Short Term Disability

Short Term Disability (STD) benefits begin after you are unable to work due to a non-work related injury or illness after you have satisfied waiting period.

Who’s Eligible

All staff, including AAPs and those represented by SEIU 1199 United Healthcare Workers East, scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week.

Effective Date of Coverage

Coverage is effective immediately upon employment or qualified change of employment status (i.e. transferring from part-time to a full-time, benefits-eligible position).

What is it and how does it work?

Short Term Disability benefits replace 100% of  your income* in the event you become unable to work due to an injury, illness or other medical scenario such as a scheduled surgery or birth of a child.

Benefits continue until the earliest of:

  • The date you are no longer disabled;
  • The date you reach the “recovery limit” for your type of disability; or
  • The date you reach the maximum benefit period for short term disability claims, which is twelve weeks.

Waiting Period
Before you can begin receiving these benefits, you must first satisfy an 5 workday unpaid waiting period. During this period you may use PTO, Unpaid Leave, Sick Leave or Salary Continuance Leave (AAP only). If a University Holiday occurs during the waiting period, that day will count toward satisfying your waiting period and you won’t have to take leave for that holiday.

Having a Baby
Maternity is covered under Georgetown University’s Short Term Disability plan. For birth claims in which there are no medical complications, the benefit is for a total of 8 weeks (inclusive of the unpaid waiting period).

*Coordination of Benefits
Paid disability benefits are coordinated with any salary, wages, earnings or other plan benefits, as well as statutory programs, such as those benefits provided by the D.C. Paid Family Leave (DCPFL) program. In instances when an employee is eligible for DCPFL benefits, the majority of pay will come directly from the District of Columbia.

Applying for Short Term Disability

  1. Talk to your Manager. Report your leave of absence to your Manager/Supervisor and maintain contact with them throughout leave period.
  2. Initiate your Claim. MetLife is the administrator for Short Term Disability claims for Staff and AAP.

    Contact MetLife 30 days before your anticipated absence, if possible, to initiate your claim.

    Call 1-877-638-8262 and tell them that you’d like to initiate a claim for Short Term Disability (this includes leave for child birth and recovery) and FMLA, and Paid Parental Leave, if applicable.

    Be prepared to provide MetLife with 1) the dates you will unable to work due to your medical disability, 2) your doctor’s name, phone, address and fax number.
  3. Apply for DC or State PFML. If you are eligible for paid leave benefits from the District of Columbia’s Office of Paid Family Leave, visit dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov to register for an account. Be advised that you cannot finalize your PFL claim until the first date of your disability period. Remote employees who are working full-time in approved states may be eligible for Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefits offered through their primary work state. If you have questions regarding your eligibility for DC or State PFML benefits, please contact fmla@georgetown.edu.
  4. Request Time Off for Waiting Period. Request time off in GMS for first five days of your disability period; this is your unpaid waiting period before paid disability benefits begin. You may use PTO, Sick, Salary Continuance Leave (AAP) or Unpaid Time Off.

D.C. Paid Family Leave

The District of Columbia’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) Program provides paid leave for certain medical and family-related qualifying events.  This leave is administered directly through the Department of Employment Services and provides up to 12 weeks of paid time off within a 12 month period for eligible employees.

All Georgetown leave policies will run concurrent with state PFML programs whenever possible.  

Given this, payment from Georgetown University will be reduced by any estimated benefit from the District of Columbia’s Paid Family Leave or other state PFML program. During leaves of absence Georgetown University employees will be compensated up to 100% of their salary from all sources combined. You can learn more about how GU benefits coordinate with DC PFL benefits here.

Return to Work

Download the Return to Work Form


Once you are approved for Short Term Disability, a Return to Work Medical Certification Form must be completed and sent to fmla@georgetown.edu before you return to work.