Disability, Sick Leave, and GA Paid Parental Leave
You accumulate “sick leave” days, for which you will receive full pay if you are injured or ill and cannot work. Voya Financial's disability coverage provides an income replacement benefit once you've exhausted your sick days.
Disability coverage provides an income replacement benefit if you are ill or injured and unable to work. It is important to consider how long you would be able to pay your bills if you were unable to work. Short Term Disability replaces your income for a short period of time, and the benefit is payable on day 8 or 31 of your disability, depending on the option selected. If you remain disabled beyond that time, the Long Term Disability plan pays from your 181st day of disability until Normal Social Security Retirement age, age 65 to 67, depending on your year of birth.
Disability Insurance is protection for one of your most important assets: your ability to earn an income. Disabling illnesses and injuries are more common than most of us realize. If you're out of work for weeks or months without an income, how would you pay your regular expenses? Disability Insurance could provide the security you need and pays in addition to any accrued sick leave.
Premium Information: baldwincountyschoolsbenefits.com/rates
Important Documents: baldwincountyschoolsbenefits.com/resources
Short Term Disability Summary of Benefits
Short Term Disability coverage pays an income replacement benefit for a relatively short period of time. Your sick leave must be exhausted prior to the Short Term Disability plan paying a benefit. The STD plan will coordinate with your other deductible income to replace 60% of your annual earnings. Other deductible income includes, but is not limited to other disability benefits, and retirement. Worker’s Compensation claims are not covered for the Short Term Disability plan.
Below is a summary of the Short Term Disability plan options:
|
Option 1 7-Day Elimination Period / Waiting Period |
Option 2 30-Day Elimination Period / Waiting Period |
|
|---|---|---|
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Benefit Amount
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60% of earnings up to a maximum benefit of $1,000 per week | 60% of earnings up to a maximum benefit of $1,000 per week |
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Benefit Start Date
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Day 8 for accident or illness | Day 31 for accident or illness |
|
Maximum Benefit Period
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26 weeks (including elimination period) | 26 weeks (including elimination period) |
Short-Term Disability Pre-Existing Conditions
The Short Term Disability plan has a pre-existing conditions exclusion for disabilities that begin within the first 12 months of your coverage. A pre-existing condition is a condition for which you have received medical treatment, consultation, or services, including prescription drugs, in the 3 months prior to your effective date. Once you have been insured for 12 months, no limitation applies.
Long Term Disability Summary of Benefits
Long Term Disability coverage provides an income replacement benefit to Social Security Normal Retirement Age if you continue to remain disabled and satisfy the definition of disability. The LTD plan will coordinate with your other deductible income to replace 60% of your annual earnings. Other deductible income includes, but is not limited to, Social Security, workers’ compensation, other disability benefits, and retirement.
Below is a summary of the Long Term Disability plan:
| Long Term Disability Summary of Benefits | |
|---|---|
|
Monthly Benefit Amount
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60% of earnings |
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Maximum Monthly Benefit
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$5,000 per month |
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Elimination Period
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180 days |
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Benefit Duration
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Social Security Normal Retirement Age (age 65 to 67) |
Long-Term Disability Pre-Existing Conditions
The Long Term Disability plan includes a pre-existing conditions exclusion for disabilities that begin within the first 12 months of coverage. A pre-existing condition is a sickness or injury for which you have been diagnosed, treated, or prescribed medications during the 6 months immediately prior to your coverage effective date. Once you’ve been insured for 12 months, no restriction applies.
Conversion Option for Long Term Disability
If certain conditions are met, you may continue this coverage for up to 12 months for employment separation and leave of absence. If you have been insured for a minimum of 12 months and you apply within 31 days of your termination or separation date, you may continue this coverage for up to 12 months if premiums are paid directly to Voya Financial.
Georgia Paid Parental Leave (PPL)
Eligible employees are able to take up to 240 hours of paid parental leave within a year of the birth of their child, or within a year after adoption or taking in a minor through foster care.
Overview:
- Leave Allowance: Up to 240 hours of paid parental leave in a rolling 12-month period.
- Multiple Events: The 240 hours are available regardless of the number of qualifying life events within the 12-month period.
- Accrued Leave: This leave is not deducted from your accrued leave balances.
- Concurrent Leave: Paid Parental Leave runs concurrently with any applicable federal leave, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- Leave Increments: Parental leave may be taken as needed and may be taken in increments of less than eight hours. The smallest increment of parental leave that may be taken is half of a workday.
Eligibility:
- Full-Time Salaried Employees: Must have completed six continuous months of employment with the district.
- Hourly Employees: Must have worked at least 700 hours in the six months immediately before the first requested paid parental leave date.
Qualifying Events:
- The birth of the employee’s child.
- The placement of a minor child with the employee for adoption.
- The placement of a minor child with the employee for foster care.
- For more detailed information or to apply for paid parental leave, please contact the HR department.
Georgia Maternal Birth Leave (MBL)
Eligible full-time employees who give birth may receive an additional 3 weeks (120 hours) of paid maternal birth leave. This leave must be taken during the first three weeks immediately following childbirth and is available in addition to Georgia's paid parental leave benefit for eligible employees.
- Leave Allowance: Up to 120 hours of paid maternal leave in a rolling 12-month period.
- Multiple Events: The hours are available regardless of the number of qualifying life events within the 12-month period.
- Accrued Leave: This leave is not deducted from your accrued leave balances.
- Concurrent Leave: Maternal Birth Leave runs concurrently with any applicable federal leave, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
- Qualifying Life Events:
- The birth of a child to a mother employed by the district.
Personal Leave
Effective July 1, 2026, Georgia law allows eligible teachers and other school personnel to use up to five days of accumulated sick leave each school year for personal or professional reasons.
This increases the limit from three days, but it does not provide additional leave. This change simply allows employees to use five days as personal instead of three.
Employees must have sufficient accrued sick leave in order to use time as personal leave. If you do not have any sick leave, you would not have the ability to take personal days.
Employees must also obtain prior approval in accordance with district procedures and policies.
