The BLET Short-Term Disability Insurance Plan provides benefits for eligible participants who cannot work due to a disability that help protect your paycheck. The benefits replace a portion of your income if you are out of work due to a qualified illness or injury. The Plan covers eligible locomotive engineers currently working on a railroad participating in Article IV, Part A, Section 5 of the December 16, 2003 National Agreement (please note: BNSF, NS and Amtrak do not participate in this Plan).
The plan has three portions:
Eligibility for the Base-Plan is based on the payment of the monthly premium submitted by your railroad to the BLET Disability and Welfare Trust Fund.
To be eligible for the Base-Plan, you must have a minimum of 7 starts in the month, at least 1 as an engineer.
The Base-Plan benefit:
Base-Plan benefits are taxable as ordinary income — you will receive a W-2.
Benefits are not subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement (no repayment after a personal injury settlement).
The Enhanced-Plan is voluntary. Participation in this Enhanced-Plan Short-Term Disability is not required as a condition of your employment.
NOTE: Enrollment and participation in the Enhanced-Plan may only take place during the periodic open enrollments.
The Enhanced-Plan benefit:
*Benefit increases to $402 per week for up to 35 weeks, if Base-Plan eligibility is met.
Enhanced-Plan monthly premium is $25.00 which is paid for via monthly ACH by each participant.
The $102 benefit of the Enhanced-Plan is non-taxable.
Benefits are not subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement (no repayment after a personal injury settlement).
The Enhanced-Plan Plus is voluntary. Participation in this Enhanced-Plan Plus Short-Term Disability is not required as a condition of your employment.
NOTE: Enrollment and participation in the Enhanced-Plan Plus may only take place during the periodic open enrollments.
The Enhanced-Plan benefit:
* Benefit increases to $402 per week for up to 52 weeks, if Base-Plan eligibility is met.
Enhanced-Plan monthly premium is $40.00 which is paid for via monthly ACH by each participant.
The $102 benefit of the Enhanced-Plan Plus is non-taxable.
Benefits are not subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement (no repayment after a personal injury settlement).