How State Paid Family Medical Leave Interacts with Employer Short-Term Disability Programs
Understanding the complex world of employer-provided benefits is not an easy task, let alone understanding how these benefits can work alongside new State Medical Leave Programs. This article provides insight into the interaction between employer’s existing Short Term Disability (STD) policies and State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) programs in the USA, specifically in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine.
Short-term disability insurance provides partial income replacement for employees incapable of doing their jobs due to illness or injury. On the other hand, PFML programs provide employees with partial pay benefits during leaves of absence, which can be due to the employee’s serious health condition, the serious health conditions of a family member, and some other reasons.
There’s a significant distinction in PFML and STD benefits. While PFML provides income replacement along with job security during leave, STD benefits only provide income replacement. To get STD benefits, an employee requires another form of leave to be granted. Moreover, STD benefits might be available for a longer period than PFML benefits.
As state PFML programs and STD policy eligibility are different, there may be situations when an employee qualifies for only one of these. Also, the employee might exhaust one benefit before the other. STD and PFML benefits are typically not concurrent. To continue receiving STD benefits after PFML benefits are exhausted, the employee must obtain another form of leave from work.
Employers can simplify the medical leave benefit process by offering combination PFML-STD policies. Some states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine, have a process that allows employers to provide a private PFML program to their employees. Sponsoring a single medical benefits policy can reduce employer costs and lessen administrative burdens.
Seeking help from reliable sources such as eddcaller.com can assist employers and employees in understanding these policies better, and how they can be availed. For further clarification on how to contact EDD, or any questions regarding these benefits, do visit the website. It offers detailed information and support for all questions and concerns regarding EDD.