| California State law requires that all employees be provided with disability insurance. A disability is an injury or illness that causes a person to be medically unable to perform his or her usual and customary job duties. All disabilities must be certified by objective medical evidence . There are two criteria that must be met to receive benefits: 1) An employee must be physically or mentally incapable of performing his or her job duties and 2) The employee must suffer a wage loss. |
| USC offers three disability plans. When an employee is hired by USC, he or she is automatically enrolled in the USC Basic Disability Plan. This plan mirrors the California State Disability plan and pays a benefit of 70% of salary up to a maximum of $1,221.50 per week, subject to the usual deductions, reductions, and withholdings. After 12 months of active employment employees are eligible for the USC Supplemental Disability Plan. This plan increases the benefit amount from a maximum of $1,221.50 per week to 100% of gross salary for one week for each year of employment, up to a maximum of (10) ten weeks. There is a seven (7) day waiting period which is included in the 10 weeks. After that the benefit becomes 80% of gross salary for the remainder of a 52 week benefit duration. All benefits are subject to your usual reductions, deductions, and withholdings. The Basic Plan and the Supplemental Plan are funded by employee contributions. An employee can decide to opt out of the USC Basic Plan and enroll in the State Disability Plan during open enrollment, however he or she will then not be eligible for the USC Supplemental benefits. The State of California SDI pays maximum of $959.00 per week for a maximum of 52 weeks. |
| Enrollment in the Supplemental Plan also makes an employee eligible for the USC Long Term Disability Plan. This plan pays benefits of 70% of gross (less reductions, deductions, and withholdings) should an employee suffer a permanently disabling injury or illness. Benefits are paid until age 65 or death. This plan is funded entirely by the university. |
Disability 851 Downey Way HSH Los Angeles, California 90089-1058 Mail Code 1058 (213)740-5875