Benefits Resources

Visit TCCS Benefits Page for the most updated information

ARP Retirement Guide – English | Spanish

Benefits When You Leave The Claremont Colleges – English | Spanish

How much time after my start date do I have to enroll in benefits?
- As a new employee you must apply for benefits during your “Initial Eligibility Period,” that is, within 30 days of your hire date. If your date of employment is the first of the month, your coverage will become effective on your first day of employment. If your date of employment is any date other than the first day of the month, your benefits coverage will become effective the first day of the following month.

What is Family Medical Leave (FMLA)?
- Care of a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition; Birth or adoption of a child, or placement of a foster child; or For the employee’s own serious health condition.
- FMLA allows for 12 weeks* of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for:
  - Care of a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition;
  - Birth or adoption of a child, or placement of a foster child; or
  - For the employee’s own serious health condition.

What is the California Voluntary Disability Insurance (VDI) Plan?
- Voluntary Disability Insurance (VDI) is a private, short-term disability insurance plan that employers can offer to their California employees. It’s a legal alternative to the mandatory California State Disability Insurance (SDI) plan.
- This income protection plan pays a benefit if you are unable to work due to a non-work related illness or injury, as well as maternity. If you work in California, we automatically enroll you in the VDI plan starting on your date of hire.
- Does the employee have to pay taxes on the disability benefits received under the CA VDI plan? No. All disability benefits are tax-free.
- Employee contributions are maintained in a special account established to pay the claims and expenses of the CA VDI plan. This account is audited by the State of California to ensure that only plan expenses are billed to the account. In addition, any savings from the plan must be used exclusively for the benefit of the participating employees in some manner, such as further improvements in plan benefits, funding of other benefit plans for employees, or reducing the contributions of the plan participants in future years.

What is Paid Family Leave (PFL)?
- Paid Family Leave (PFL) was mandated by California law for claims commencing on or after July 1, 2004. Paid Family Leave is unemployment compensation disability insurance paid to workers who suffer a wage loss when they take time to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Paid Family Leave contributions are part of the same deduction taken from the wages of employees who are covered by CA SDI or a CA VDI plan. Benefits received under Paid Family Leave are federally taxable.
- Are Paid Family Leave benefits the same as disability benefits? No. The Paid Family Leave benefit amount and length of payment are different from disability.
- When should the employee file a claim for Paid Family Leave? The employee may file a claim for Paid Family Leave benefits for the following reasons:
  - To care for a seriously ill minor or adult child, spouse, parent or state-registered domestic partner
  - To bond with a new child or the new child of a spouse or state-registered domestic partner
  - To bond with a child in connection with the adoption or foster care placement of the child with the employee, their spouse or state-registered domestic partner.
Questions or Need Assistance? Contact TCCS Disability Administration at disability@claremont.edu or (909) 621-8847.
Please refer to Employee Handbook for a more in depth overview of all leaves available for employees as well as the Paid Sick Leave Policy.