What's new

Another way US hates employees-Clt

Here's from the Summary Plan Description:

For participants who become Disabled on or after January I, 2003, your Plan benefits will be offset,
dollar-for-dollar, by any of the following amounts you may receive from other sources:

l1li Income from other employment that exceeds 50% of your Average Monthly Earnings prior to
the date your Disability commenced;

III Disability benefits paid or payable under federal Social Security law, even if you fail to apply for
Social Security benefits when you are eligible;

l1li Disability benefits paid or payable under any workers' compensation law, or other similar
benefits paid or payable as a result of occupational hazards;

III Disability benefits paid or payable under any federal or state law;

III Severance pay;

l1l Retirement benefits from any retirement program; [note: this would include PBGC if you start at 60....FYI]

III Disability benefits from no-fault auto insurance that exceed 100% of your Average Monthly
Earnings prior to the date your Disability commenced;

III Group disability benefits from other employers that exceed 100% ofyour Average Monthly
Earnings prior to the date your Disability commenced;

III Any lump sum payments, settlements or distributions from any ofthe programs listed above, or
from any other source, that are made on account of the same Disability for which Plan benefits
are being paid, to the extent that these payments, settlements or distributions exceed 100% of
your projected Average Monthly Earnings (determined prior to the date your Disability
conunenced) over the remainder ofyour career as a pilot.

Your other income (excluding income from passive investments), when combined with your benefit
under the Plan, cannot exceed 100% of your Average Monthly Earnings
determined prior to the date
your Disability commenced.

Cheers.
I'm kind of shocked that they don't include tax refunds, gifts, lottery winnings and any spare change that one can find in the aircraft seat cushions! Bottom line is that they don't pay much at all and to cap it off pilots pay 100/month for this so called insurance. Do any of the other work groups have a similar contribution?

Regards,

Bob
 
Maybe not, but...if you are on long term disability, a case can be made that if you are working at another job, you are not disabled. Remember that LTD is not paid directly by the company. It is paid from an insurance policy that the company carries. Insurance companies hate paying out the money they actually owe. We don't even want to discuss how they feel about paying out money on fraudulent claims.

There have been several cases, not necessarily in the airline business, over the past few years where someone was cut off from disability because they were engaged in activities that they should not be able to do if disabled. One case I remember is a guy was off from work with a serious back injury--supposedly could barely move. When he tried to sue the insurance company to reinstate his disability, they produced a video in court of him re-roofing his house by himself--including carrying those heavy packs of shingles up and down a ladder.

Being a pilot disabled is very different from disability in general. There are probably hundreds of conditions that would preclude a person from getting a medical certificate from the FAA to fly commercial airliners. Of these, most all of them would not be considered a disability to work at Home Depot, teach school, or even drive a school bus.

When LTD is discussed here, it has to do with not being able to do the job you were hired to do, i.e. airline pilot. It does not mean laid up in bed with feeding tubes and a respirator.
 
However, the thread was started by a ground person, not a pilot. Hard to believe, but there are other jobs in an airline that can be discussed from time to time. The issue had nothing to do with medical certificates. It got turned into that by pilots. Most of the "other employment" that we lowly earthlings (i.e., anyone who is not a pilot) might be doing on the side could be used as proof that one is not disabled. If one could do the other job, they could do the airline job.
 
However, the thread was started by a ground person, not a pilot. Hard to believe, but there are other jobs in an airline that can be discussed from time to time. The issue had nothing to do with medical certificates. It got turned into that by pilots. Most of the "other employment" that we lowly earthlings (i.e., anyone who is not a pilot) might be doing on the side could be used as proof that one is not disabled. If one could do the other job, they could do the airline job.



Jimitx,

Sorry I guess I'm the one that turned this into a "pilot thing". I guess I was in a hurry and missed the part about this thread being for ground persons.


Regards,


Bob
 
Bob:
Not to worry. The main point when I started this thread was how US treats ALL of us when we are injured. And we have many who are on oji & this company cares 0 about any of us.
 
I don't believe it does...SSecurity is the only offset.
All of these offsets are individually negotiated by employee group. Pilots have no OJI pay, comes out of sick time. Also, a military retirement for pilots is used to offset disability pay. There are more offsets for other income. Do any of you in other jobs at the airline other than pilot have the military retirement offset?
 
Bob:
Not to worry. The main point when I started this thread was how US treats ALL of us when we are injured. And we have many who are on oji & this company cares 0 about any of us.


Hi Harry,

In this respect USAirways is for sure an equal oportunity employer.

Regards,


Bob
 
Thought I should reply since I'm on LTD. I lost my medical on the west while we were still ALPA. When ALPA left I basically was left without a union. This is not an attack on USAPA, they were new and had no experience or people working on the west contract. Thank goodness the Chief pilots office stepped in to help and answer questions, because yes I was scared. Yes they do care. I never thought much about it prior, but I can't stress enough how important it is for a pilot to have a good union and good STD and LTD. I only had to use a few days of sick time until STD kicked in and eventually LTD. LTD pays 60% of prior salary. Any outside income increases your income up to your previous 100% level. I am able to work in an office environment, just not fly a plane. I still hope to fly again at US Airways, but if not I will work at another job, because I can. STD and LTD is not an excuse to sit on your @rsse, it is a safety net to cushion the fall. I hope that once the seniority is settled that USAPA will move on. I hope that USAPA doesn't bargain with the seniority in getting a contract and we lose important things like STD and LTD. If I can come back to flying whether it's the Nic or DOH I'll be an FO. Will the next contract be worse than the last? I hope not. Sorry to rant, I'm finishing off a really good bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. It's waaaay better than taking my pain medication.
 
Thought I should reply since I'm on LTD. I lost my medical on the west while we were still ALPA. When ALPA left I basically was left without a union. This is not an attack on USAPA, they were new and had no experience or people working on the west contract. Thank goodness the Chief pilots office stepped in to help and answer questions, because yes I was scared. Yes they do care. I never thought much about it prior, but I can't stress enough how important it is for a pilot to have a good union and good STD and LTD. I only had to use a few days of sick time until STD kicked in and eventually LTD. LTD pays 60% of prior salary. Any outside income increases your income up to your previous 100% level. I am able to work in an office environment, just not fly a plane. I still hope to fly again at US Airways, but if not I will work at another job, because I can. STD and LTD is not an excuse to sit on your @rsse, it is a safety net to cushion the fall. I hope that once the seniority is settled that USAPA will move on. I hope that USAPA doesn't bargain with the seniority in getting a contract and we lose important things like STD and LTD. If I can come back to flying whether it's the Nic or DOH I'll be an FO. Will the next contract be worse than the last? I hope not. Sorry to rant, I'm finishing off a really good bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. It's waaaay better than taking my pain medication.

Rant?

That's about the best post on the topic (for pilots, anyway) that I've seen so far. The east program is similar. I hope you get to come back to the line soon to a unified airline. That is, if you want to.
 
Rant?

That's about the best post on the topic (for pilots, anyway) that I've seen so far. The east program is similar. I hope you get to come back to the line soon to a unified airline. That is, if you want to.

Thanks. I definitely want to. Yes, aviation has its drawbacks, but...... I really like flying airplanes and being/was an airline pilot. I like the thrill of pushing the throttles forward and hearing/feeling the engines spooling up to T/O power. I like the satisfaction I get from flying an approach down to minimums in challenging weather. I like having responsibility. I like the view from cruise altitude. I like.... well I could continue on, but I'm sure you know what I mean. Take care.
 
Just yesterday an employee who was honest about being sick was put on level 1. Had he just called out as FMLA which he has nothing would've happened. He chose to tell the truth & got screwed. Can't tell the truth at US.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top