The employer is responsible for providing the employee with an LTD Employee Claim Packet in a timely manner. An Employee should be sent the Long-Term Disability (LTD) employee claim packet after they have been approved for a full-time/intermittent Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), full-time/intermittent Medical Leave based on a medical condition for themselves, unable to work due to sickness or injury, or working limited duty. Limited duty means the employee has not been performing the usual duties of their occupation due to restrictions or limitations requested by their physician.
Employer representatives must log in to access the secure employer section of the website to download Employee and Employer LTD Claim Packets.
Does the Employer have to terminate an Employee when the Employee is approved for LTD benefit payments?
No. Many employees are able to return to work after they have recovered from their disability. The Employer may allow an Employee to return to a reduced work schedule without impacting the Employee’s LTD claim. Each case must be reviewed on its own merit. The Employee, Employer, and Broadspire Disability Benefit Specialist will review the circumstances to achieve the appropriate outcome.
What happens if you terminate the Employee or ask the Employee to resign?
The Employee’s resignation or termination will not impact the Employee’s LTD claim or the processing of the LTD claim. If the Employee is no longer employed when they start the application process, they may be eligible as long as they were an active contributing ASRS member as of the potential date of disability. If the LTD claim is approved and the Employee begins receiving LTD benefit payments, they will continue to accrue ASRS service credit towards their retirement.
If the Employee has been terminated, should the Employer still provide the LTD claim packet to the Employee?
Yes. The Employee will need to obtain the claim packet from their last Employer. The Employer should follow the regular process for sending, tracking, and submitting the Employee and Employer claim packets.
Should an Employee apply for LTD if she/he has been approved for Workers’ Compensation benefits?
Yes. Workers’ Compensation does not disqualify the Employee from LTD benefits.
If the Employee needs to reduce their work hours due to a medical condition, are they eligible for LTD benefits?
Yes. The definition of disability states that an Employee is disabled if they are medically unable to perform one or more duties of their occupation. An Employee who is working reduced hours, working intermittently, or performing only limited job functions under the advice of an Attending Physician may qualify LTD.
What if an employee is or has been working intermittently or in a modified/limited duty position due to an approved FMLA/medical leave for a medical condition?
An Employee who is or has been working intermittently due to an approved FMLA or medical leave for a medical condition, working a modified or limited duty full-time schedule, and/or working a part-time schedule may apply for LTD. Limited duty is defined as being unable to perform the usual duties of the occupation as medically substantiated by an Attending Physician. If an Employee is or has been working an intermittent, modified, or limited duty work schedule during or after the six-month elimination period, the Employer must provide copies of payroll records, time sheets, or absence reports to Broadspire to assist in determining the date of disability and to reduce any eligible earnings from the Employee’s LTD benefit payments.
Is the Employer required to include the Attending Physician’s Statement of Patient Disability when the claim packets are submitted to Broadspire?
If the Employee has not yet not submitted the completed Attending Physician’s Statement form, but has submitted all other forms, do not wait to submit the claim packets to Broadspire. The Employer may submit the Attending Physician’s Statement form separately at a later date. However, the Employee’s claim will not be reviewed until all documents are received by Broadspire.
How does the Employer get access to the “Active Claimants” report?
The Employer’s ASRS website administrators will access the “Maintain Employer User” link to update the LTD roles for the Employer. ASRS will send updates to Broadspire on the last business day of each week. The Employer’s LTD Associate will then receive registration information to access the Broadspire portal online system and begin receiving the monthly activity reports via email.
How does the Employer check the status of an Employee’s claim?
The Employer’s LTD Associate may access the Broadspire Portal, contact Broadspire Customer Service, or contact the Broadspire Disability Benefit Specialist assigned to the Employee’s claim. If the Broadspire Customer Service Representative is unable to locate the Employee’s claim, this may mean that Broadspire has not yet received the claim information and the claim has not yet been initiated.
How long does it take to process a claim?
Typically, the process takes approximately 60 days or less; however, each case must be reviewed on its own merits. Once a claim is received, Broadspire will contact the Employer and the Employee by email or phone to communicate the status of the Employee’s claim.
Is the Employee eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits and also receive LTD benefits?
Yes. The Employee may receive benefit payments from both Social Security Disability and ASRS LTD; however, a percentage of the Employee’s Social Security Disability benefit payments will be used to reduce the Employee’s ASRS LTD benefit. For more information on this plan provision, please contact Broadspire Customer Service.
Is the Employee able to receive retirement benefit payments and LTD benefit payments at the same time?
No. If an Employee is receiving LTD benefit payments and then applies for retirement through the ASRS, the Employee’s LTD benefit payments will cease.
Is the Employee permitted to work during the six-month elimination period?
Yes. The Employee may work intermittently or on limited duty during the six-month elimination period, if approved by an Attending Physician.
