More About the LTD Plan
The LTD Plan also provides additional benefits as described below.
A worksite modification might be what is needed to allow you to perform the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation with the Company. At your option, one of the plan's designated professionals will assist you and the Company to identify a modification the plan administrator agrees is likely to help you remain at work or return to work. This agreement will be in writing and must be signed by you, the Company, and the plan administrator.
When this occurs, the plan administrator will reimburse you for the cost of the modification up to the greater of $1,000 or the equivalent of 2 months of your monthly benefit. This benefit is available to you on a one-time-only basis.
If you are eligible for and choose to participate in a qualified rehabilitation program, the plan will pay for the cost of the program.
You are eligible to participate if you are disabled, and you are, or may become, entitled to benefits under this coverage for that disability. If you are eligible to participate, either the plan administrator will propose a program or you may propose a program that meets all of these criteria:
- It is reasonably necessary to provide you with the opportunity to return to work
- After being in such a program, you can reasonably be expected to support yourself
- It has an anticipated completion date and is developed and implemented by a qualified rehabilitation specialist who has been selected by the plan administrator or you
- The cost of the program is reasonable in relation to the gross disability payment which is or may be provided
The qualified rehabilitation program may include, but is not limited to, the following services:
- Coordination with the Company to assist you to return to work
- Evaluation of adaptive equipment to allow you to work
- Child care during your qualified rehabilitation program
- Vocational evaluation to determine how your disability may impact your employment options
- Job placement services
- Resume preparation
- Job seeking skills training
- Retraining for a new occupation
- Assistance with relocation that may be part of a qualified rehabilitation program
The plan administrator may offer help you in applying for Social Security disability benefits. To be eligible for assistance, you must be receiving a monthly LTD benefit.
If you die after being disabled for at least 180 consecutive days and are eligible to receive monthly payments from this plan, your survivor will receive a lump sum payment equal to three months of your gross disability payment.
Survivor benefits are paid to your spouse or domestic partner; otherwise, to your children under age 25 in equal amounts. If there are no eligible survivors, payment will be made to your estate.
If, at the time of your death, an overpayment exists, the survivor benefits will be applied to reduce such overpayment.
If you end employment with the Company, your coverage under the plan will end. You may be eligible to purchase insurance under Lincoln Financial’s group conversion policy without providing evidence of insurability.
To be eligible to purchase group disability conversion insurance, you must meet the following conditions:
- You have been insured under this group plan for at least 12 consecutive months. Lincoln Financial will consider the amount of time you were insured under the plan and the plan it replaced, if any.
- You must apply for insurance under the conversion policy and pay the first premium to Lincoln Financial within 31 days after the date your employment ends.
You are not eligible to apply for coverage under Lincoln Financial’s group conversion policy if any of the following conditions apply:
- You are or become insured under another group long term disability plan within 31 days after your employment ends
- You are disabled under the terms of the plan
- You recover from a disability and do not return to work for the Company
- You are not in active employment due to an injury, sickness, or mental illness
- You are on a leave of absence
- Your coverage under the plan ends for any of the following reasons:
- The plan is canceled
- The plan is changed to exclude the group of employees to which you belong
- You are no longer in an eligible group
- You retire
- You fail to pay any required premiums when due
Lincoln Financial will determine the coverage you will have under the conversion policy. The conversion policy may not be the same coverage offered you under the group plan. It may be any form of conversion plan that Lincoln Financial then makes available. The benefits will comply with any state laws or regulations that may apply.
Your rates for the conversion plan will be based on Lincoln Financial’s rate as it applies to the form and amount of insurance it provides, the premium period, and your age at the time of conversion.