The voluntary long-term disability plan (employee paid) is a different and separate plan from the Duke-paid long-term disability program (Duke Disability).

Benefit Payable

The plan replaces up to 60% of your base salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $12,500.

This plan is for employees with less than 3 years of full-time continuous service, unless the employee already qualifies for the Duke Disability Plan.

Voluntary Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits cover disabilities whether or not they are job related. However, benefits will be reduced by the amount of other income benefits you receive while disabled, such as sick/vacation leave, paid time off, Kiel, or Social Security. Regardless of these offsets, the minimum monthly benefit is the greater of 10% of the Voluntary LTD benefit or $100.

When Benefits Begin

Voluntary LTD benefits begin after you have been totally disabled for four months if you are a Duke University employee. Benefits begin after you have been totally disabled for six months if you are a Duke University Health System employee.

Proof of Prior Coverage (LTD Waiver)

If you had an employer-sponsored long term disability plan within 90 days of full-time employment to Duke, you may participate in the Duke Disability Program as of the first day of the month after your hire date (waiving the normal three-year waiting period). You can request that your immediate previous employer complete the Duke Disability Program - Request for Service Requirement Waiver form. Waiver requests must be received in the Benefits Office within 90 days of your date of hire.

Waiver requests should be emailed to hr@duke.edu or faxed to the attention of our disability analyst at (919) 681-8774 within 90 days of your hire date.

An individual (non-group) LTD disability plan does not qualify for LTD waiver consideration.