TIPP is the name of the self-funded disability income benefits plan for the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) through the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

This refers to short-term and long-term disability coverage that protects your income by paying a percentage of your paycheck to you when you become disabled and cannot work due to illness, injury or pregnancy.

TIPP is the third-party administrator. In addition to providing customer service, they also administer claims processing for both the short-term and long-term disability plans offered through TIPP.

The Master Benefit Plan Document (MBPD PY 2023—Effective 1/1/23) (1.1MB) describes TIPP benefits available to eligible employees. It includes information regarding:

• who is eligible;
• when coverage begins and ends;
• how benefits are calculated;
• when benefits are not payable (called Limitations and Exclusions);
• how benefits are paid; and
• more about the TIPP program.

The Master Benefit Plan Document (MBPD PY 2023—Effective 1/1/23) (1.1MB) supersedes all other print and electronic documentation about the TIPP program.

See the prior year’s Master Benefit Plan Document: Master Benefit Plan Document (MBPD PY 2018—Effective 9/1/17) (306k).

No, you can enroll in one or both plans. Review the sections below to learn more about each plan.

You can enroll within 31 days of your hire date, during your Summer Enrollment phase or if you have a qualifying life event (QLE), such as marriage or new children.

The best time to enroll is within 31 days of your hire date because you don’t need to provide evidence of insurability (EOI).

EOI is an application process in which you provide documentation on the condition of your health to determine eligibility for TIPP coverage. This means coverage is subject to approval. Reference the TIPP EOI webpage for more information.

During the first 24 months of a disability claim, “total disability” refers to a participant who can’t do his or her job due to a disability that has been certified by an approved practitioner. After the first 24 months, this definition changes.

Yes. You cannot submit a disability claim for a medical condition for which you had medical treatment, advice or services, or prescription drugs or medicine in the three months prior to the date your disability coverage started. After six months of coverage, you may submit a disability claim for that condition.

In addition, visit the Limitations and Exclusions page on the TIPP website for other information that explains when you wouldn’t be eligible to receive disability payments.

It is covered if the pregnancy did not begin before your coverage. TIPP also coordinates with Paid Parental Leave (applicable only to eligible state agency employees). You may call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711) about your situation.

If your disability premiums are deducted from your paycheck after taxes, your disability payments are not taxable income.

If your employer pays:

• all your disability premiums, disability payments are taxable income.
• a percentage of your disability premiums, the same percentage of your disability payments are taxable income.

Yes. Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711) and request that taxes be withheld from your disability payments. For questions, see a tax advisor about income tax liability, and your benefits coordinator about your disability premiums and taxable income.

You must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be certified as totally disabled by a physician.
• Your claim must be approved.
• You must complete the waiting period of 14 consecutive days and use all sick leave entitlements.

Benefits are not payable until you complete the waiting period and use all sick leave.

Written notice of claim must be given to TIPP within 12 months after the occurrence of any disability covered by the Plan.

You have two ways to file a claim:

1. The TIPP Self-Service on www.texasincomeprotectionplan.com
   • First-time users must select “Are you a new user?” and follow the instructions to create a User ID and password. If you forget your User ID and/or password, select “Forgot User ID or Password” on the self-service login page and follow the instructions.
   • Once you are logged in, from the Welcome page, select “My Disability Request” or “My Maternity Request” (whichever is applicable) to initiate a new claim.
2. Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT. Select the option for employees and follow the prompts to speak with a representative.

Within 24 hours after you file a claim (online or by phone), a claim manager will contact you to get more information.

You can check in two ways:

1. The TIPP Self-Service on the TIPP website, even if you filed your claim by phone.
2. Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT.

Once approved, your benefit is 66% of your insured monthly salary. See the example below:

Your monthly payments are less if you get benefit payments from other sources, such as:

• Workers’ Compensation,
• Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) disability retirement benefits,
• Teacher Retirement System (TRS) of Texas disability retirement benefits, or
• other disability payments.

The date of your first payment depends on when you complete the waiting period and use all sick leave entitlements. After the first payment, all other payments are issued the first of the month.

The safest and quickest way to get your disability payments is with direct deposit. To set up direct deposit, use the Direct Deposit Form on the TIPP website or call TIPP Customer Care.

You can also have your payment mailed to your home.

Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711) for assistance.

This is a period of time before you can get disability benefits. For short-term disability, the waiting period is 14 consecutive days. During the waiting period, you must also use all sick leave, extended sick leave and sick leave pool. You is not required to use vacation or other annual leave. Benefits are not payable until you complete the waiting period and use all sick leave.

You may file an appeal. Here’s how the appeals process works:

You must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be certified as totally disabled by a physician.
• Your claim must be approved.
• You must complete the waiting period of 180 consecutive days and use all of your sick leave entitlements. Benefits are not payable until you complete the waiting period and use all sick leave.

You have two ways to file a claim:

1. The TIPP Self-Service on www.texasincomeprotectionplan.com
   • First-time users must select “Are you a new user?” and follow the instructions to create a User ID and password. If you forget your User ID and/or password, select “Forgot User ID or Password” on the self-service login page and follow the instructions.
   • Once you are logged in, from the Welcome page, select “My Disability Request” to initiate a new claim.
2. Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT. Select the option for employees and follow the prompts to speak with a representative.

Within 24 hours after you file a claim (online or by phone), a claim manager will contact you to get more information.

You can check in two ways:

1. The TIPP Self-Service on the TIPP website, even if you filed your claim by phone.
2. Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT.

Once approved, your benefit is 60% of your insured monthly salary. Here’s an example:

Your monthly payments are less if you get benefit payments from other sources like:

• Social Security disability payments (applies to long-term disability only),
• Workers’ Compensation,
• Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) disability retirement benefits,
• Teacher Retirement System (TRS) of Texas disability retirement benefits, or
• other disability payments.

The date of your first payment depends on when you complete the waiting period and use all sick leave entitlements. After the first payment, all other payments are issued the first of the month.

The safest and quickest way to get your disability payments is with direct deposit. To set up direct deposit, use the Direct Deposit Form on the TIPP website or call TIPP Customer Care.

You can also have your payment mailed to your home.

Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711) for assistance.

This is a period of time before you can get disability benefits. For long-term disability, the waiting period is 180 consecutive days. During the waiting period, you must also use all sick leave, extended sick leave and sick leave pool. You are not required to use your vacation or other annual leave. Benefits are not payable until you complete the waiting period and use all of sick leave.

You may file an appeal. Here’s how the appeals process works: