen Pension Fund, or other related plan your disability benefits will terminate. You may not receive more than six (6) days of Short-Term Disability benefits in any month in which you receive your first monthly benefit payment under a pension fund. Once you begin receiving a pension benefit, you are no longer eligible to receive any further Short-Term Disability Benefits.