| It is all too often that I hear Federal Government | | | | fair to say that most people cannot survive on |
| employees speaking of how great their benefits are | | | | 45-50% of their regular income. |
| because they work for the Federal Government. In | | | | The FERS program takes this shortage of coverage |
| some ways they are correct - the Federal | | | | even further. It works very similarly in that 60% of |
| government does provide high quality benefits for its | | | | your annual income is covered, but only for the first 12 |
| employees and in most cases they are very well | | | | months of a disability claim. After the first 12 months, |
| taken care of. In regard to their group Long-Term | | | | your benefits will drop to 40% of your income. Once |
| Disability insurance however, the Federal Employee | | | | again, I believe it is fair to state that most people |
| Retirement System (FERS) program falls short of their | | | | cannot survive on 40% of their regular income. |
| elite reputation. | | | | There are many details associated with the FERS |
| Traditionally, group Disability insurance will cover 60% | | | | Disability insurance program and as a Federal |
| of a person's salary up to a maximum monthly benefit | | | | employee you should take the time to fully understand |
| of $6,000 - $10,000. If the employer pays the | | | | them. If you are serious about protecting your income |
| premiums, benefits are received on a taxable basis | | | | and the future of your loved ones, you need to |
| and will be considered ordinary income. With benefits | | | | understand the coverage you have so that you can |
| being taxable, even someone who has group | | | | obtain an individual policy to cover the gap in your |
| coverage like this can experience a severe shortage | | | | coverage. You can learn more about the specifics of |
| of income if they become disabled. When 60% of | | | | the FERS Disability program by visiting Disability |
| your salary is provided on a taxable basis, it is the | | | | Insurance Resources and selecting "Disability |
| equivalence of having 45-50% coverage. I think it is | | | | Insurance for Federal Employees". |