Long-Term Disability Insurance

The need to be better prepared for life events that keep us out of work has become more important than ever before. Disability insurance provides a steady stream of income to help cover your bills and expenses when an injury or illness keeps you away from work.

Enroll today for Long-Term Disability Insurance

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Long-Term Disability Insurance Options

Long-Term Disability

Under the Kyndryl Long-Term Disability Plan (the “LTD Plan”), you are eligible for a monthly income benefit, subject to the limitations and conditions of the Plan, if you are disabled and have completed the elimination period.

Long-Term Disability – All Regular FT & PT Employees

Kyndryl automatically provides coverage of 50% of your regular monthly compensation at no cost to you.

You may choose to purchase coverage of 66 2/3% of your regular monthly compensation during annual enrollment. Rates vary based on age and regular monthly compensation, and premiums are deducted on a pre-tax basis. Rates may be revised annually and are provided in a supplemental sheet that is available from the Fidelity Benefits Center upon request. If you do not purchase 66 2/3% coverage during annual enrollment, your default coverage will be 50%.

If you wish to increase your LTD coverage (from 50% to 66 2/3%) at a later time, you may do so during annual enrollment and a medical review will be required.

Learn more about Long-Term Disability Insurance by watching this informational video

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Long-Term Disability Insurance FAQs

In an effort to modernize the LTD plan, Kyndryl has made the following plan design changes:

  1. Kyndryl is moving away from the “less than” and “greater than” 5 years of service plan requirements. Starting January 1, 2023, all employees will be automatically enrolled in the 50% LTD plan which will be 100% paid by Kyndryl. Employees will still have the option to elect the 66 2/3% LTD buy-up plan which would be employee paid on an after-tax basis.
  2. The cost of the 66 2/3% LTD buy-up plan will be paid with after-tax dollars, making LTD payments partially taxable, rather than 100% taxable. More specifically, LTD payments attributable to the Kyndryl paid portion of LTD would be taxable income; LTD payments attributable to the 16 2/3% buy up would generally not be deemed taxable income.
  3. Kyndryl is changing the Definition of Disability. Beginning January 1, 2023, during the first 24 months of disability, an employee will be deemed disabled if they are found to be unable to earn 80% or more of their pre-disability earnings in their own occupation. After the first 24 months, an employee will be deemed disabled if they are found to be unable to earn 60% or more of their pre-disability earnings at a job in any occupation. The percentage of earnings an employee can make while disabled is often referred to as an “earnings test”. Prior to 2023, during the first 12 months of disability, an employee would be deemed disabled if they were unable to perform the material duties of a job in their own occupation. After the first 12 months of disability, an employee would be deemed disabled if they were unable to perform the material duties of a job in any occupation. There was no earnings test (unable to earn 80% or 60% clause) prior to January 1, 2023.
  4. Kyndryl is changing to the maximum benefit duration period where the duration would be the greater of Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) and MetLife’s Reducing Benefit Duration (RBD) schedule. Prior to 2023. Employees who were disabled prior to age 60, had a maximum benefit duration to age 65. Employees who were disabled on or after age 60, had a maximum benefit duration of 5 years. (Note: any employee currently under age 63 has SSNRA of age 67).
  5. Portability, which provides an employee the option of continuing their LTD coverage after they separate from Kyndryl under a MetLife group policy separate from Kyndryl, is being removed from the plan.
  6. LTD Elimination Period language has been updated to ensure there is no overlap of STD and LTD benefits when an employee transitions from STD to LTD.

For questions on details of plan changes or how this impacts your disability claim, please contact MetLife on 1-833-431-1526

Kyndryl has decided to make changes to both the STD and LTD plan design to align with current industry standards and practices.

Generally speaking, “own-occupation” will define “total disability” as a condition that prevents the insured from performing the substantial and material duties of his or her regular/own occupation, while an “any-occupation” will define “total disability” as being unable to work in any occupation.

The Elimination Period (EP) is defined as is the number of days, starting from the day an employee first becomes disabled, that an employee must be out of work to qualify for Long-Term Disability. The LTD EP is the greater of 180 days and the maximum duration of STD. During the Kyndryl LTD EP, no LTD benefits are paid.

Consider any expenses you may incur in the running of your household, including car payments, mortgage payments, groceries, childcare, tuition and more, that would still need to be covered in the event of a disability.

Depending upon the amount of coverage you choose, payment will be made directly to you — not your employer, hospital, doctor or insurance company.

Enrolling in a plan is not mandatory, but it is a good idea and an affordable way to help protect your income. Without disability insurance, you may need to use your savings or tap into other assets to cover your essential living expenses while you recover from an accident or illness.

Enroll Today

Take this opportunity to enroll for long-term disability benefits

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1 Like most disability income insurance policies, MetLife’s policies contain certain exclusions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. Please refer to the Kyndryl Summary Plan Description for more details or call the Fidelity Benefits Center – 800-835-5095.