Short Term Disability

If an employee incurs an illness or injury outside of work, they may be eligible for Short Term Disability (STD) payments.  HHH administers a self-funded disability policy to satisfy its obligations under certain collective bargaining agreements within the district.  This plan mimics the New York State Disability Program.  For details and eligibility, visit https://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/DisabilityBenefits/employee-disability-benefits.jsp/ 

NOTE - Employees must file a claim for Short Term Disability benefits within 30 days of becoming disabled.   Contact Caroline Nieto at extension 23074 in District-wide Administration for disability claim form.

This Half Hollow Hills Self-funded Disability program is for the following bargaining units:

• TRANSIT UNION WORKERS

• FOOD SERVICE WORKERS

• ASSOCIATION OF OFFICE PERSONNEL

• INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

The information below is just a summary.

In order to be eligible for STD payments, the injured/sick employee must submit a request for disability application within 30 days, completed and signed by the employee and his/her attending Physician. This form includes the estimated date of when your disability will end.  Covers employees for up to the first 6 months of a disability.  A wait period of 1 week is required and sick days must be exhausted prior to the payment of any Disability payments.  

The district reserves the right to request an Independent Medical Examination prior to approval of STD payments, and, before the employee returns to work to ascertain the employees ability to perform the duties of their job.  If approved, payments will begin after the exhaustion of all sick days or after a 7 day waiting period, whichever is later. Benefits are payable at 50% of pay to a maximum of $170 per week or $34 per day for a maximum 26 weeks (within a 52 week period).  These disability payments are not paid to employees eligible for Workers’ Compensation.  Transportation and Food Service Employees must exhaust all sick days prior to receiving disability payments and will be payable for twelve months of the year.  Clerical and Custodial Employees must use sick days prior to receiving disability payments and will be payable based on their employment (10 month or 12 month).

If the injured/sick employee applies and is eligible for FMLA, health insurance benefits will continue at the employee rate for a maximum of 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the disabled individual would be responsible for 100% of the cost of health insurance.  For more information on FMLA, visit Leave of Absences

PARAPROFESSIONALS - Administrated by the HHH Teachers' Association - contact office@hhhta.com for a claim form.

ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES - The district does not administer nor offer short term disability, however, this insurance is offered through AFLAC during the Annual Open Enrollment Period in October.  This AFLAC benefit can be cancelled or changed at anytime, but the District's Open Enrollment in October is your only opportunity to sign up.  AFLAC may also impose a wait period before benefits are paid.