Insurance and Disability Income Benefit Plan

The United Church of Christ Life Insurance and Disability Income Benefit Plan is designed to support UCC employees in performing their ministries for the church. The Plan provides benefits in the event of death or disability. The Plan is provided through a group insurance contract issued by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

We are pleased to bring you information describing the benefits of the Life Insurance and Disability Income Benefit Plan. These benefits contribute to the security of income for ourselves and those who depend on us. The Plan has three key parts:

• A life insurance program,
  
• A short-term disability program that can replace a portion of income for up to five months, and
  
• A long-term disability program that can replace a portion of income when a disability continues beyond six months.
  

It is very important that you read and consider the information in the paragraph "Timely Enrollment" in the "Enrollment And Coverage" section. The decision not to enroll when you are first eligible means you will be required to furnish evidence of good health, if you choose to apply for this Plan's benefits at a later time.

These benefits are provided through a group insurance contract issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife). Coverage is not automatic and requires payment of individual premiums. This section brings you the highlights of the Plan and does not replace or change the MetLife contract in any of its terms or coverages.

To see the entire description of the Life and Disability plan provided by the UCC in PDF format, please visit the Life & Disability forms area to download the document.

Eligibility for Benefits

Clergy
Lay Employees

Clergy

All full-time ministers and "licentiates" who are active or provisional clergy members of The Annuity Fund - United Church of Christ, for whom or by whom pension dues of at least 11% of salary basis are being paid to that fund, are eligible to apply for coverage. Provisional and theoretical members are eligible for the life insurance portion only.

For the purposes of this Plan, a full-time minister is someone who is:

• Ordained with ministerial standing in an Association of the denomination (or a Conference acting as an Association), AND
  
• Employed full-time by a church or other religious or charitable organization whether or not affiliated with the denomination, OR
  
• Ordained with ministerial standing but self-employed in a field which, in the judgement of The Pension Boards, is related to the mission of the denomination.

• Authorized by an Association or Conference acting as an Association to perform ministerial acts, AND
  
• Employed full-time by a church or other religious organization affiliated with the denomination, AND
  
• Intends to become a full-time minister.
  

Lay Employees

Full-time lay employees who also are members of the Annuity Fund (for whom or by whom pension dues of at least 11% of salary basis are being paid to that fund) are eligible to apply for coverage.

Important Note: Coverage in this Plan is on an individual basis. Only the clergy person or lay employee is covered. For example, where both husband and wife are clergy, each must individually apply for coverage and make appropriate premium payments.