Short-Term Disability Protection
Wage Continuation Program
Income protection when you need it most—covering illness or non-work-related injury beyond your sick leave.
Program Overview
Short-term disability benefits negotiated with the School District of Philadelphia
What is Wage Continuation?
Wage Continuation is the collectively bargained School District of Philadelphia's (SDP) short-term disability program. You may elect coverage to protect yourself from salary loss due to an illness or non-work related injury that extends beyond your sick time.
If you become ill and exhaust all your accumulated sick leave, after a short waiting period referred to as 'corridor days' (0-7 days), you will be paid 75 percent of your salary for up to 26 weeks, pursuant to SDP approval.
Important Enrollment Requirement
- •Provides financial security during extended illness or injury
- •Kicks in after you exhaust your accumulated sick days plus corridor days
- •Maintains your medical benefits while receiving wage continuation
- •Voluntary enrollment during first year or annual open enrollment
Program Benefits
What's covered under wage continuation
Coverage Details
Income Protection
- •Benefit Amount: 75% of your salary
- •Duration: Up to 26 weeks
- •Waiting Period: After exhaustion of sick days
Special Coverage
- •Pregnancy: 6-8 weeks of salary continuation
- •Medical Benefits: Continue during wage continuation
Pregnancy Coverage
Enrollment
Employees are permitted to enroll in the Wage Continuation Program during:
- •An employee's first year of employment with the School District of Philadelphia by contacting benefits@philasd.org
- •The District's annual open enrollment period (May 1 - May 31). Coverage is effective August 16th.
Remember
How Do I Know I Am Enrolled in Wage Continuation Coverage?
View your benefits in the ERP using the View and Print Your Benefits guide.
This will indicate if you are enrolled in coverage. You are not charged premiums once you have 60 unused sick days in your bank.
Enrollment Options
- If you are not enrolled and in your first year with PFT, contact benefits@philasd.org
- If you have been in a PFT position for more than 1 year, you can enroll during Open Enrollment (May 1-31)
When Can I Cancel Wage Continuation Coverage?
You can cancel during the Open Enrollment period:
- •Open Enrollment Period: May 1 through May 31
- •Cancellation Effective Date: July 1
Premium Rates & Costs
How premiums are calculated based on sick leave balance
Cost Structure
Please refer to the chart below that explains the bi-weekly rate an employee would be charged for participating in the Wage Continuation Program. The bi-weekly rate is per every $100 you earn. The example is based on an annual salary of $45,360.00.
Quick Premium Calculation
Formula:
Biweekly Gross Pay ÷ 100 × Rate = Bi-weekly Premium
Example:
$1,661.23 ÷ 100 × $2.10* = $34.89
*If you have 10 or more but less than 30 days accrued
*If you have fewer than 10 days, your biweekly premium would be $49 per pay
Employee's Share Rate per $100 Gross per Paycheck
| Accumulated Sick Leave | Total Annual Waiting Period | Post 3 Years of Employment | First 3 Years of Employment* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 10 days | 7 work days | $4.43 | $2.95 |
| 10 but < 30 days | 6 work days | $3.15 | $2.10 |
| 30 but < 60 days | 5 work days | $0.31 | $0.31 |
| 60 but < 90 days | 4 work days | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 90 but < 120 days | 3 work days | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 120 but > 150 days | 2 work days | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 150 but < 180 days | 1 work day | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 180 days and over | 0 work days | $0.00 | $0.00 |
*Lower rates designed to give you time to accrue days
Free Coverage
Waiting Days
Understanding Your Paystub
How wage continuation appears on your paycheck
What Will My Paycheck Look Like When I Am on Wage Continuation?
Understanding Your Pay
- •When Working: You receive 100% of your base pay, and summer reserve is deducted and set aside for summer (reserve accrual)
- •On Wage Continuation: You receive 75% of your base pay
- •Medical Benefits: Continue during wage continuation period
Review Your Pay Statement
Summer Pay & Reserve Accrual
The payroll system may try to 'make up' for the difference between what you are paid when you are actively at work (100%) and when you are on wage continuation (75%).
Understanding RSVPO vs RSVAC
If you see 'RSVPO' on your paystub, instead of 'RSVAC', that means the system is paying you summer money in advance of summer, to try to 'smooth' out your earnings.
Depending on when and whether you return to work during the current school year, your summer account and your paychecks are affected. Contact a PFT Health and Welfare coordinator for more information.
Paycheck Indicators
Your paycheck shows your enrollment in the program in two places:
1. H.I. PLAN Code
There is a box labeled "H.I. PLAN" under the box that contains the "EMPLOYEE NAME". Enrollment is indicated by a code that shows how many corridor (waiting) days you have and the range of sick days you have accumulated.
| H.I. PLAN CODE | What it means |
|---|---|
| WC7D 0-9 | You have 7 corridor days based on 0-9 banked sick days |
| WC6D 10-29 | You have 6 corridor days based on 10-29 banked sick days |
| WC5D 30-59 | You have 5 corridor days based on 30-59 banked sick days |
| WC4D 60-89 | You have 4 corridor days based on 60-89 banked sick days |
| WC3D 90-119 | You have 3 corridor days based on 90-119 banked sick days |
| WC2D 120-149 | You have 2 corridor days based on 120-149 banked sick days |
| WC1D 150-179 | You have 1 corridor days based on 150-179 banked sick days |
| WC0D 180+ | You have 0 corridor days based 180 or more banked sick days |
2. DEDUCTIONS Column
The other indicator of your enrollment is the deduction. If you are in a plan that has a deduction (WC5D to WC7D), there is a code in the DEDUCTIONS column. That code is "WAGE CON".