Disability
K-C provides short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) coverage to eligible employees as income protection if you’re unable to work.
K-C partners with Reliance Matrix (Matrix) to administer STD and leave of absence benefits. LTD coverage is provided through MetLife. Matrix and MetLife are leaders in the industry and have the tools and resources in place to provide you with the support you need during your leave.
Note: Hourly part-time employees (scheduled 20 to 29 hours per week) are only eligible for STD after 12 months of service and aren't eligible for LTD. For employees covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), please refer to your CBA for full details on your disability provisions.
How the STD plan works
K-C’s STD plan design features a seven-calendar-day waiting period (also known as an elimination period), benefit amount based on the weeks your disability, and payment method through K-C payroll.
What's an STD waiting/elimination period?
A waiting period, also known as an elimination period, is the number of calendar days from the date of your eligible disability that you have to wait before your disability benefits begin. K-C’s STD waiting period is seven calendar days. Paid sick leave will automatically be applied for scheduled workdays/shifts during the waiting period. If you don’t have enough sick leave to cover the waiting period, you can choose to use paid time off such as vacation. If you don’t use paid time off, the remainder of the waiting period not covered by your sick leave balance will be unpaid.
Planning your upcoming disability leave?
Read the Disability Guide for step-by-step instructions of the disability claim process and/or the Maternity Leave Checklist for information on K-C’s maternity benefits.
How much is my disability benefit?
Note: The length of your approved disability will depend on your medical condition or diagnosis.
How to File a Claim
Below is an overview of the STD claim process with Matrix. For more detailed information on the step-by-step process, review the K-C Disability Guide.
- Notify your Team Leader of your upcoming absence.
- Review the K-C Disability Guide.
- Apply for your disability claim with Matrix and sign-up to receive text alerts about the status of your claim.
- Review the intake packet from Matrix and complete any follow-up items.
- Matrix requests information from your health care provider and processes your claim.
- Matrix notifies you of their claim decision and manages your claim (if approved).
LTD
If your disability is expected to last beyond the 26 weeks covered under STD, Matrix will notify MetLife on your behalf to start the review of your claim for LTD benefits. MetLife will contact you and your health care provider to collect additional information needed to review your claim.*
*Part-time employees (scheduled 20 to 29 hours per week) are not eligible for LTD.
State Disability Benefits
Depending on the state where you work, you may be entitled to state disability benefits. When you contact Matrix to file your STD claim, they’ll let you know if state benefits may be available and how you can file a claim with the state. Any state disability benefits will reduce the amount of STD benefits you receive from K-C.
Learn More
For detailed information about your disability benefits, access your Disability SPD on kcbenefitcompass.com > Plan Information.
