• You must be actively at work to be eligible to enroll and maintain coverage.
• If you joined IBEW within the last 90 days, you are within your open enrollment window and can join with no medical questionnaire.
• If you have been a member of IBEW for longer than 90 days, you are considered a late applicant and must complete a LATE APPLICANT ENROLLMENT FORM. You will receive a letter from the insurance carrier to advise if your enrollment has been accepted.

As a plan participant, you must notify Group Benefit Associates:

• • • Within 30 days of any layoff or work stoppage and again within 30 days of your return to work
    • Immediately when your bank account or credit card information changes for the purpose of premium collection
    • Immediately when your wage rate changes
    • Within 30 days of any disability and 30 days of your return to work
    • Within 30 days if you withdraw from the Union
    • Within 30 days of your retirement

Failure to notify Group Benefit Associates in a timely manner of any of the above listed changes can affect your participation in the plan or the benefits that you are eligible to receive under the plan.

Group Benefit Associates has teamed together with Reliance Standard to bring you this program. Reliance Standard is the insurance carrier for the policy and processes all claims and Group Benefit Associates is the third-party administrator responsible for premium collection and remittance.

Short Term Disability (STD)

• Benefit Begins: 30 day non-occupational accidental injury, 30 day non-occupational sickness or pregnancy.
• Benefit Amount: $250 per week
• Benefit Period: 22 weeks

During the first 12 months of coverage, no STD benefits will be paid for a disability that is due to a pre-existing condition. A pre-existing condition is an injury or sickness for which you received medical treatment, consultation, diagnostic measures, prescribed drugs or medicines, or for which you followed treatment recommendations during the three months prior to your effective date of coverage. This provision also applies if you did not consult a physician when an ordinarily prudent person would have. Exclusions may vary by state.

Long Term Disability (LTD)

• Benefit Begins: 180 days following non-occupational accidental injury, sickness or pregnancy
• Benefit Amount: 60% of monthly covered earnings
• Maximum Benefit: $5,000 per month less deductible sources of income and disability earnings.
• Minimum Benefit: $100 per month
• Benefit Period: Up to 5 years
• Limited Pay Periods:Disabilities due to mental illness and disabilities primarily based on self-reported symptoms are limited to 24 months of benefits during your lifetime.
• Survivor Benefits: In the event of your death, three times your net disability payment is payable to your spouse or children under age 25.

Please follow the steps below to calculate your monthly premium:

Calculating your monthly long-term disability (LTD) cost:

*If your monthly earnings exceed $8,333 (maximum monthly covered earnings) then use $8,333 as your monthly earnings to calculate your premium.

Multiply your monthly earnings by the rate for your age x your rate= $____.__

Age as of Jan. 1st of this year

Rate per $100 of pre-disability earnings

Divide by 100 for your cost: ($/100)= $_______._____ LTD Cost

Add the short-term disability premium to determine your total monthly premium: $+$25.89= $_______._____ Total Premium

**Please note that if you fall into a new age bracket as indicated above, your premium will increase. You will also experience a premium change if you have experienced a change in your pay rate.

Cancellation Requests: Cancellation requests must be received in writing by mail, fax, or e-mail. Cancellations will become effective on the last day of the month in which they are received.

Premium Waived if Disabled: Premium will not need to be paid if you are receiving benefits. Please contact us within 30 days of your disability so that we may waive your premium while you are not working.

Premium Payments: Your initial premium due will be collected within 5 business days of your enrollment. Subsequent premiums will be collected automatically from a Visa, MasterCard or direct debit from a checking account on the 15th of each month. If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the charge will occur on the next business day.

The following PDF documents are provided for your reference:

• Summary of Short Term Disability Benefits
• Summary of Long Term Disability Benefits
• New Member Enrollment Form
• Late Applicant Evidence of Insurability

Disability Claim Forms:

• Short Term Disability Claim Form
• Long Term Disability Claim Form

Filing A Claim

The disability income insurance claim form is composed of three separate sections that need to be completed by you, your physician and your employer.

• Employee Section: Please be sure to complete this part clearly and sign where indicated.
• Physician Section: Please have the physician that disabled you complete this part. If you have seen additional physicians, please also include their names, addresses, phone numbers and fax numbers on a separate sheet of paper.
• Employer Section: Even though your policy is purchased through the union, your benefit is based on the income you receive from your particular employer. Your employer assumes no liability or responsibility for your claim by completing this form for you.

Failure to provide proper information and documentation will delay your claim so it is very important the claim form is complete and clear. Once complete, forward the form to our office by mail or fax.

How Your Claim Will Be Handled:

Once received by Group Benefit Associates, we will begin waiving your premium as of the date of your disability. The processing of your claim will be handled by Reliance Standard and therefore you may inquire with them regarding the status of your claim. Please note that Group Benefit Associates does not have access to information regarding claims determination or benefit payments. Reliance Standard can be reached directly at:

Claims Department:

Telephone: 800-351-7500

Fax: 267-256-3519

Premium billing questions are handled by Group Benefit Associates at 800-450-1271.

Click below to enroll online