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UC Riverside
Human Resources

Helping employees maximize their potential

UC Disability Benefits

Information About UC Disability Benefits

UC Paid Basic Disability

UC Paid Basic Disability provides income replacement of up to 55% of your eligible monthly earnings, with a maximum benefit of $800 per month. The benefit period lasts up to six months and includes a 14-day waiting period before benefits begin. You must use up to 22 days of available sick leave before receiving disability benefits. UC pays the full cost of Basic Disability coverage, and eligible employees are automatically enrolled. Basic Disability income is generally taxable.

Types of Disability

UC offers Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Voluntary Long-Term Disability, or a combination of both. Voluntary disability coverage can replace up to 60% of your eligible earnings, with a maximum benefit of $15,000 per month. You pay the premiums for voluntary coverage.

Short Term Disability 

The benefit period lasts up to six months and includes a 14-day waiting period before benefits begin. You must use up to 22 days of available sick leave before receiving benefits.

Long Term Disability

Benefits begin after six months of disability and may continue, until your Social Security retirement age for most conditions.

Short & Long Term Disability 

Coverage begins after the 14-day waiting period and may continue until your Social Security retirement age for most conditions. You must use up to 22 days of available sick leave before benefits begin. Choosing both plans provides the most comprehensive disability coverage.

How to Enroll

Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in UC Paid Basic Disability Insurance. Newly hired employees have a 31-day Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE) to enroll in employee-paid Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Voluntary Long-Term Disability, or both.. After your PIE ends, you may apply for voluntary coverage by submitting an Evidence of Insurability application to the insurance provider. You may not qualify for coverage.

Applying for Disability

Using the Premium Estimator

Premium Estimator

To use the Premium Estimator, you will need the following information:

  • Date of birth
  • Annual eligible earnings, based on your percentage appointment.
    • Example: if you have a 50 percent FTE appointment with an annual salary of $80,000, your annual eligible earnings would be $40,000.
  • Whether you were hired on or after July 1, 2013, or are in a position that is not eligible for the UC Retirement Plan
  • Eligible earnings do not include pay such as stipends, shift differentials, overtime, agreement payments, compensation for extension teaching and summer salary (academics only).

Premium costs depend on your monthly salary, age and the level of coverage you choose (short-term, long-term or both).

Understanding Your Disability Benefits

Information About Disability Benefits

  • You must be under a doctor's continuous care.
  • You must meet the applicable definition of disability for Basic, Voluntary Short-Term, or Voluntary Long-Term Disability benefits.
  • Basic Disability and Voluntary Short-Term Disability have a 14-day waiting period before benefits begin. You must use up to 22 days of available sick leave before receiving benefits.
    • Voluntary Long-Term Disability benefits may be limited for certain conditions diagnosed or treated during the 90 days before your initial enrollment if your disability leave begins within one year after enrollment. Review the current UC disability plan information for complete details.;
  • Mental illness and substance abuse-related benefits are generally limited to a 24-month lifetime maximum under Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance.
  • If you receive disability benefits from workers' compensation, California State Disability Insurance (SDI), Social Security, the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP), or another source, those benefits will be coordinated with your Basic and/or Voluntary Disability benefits. In most cases, combined disability benefits from all sources can provide a maximum of 60% of your eligible earnings, with a $15,000 maximum monthly benefit.
  • UC does not participate in California State Disability Insurance (SDI). However, employees who have worked for UC for fewer than 18 months may have residual SDI benefits based on previous employment. Employees with possible residual SDI eligibility should follow the applicable UC and California claim instructions when applying for disability benefits.
  • Employees are required to apply for SDI who have worked less than 18 months at UC when applying for disability benefits through Lincoln Financial Group.