DISABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAM
Recent Disability Insurance Program Changes
- House Bill 295 passed by the 145th General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Jack Markell changed the elimination period for Short Term Disability benefits from 20 calendar days to 60 calendar days for dates of disability effective on or after August 1, 2009.
- House Bill 290 passed by the 145th General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Jack Markell effective July 1, 2009 made the following changes to the Disability Insurance program: (1) applied any reduction in salary to employees receiving disability benefits on or after July 1, 2009; (2) clarified termination of employment for employees who have exhausted their Short Term Disability period and who are receiving hazard duty pay and/or Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits; and (3) reduced the time frame to file a Level I STD appeal from 180 days to 90 days of the postmark date of The Hartford's written notice to deny and/or terminate STD benefits.
Plan Administrator
- The Hartford's Website
Note: STD and LTD beneficiaries are provided with a personal and confidential User ID and Password for claim tracking purposes.
Short Term Disability (STD) Claim Filing Instructions
- Please call The Hartford's toll-free telephone number of (866) 945-7781 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday, to file your STD claim.
- You may also file your STD claim online at www.TheHartfordAtWork.com. Under the "Access your Account" section, click on "Start a Claim", then click "Start a Short-Term Disability Claim". You must type in the State of Delaware’s policy number of 071675 to continue your online submission. Within 24 business hours, a Hartford representative will return your call to review your online claim submission.
Be prepared to provide the following information to the Hartford:
- Name and Social Security Number
- Name of agency or school district and the last day of active employment
- Name and phone number of Manager or Benefit Representative
- Nature of claim and whether it is work related
- Treating physician’s name, address and telephone number
Remember to contact your physician to authorize the release of medical information required by The Hartford to process your claim.
Documentation and Forms
- Important News About Your Hartford Disability Insurance Coverage – July 2009
- Short-Term Disability (STD) Appeals Process
- Short Term Disability (STD) Booklet – Effective August 1, 2009
- Short Term Disability (STD) Booklet – Effective January 1, 2009
- Short-Term Disability (STD) Booklet – Effective January 1, 2006
- Long Term Disability (LTD) Booklet – Effective January 1, 2009
- Long-Term Disability (LTD) Booklet – Effective January 1, 2006
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Leave Process Flow Tips – Merit Employees on Extended Leave
- Wallet Card Brochure
- Disability Insurance Program Highlights Summary
- The Hartford's Return to Work Approach (.doc)
Return To Work (RTW)
- RTW During Short Term Disability*
- RTW During Long Term Disability
- Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative
*As Return To Work assistance is compulsory per 29 Del. C. §5257 of the Delaware Code, employees enrolled in the Disability Insurance Program (DIP) who expect to be out of work for less than 60 calendar days continue to be eligible to utilize the services of the Return to Work Coordinator from the Statewide Benefits Office. Return to work assistance may be requested by the employee and/or by the employing organization. The Return to Work Coordinator will always consult with the employee and the employing organization when assisting employees. The Return to Work Coordinator may also consult with the employee’s health care provider(s) to acquire and/or clarify an employee’s restrictions and/or limitations if applicable, to facilitate a safe return to the workplace.
