BLET Short Term Disability – Return to Main Page
Short Term Disability Insurance Benefit Plan for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
The BLET Short Term Disability Insurance Plan provides for benefits for eligible participants who can not work due to a medical disability to help protect your paycheck and your standard of living. The benefits replace a portion of your income if you are out of work due to a qualified illness or injury. The plan is underwritten by MetLife (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company).
The Plan covers eligible locomotive engineers who are currently working on a railroad that participated 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 among others).
The Plan has two portions: Part A insures eligible participants for non-occupational disabilities; and, Part B insures eligible participants for occupational disabilities.
The Part A insurance plan covers non-occupational disabilities. The schedule of benefits as of January 1, 2017 provide for the following:
- Your eligibility for Part A is based on the payment of the monthly premium being submitted by your railroad on a monthly basis to the BLET Disability and Welfare Trust Fund.
- To be eligible for Part A, you must have a minimum of seven (7) starts in a month, with one (1) start in a month working as a locomotive engineer. Your eligibility in any month is based on your work history for the previous month. For example: To be eligible for coverage in July, you would have to have a minimum of seven starts with one start as a locomotive engineer in the previous month of June, and it continues in this way month-to-month as long as you get a minimum of seven starts in a month with at least one start as a locomotive engineer. In any month for which you do not meet this work history, you will lose Part A coverage for the following month as in the example just above.
- The Part A benefits for non-occupational disabilities is $375 per week, with a 14-day elimination period from the date of medical disability, with a maximum benefit period of 52 weeks.
- Part A benefits are taxable as ordinary income — you will receive a W-2 from MetLife.
- There is no Accidental Death or Dismemberment provision in this plan.
The Part B insurance plan covers occupational disabilities. The schedule of benefits as of January 1, 2017 provide for the following:
- Part B is voluntary. Participation in this additional occupational disability insurance coverage is not required as a condition of your employment. NOTE: Enrollment and participation in Part B may only take place during the periodic open enrollment periods and are are based on the eligibility to enroll as stated in the periodic open enrollment announcements. The last open enrollment period ended on December 30, 2016.
- The Part B benefits for occupational disabilities is $375 per week, with a 14-day elimination period from the date of medical date of disability, with a maximum benefit period of 52 weeks.
- The Part B monthly premium is $20.00, which is paid for by each participant who has elected to enroll in the Plan. Benefits paid to Part B participants are not taxable income as the premium each participant pays are paid with their after-tax dollars.
- Part B benefits are not subject to repayment upon receipt of an FELA settlement (no repayment after a personal injury settlement).
- There is no Accidental Death or Dismemberment provision in this plan.
- Effective January 1, 2017, enrollment in Part B will no longer insure a member for non-occupational disabilities when the loss of Part A eligibility takes place (that is, in any month where you do not work a minimum of seven (7) starts, one (1) start as a locomotive engineer).
If you have questions concerning the plan, please contact Cornerstone Benefits Management at 224-848-4941 or by email at blet-stdclaim@uniondisability.com.
