Southern Benefit Administrators Archives

Several changes regarding the SMART Voluntary Short-Term Disability (VSTD) Plan for bus and rail members will take effect Jan. 1, 2023.

The temporary reduction of premiums for Plan participants announced Oct. 21, 2020, will expire Dec. 31, 2022. VSTD premiums will be reset to the standard rates of bus members paying $26.00 and rail members paying $34.50.

The maximum weekly benefit available to bus members participating in the plan will be reduced from $240 to $210. For rail members, the maximum weekly benefit will be reduced from $450 to $402.

Additional details, including notifications from the VSTD Board of Trustees and the full Summary of Material Modifications (SMM), are available in the respective pages in the SMART Member Portal:

For bus members

For rail members

Plan participants with questions or who need more information should contact VSTD plan administrator Southern Benefit Administrators directly at (844) 880-1071.

The SMART Voluntary Short Term Disability Plan (VSTD) has temporarily suspended the elimination period for COVID-19 disabilities. Previously, the waiver of the elimination period began in the month of March and extended through May of this year and then was once again extended until November 2020.
SMART, in conjunction with Southern Benefit Administrators, is pleased to announce that the waiver of the elimination period is being extended through February 28, 2021. Effective with all diagnosed COVID-19 disabilities beginning in the months of March 2020 through February 2021, the Plan’s elimination period will be waived. A member must usually be disabled for 21 days before benefits will begin on the 22nd day. With the waiver of the elimination period, members who have tested positive for COVID-19 will have earlier access to benefits.
The waiting period will be reinstated for COVID-19 disabilities beginning on or after March 1, 2021.
Click here for a pdf of this announcement.