Disability Insurance

The state offers short-term disability and long-term disability insurance to full-time central state government, state higher education and state offline agency employees through MetLife.

Disability insurance helps cover your living expenses by protecting a portion of your pre-disability income lost due to sickness, pregnancy or as a direct result of accidental injury. All parental leave, sick leave, annual leave and comp time must be used before benefits are payable.   

The following is 2024 disability benefits information.

Members pay the full monthly premium for short-term disability insurance coverage. The state pays the full monthly premium for long-term disability insurance option 3 for eligible central state government and state higher education employees. Eligible central state government and state higher education employees will pay the full monthly premium if they choose to enroll in long-term disability insurance options 1, 2 and 4. State offline agency employees should consult with their agency benefits coordinator about premiums.

For central state government and state higher education employees, member paid premiums for long-term disability options 1, 2 or 4 adjust as of Oct. 1 each year if your salary is greater on Sept. 1 compared to the prior Sept. 1., or if you move into a higher age bracket.

For state offline agency employees, premiums adjust for long-term disability options 1, 2, 3 or 4 as of Oct. 1 each year if your salary is greater on Sept. 1 compared to the prior Sept. 1, or if you move into a higher age bracket.

• For a helpful list of responses to frequently asked questions, you can view this page: State Disability FAQ

Short-Term Disability: Replaces a portion of your income during a disability, which could last up to 26 weeks. Two coverage options are available for you to voluntarily select if desired. Employees pay the full monthly premium if enrollment is selected. Click here to see premium rates.

• Pick the benefit in Edison you want under STD.
• Action Required: Answers to medical questions will not be required if enrolling within 30 days of initial eligibility. After 30 days, application for enrollment during the annual enrollment period or other authorized time period will require completion of a MetLife Statement of Health form, and your application will be subject to review and approval by MetLife based on their underwriting rules for insurability.
• Find answers to frequently asked questions here, including information about disability due to pregnancy.

Long-Term Disability: Replaces a portion of your income during a disability that is expected to last longer than 90-180 days. Four coverage options are available. Click here to calculate rates.

• Eligible central state government and state higher education employees will be automatically enrolled in long-term disability option 3, and the state will pay 100% of the premiums. This does not apply to employees of state offline agencies.
• Employees who use this benefit will receive 63% of their monthly salary*, up to $10,000 per month, following a 90-day waiting period.
  • *The maximum covered monthly salary is $15,873.02.
• Eligible central state government and state higher education employees hired after Jan. 1, 2024, will be automatically enrolled into long-term disability option 3 in Edison for coverage effective on the first day of the month following the completion of one full calendar month of employment. This is guaranteed issue coverage, and employees won’t have to answer medical questions.
• The coverage for central state government and state higher education employees cannot be waived because it is 100% employer paid.
• For central state government and state higher education employees, long-term disability coverage options 1, 2 and 4 are also available, but employees are responsible for 100% of the premium.
• For central state government and state higher education employees, benefits received from long-term disability option 3 are considered taxable income and will appear on your W-2 because the premiums are paid by your employer. Benefits received from short-term disability or long-term disability options 1, 2 or 4 are not taxable income because premium payments are deducted post tax and paid by the employee.
• Employees off work on a long-term disability claim as of Dec. 31, 2023, will continue under that claim. Eligible central state government and state higher education employees will automatically be enrolled in long-term disability option 3 when they return to work.
• Time enrolled in state or higher education long-term disability plans prior to Jan. 1, 2024, will count toward the pre-existing exclusion of the long-term disability option 3 provided to employees on Jan. 1, 2024.
• For eligible state offline agency newly hired employees, you may choose to enroll in options 1, 2, 3 or 4 during your first 30 days of becoming eligible for enrollment without answering medical questions. After 30 days, application for enrollment during the annual enrollment period or other authorized time period will require completion of a MetLife Statement of Health form, and your application will be subject to review and approval by MetLife based on their underwriting rules for insurability. Premiums will be paid by the employees. Employees of state offline agencies should consult with their agency benefits coordinator regarding premiums.

 Why is Having Disability Insurance Important?

If you are unable to work due to sickness, pregnancy or as a direct result of accidental injury, disability insurance can help you pay your most important expenses. These include:

• Mortgage or rent
• Car payments
• Food
• Child care
• Tuition
• Utilities

Important Information if You’re Thinking About Applying to Enroll in Coverage:

• You must use all your accrued leave (parental leave, sick, annual and compensatory time) before your disability payments begin.
• Benefits payable during the benefit period may be reduced by other sources of income, such as worker's compensation, unemployment insurance and sick leave bank. See the certificate of coverage for a comprehensive list of other sources of income which may reduce the short-term and/or long-term disability benefit.

The state group insurance long-term and short-term disability insurance plans are managed by MetLife. Please call the MetLife state of Tennessee dedicated customer service line with questions: 855.700.8001, Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT or visit https://www.metlife.com/stateoftn/