As an active member of a plan administered by MPERS, the state provides long-term disability (LTD) and work-related disability (WRD) insurance at no cost to you. Disability insurance is intended to replace a percentage of your income that is lost as a result of not being able to work due to a disability.
If you are determined by the insurance carrier to be disabled, your monthly LTD benefit will replace 60% of your pre-disability earnings reduced by other sources of income, known as “deductible income,” such as Social Security disability benefits or work earnings. If it is determined that your disability was a direct result of your employment, your monthly WRD benefit will replace 70% of your pre-disability earnings not reduced by deductible income or 90% of your pre-disability earnings reduced by deductible income. Before LTD benefits begin, you must complete a 180-day waiting period or exhaust your sick leave, whichever occurs later. Before WRD benefits begin, you must reach maximum medical improvement under the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Law or exhaust your sick leave, whichever occurs later. If you are receiving LTD or WRD benefits, you will continue to accrue service credit under MPERS until you reach normal retirement eligibility.
An additional service offered is the Workplace Possibilities Program (WPP). This program is designed to assist employees who may be having difficulty performing their job duties due to medical conditions by offering consultations that may lead to providing accommodations or services to promote a healthier work environment.
