Citi Benefits Handbook
When STD Benefits Are Payable
STD benefits are payable if you incur a total disability while an "Active Employee."
You are an "Active Employee" if you:
  • Are an Eligible Employee working for Citigroup doing all the material duties of your occupation at (i) your usual place of business; or (ii) some other location that your Citigroup requires you to be; and
  • Are not a temporary or seasonal employee.
You will be deemed an Active Employee if:
  • You meet the above conditions; and
  • You are absent from work solely due to vacation days, holidays, scheduled days off, or approved leaves of absence not due to Disability.
A "total disability" is defined as a serious health condition, pregnancy, injury, recovery from a procedure that results in your inability to perform the essential duties of your regular occupation for more than seven consecutive calendar days. If you remain totally disabled and are unable to work on the eighth calendar day, STD benefits — if approved — will begin on the eighth day of disability and will be paid retroactive to the first day of disability.
To qualify for STD benefits, you must be receiving appropriate care and treatment on a continuing basis from a licensed health care provider. You are not considered to have a disability if your illness, injury or pregnancy prevents you from commuting to and from work only. If you are able to perform the essential duties of your job at home or elsewhere and are unable to commute to work, this limitation does not constitute a disability for benefits purposes. You cannot qualify for an STD benefit if you return to work on a part-time basis (except for statutory benefits required under applicable state law).
If you qualify for STD benefits, return to work and then within a 30-day period are unable to work as a result of the same or a related total disability, your absence will be processed as a recurrent claim. You will be eligible to receive an STD benefit for the balance of your STD period of up to 13 weeks (for a reduced period, to reflect the STD benefits paid during the prior absence) and may qualify for Long-Term Disability (LTD).
If either a recurrent disability or an unrelated disability occurs after you returned to work for more than 30 days following an initial disability, you may be eligible for an additional short-term disability benefit, not to exceed 13 weeks, if approved.
STD benefits are taxable as ordinary income. Citigroup will withhold taxes, as well as deductions for other employee benefits, from STD benefits.
STD benefits may be offset by any monies owed to Citi and/or by any state benefits, including Workers' Compensation and Social Security disability benefits. However, the Disability Plan does not subrogate STD payments.
No STD benefit is payable for claims submitted more than six months after the date of disability. However, you can request that benefits be paid for late claims if you can show that:
  • It was not reasonably possible to give written proof of disability during the six-month period; and
  • Proof of disability satisfactory to the Claims Administrator was given as soon as was reasonably possible.
Exclusions
You will not receive STD benefits for any of the following:
  • A disability when your care is not supervised by a qualified physician;
  • Injuries caused by war, international armed conflict, riot or civil disobedience;
  • Intentional self-inflicted injury;
  • A disability that begins during an unapproved leave of absence;
  • A disability that results from an attempted or committed felony, assault, battery or other public offense, or during incarceration; or
  • A disability resulting from cosmetic surgery, which is a surgical procedure that is not necessary to correct a sickness or injury (except for statutory benefits required under applicable state law).
For Employees Who Work in California
If you are eligible for disability benefits, you are covered by the Citigroup California Voluntary Disability Insurance (VDI) Plan (the "VDI Plan"), unless you reject the VDI Plan. The VDI Plan replaces the state plan. For details, ask your HR representative.
If you are covered by the VDI Plan, you are not eligible to file a claim with the state. You must report your disability to MetLife. Call ConnectOne at 1 (800) 881-3938. See the For More Information section for detailed instructions, including TDD and international assistance. You also can call MetLife directly at 1 (888) 830-7380.