Short Term Disability

jessesgirl227

Hi Ladies.. I'm a lurker and don't post much but needs some advice. I gave birth on August 4th to my daughter, starting FMLA for 12 weeks. The first 6 weeks I was off I was eligible for short term disability from my employer. I'm still off but a new job opportunity just presented itself to me. Do I have to go back to work at my forner employer or can I just not go back? I thought I've heard if I dont go back for 2 weeks because I received short term disability they can make me pay it back? This hinders me looking for something new. Thanks!

Matt Dvorak

hmmm...unless rules are different at different places I do not believe that this is true. I know more than one person who has quit a job at the end of their FMLA period and they did not have to pay back STD. I know that you can't exactly ask your HR about this so hopefully someone can give you a definite answer!

snoopy3319

I do have to go back in order for my STD to not come out of my pocket. I think it's true for any job that gives you STD, but I'm not positive on that one. Your HR should've given you some info about your leave, or it should be easily accessible through a website of theirs or something. I think I only have to return for a day, but I'm not positive on that, either. I'm going back, so I didn't read it too in depth.

bhw5660

I think your return to the company should not have anything to do with short term disability.  Did your job give you the money or was it from a separate company?  Mine is through Aflac and the premium was deducted from my paycheck after taxes.  I don't owe that money to my job.  Can you call the insurance company to ask?

Skibunny07

It most likely depends on your company's policies, I dont think its a universal thing. It probably also depends on how your company provides the disability. Did you continue to get paid through your regular payroll or did you get a check from a disbility company? If it was the first, they may have you pay it back, if it was the later then probably not because either you are them re paying premiums on it. 

They may require you to pay back any benefit premiums (medical, dental, etc) that were paid by them while you were out.

Your best bet is to find out from your company. Ask someone in your HR department.  

bradandkatie

I am not going back to my job after FMLA (more personal issues with my boss than anything else) so I looked into this for my job. I have STD and because it is a private insurance company that pays me I don't have to pay it back because I paid into it with my insurance payments from before, but if I use my other health insurance I will have to pay. I am going to quit my job before my FMLA runs out so they have time to find someone before a big project is due and also before my PTO time is done. If you have an outside STD company you should call them and ask, but I wouldn't call your HR because they can be really sticky with issues like changing your job. If you know someone still at your company you might ask them to look up the policy in the employee handbook or something. That's what I did for the health insurance part. Good Luck!