Federal Short-Term Disability
Federal short-term disability is for federal employees. You are one of the hardest-working, dedicated employees in the country. You work long hours and have little time for yourself. But what happens if a short-term injury prevents you from working? Could you afford your living expenses until you could return to work?
The good news is that federal employees are eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per calendar year. This leave is called FMLA, or Family and Medical Leave Act. It applies to any situation when you need time off due to illness or injury, including pregnancy and childbirth, caring for a family member with a disease or injury, and your own mental health needs.
Federal employees may also be eligible for workers’ compensation if a work-related accident causes an injury. Read on to learn how federal short-term disability works for federal employees.
Get short-term disability coverage.
Requesting leave
If you are a federal employee and need to take time off due to an on-the-job injury, you should first contact your supervisor and discuss your options. Also, you need to provide evidence, such as a sick note from your doctor. Your supervisor will notify you if you receive approval for short-term disability.
If your request is denied, a letter will explain why and allow you to appeal. Contact your nearest federal employee management representative if you have any questions about filing an approved leave request or appealing a denied application.
Your Income During a Short-Term Disability
Postal service workers injured on the job are eligible for short-term disability insurance through the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA). The coverage is available for up to 45 days. In addition, full-time employees can receive four hours of pay for loss of income each pay period. This amount is paid by the Postal Service even if there is no income earned due to sick leave use.
Postal workers do not have short-term disability insurance if something happens off the job. Therefore, The Postal Service does not offer short-term disability insurance for its employees in this instance. But, if you are a postal worker, you can still protect yourself by purchasing individual short-term disability insurance privately.
Health Care Benefits During Your Leave
You will still have coverage through the Federal employee’s health care plan during your approved absence. In addition, if you have a spouse, they may be eligible for their employer’s health care coverage during this time.
Returning to Work
After your approved absence, you may be eligible to return to work. To return, you must provide your supervisor with notice at least five business days before the date you intend to resume duties.
You also must provide medical evidence supporting your readiness for duty and state what type of duty assignment is appropriate. Your supervisor will determine whether or not it is safe and reasonable for you to return to work based on this information, staffing needs, and operational requirements.
Protect Your Income During a Short-Term Disability
Federal workers do not have any short-term disability protection. That means your income will be zero if you are injured or become ill off the job and cannot work while you recover. In addition, while waiting for unemployment benefits, you could go into debt that takes months or years to repay.
Short-term disability insurance helps cover a portion of your income after an injury or illness. But your federal agency does not automatically provide this coverage as a benefit. So instead, take your finances into your own hands by proactively enrolling in affordable federal employee Disability Coverage.