Texas Income Protection Plan for State Employees, ERS
In response to a decline in short-term disability claims, ERS has made certain program enhancements for TIPP to continue to support the financial security and overall well-being of employees and their families.
These changes will provide added flexibility related to when employees can access benefits, without increasing premium rates.
Short-term disability waiting period
Starting Sept. 1, 2024, the waiting period before short-term disability benefits begin will reduce from 30 consecutive days to 14 days. This change can help participants begin receiving disability payments sooner, especially those with limited sick leave.
State agency paid parental leave coordination with TIPP short-term disability insurance
Texas Senate Bill 222 became effective in 2023, providing paid leave to eligible state agency employees who are parents of new children. In response to this legislation, ERS has clarified that new mothers participating in TIPP short-term disability insurance do not have to exhaust paid parental leave before they can start receiving short-term disability payments for an eligible maternity claim.
However, they still have to complete the disability waiting period or exhaust all available sick leave, whichever is longer. TIPP coverage will not apply if available sick leave lasts longer than the Maximum Benefit Period.
Note: Paid parental leave under SB 222 is available to an eligible state agency employee—woman or man—who has a newborn or newly adopted child. TIPP disability payments for a maternity claim are available to a woman who:
is pregnant and/or gave birth, and
ERS does not administer paid parental leave. To learn if you are eligible for paid parental leave, contact your human resources department.
TIPP Customer Care is here to answer questions and provide information to current and prospective participants on the advantages of disability insurance. If you have TIPP questions, give us a call toll-free at (855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT.
Call TIPP Customer Care toll-free at
(855) 604-6230 (TDD – 711),
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7
p.m. CT.