Disability Information

Maternity

Maternity Leave is available to all Delta pilots in accordance with PWA Section 13 G. Per the PWA, upon confirmation of pregnancy by a physician, you are required to notify Delta. Refer the to DeltaNet (Flight Operations / Administration / Maternity|Bonding|Parental Leave) for details on reporting your pregnancy.

Upon release from duty for pregnancy, you may use sick leave and unused earned vacation. Once placed on unpaid medical leave, you will be eligible for a 10-week paid maternity leave benefit. Benefits are available until 10-weeks post-delivery. If the maternity benefit is exhausted prior to this, disability benefits under the D&S Plan and DPMA benefits are available.

To file for DPMA benefits, complete the DPMA Disability Claim Form along with your Doctor and send it to Claims@DPMA.org or fax it to (404) 559-9817.

For additional information or support:

Refer to the DPMA Maternity Hints

Contact:
DPMA PRT Jaime Pearson: jpearson@dpma.org or cell: (303) 378-4539
ALPA Pilot Family Matters Committee and request a Pilot Peer Advocate for pregnancy: dalpfmc@alpa.org

Enhanced Disability Benefits (EDB)

EDB is paid by Delta in conjunction with disability and commences when sick leave is exhausted in accordance with PWA Section 26K5.

Enhanced Disability hours are earned at the end of each sick leave year and accrued in a bank. Following the completion of each sick leave year, a pilot who uses less than 80 sick leave hours will be credited 50% of his bank up to 80 hours minus the number of hours used. The max credit per sick leave year is 40 hours.

Your Enhanced Disability bank balance can be found by checking the DeltaNet Self-Service page. This balance is updated yearly at the beginning of each sick leave year. Amounts used during the sick leave year are not deducted until next year’s update.

Enhanced Disability is paid automatically by Delta once you are approved by Harvey Watt for short-term disability. This pay will be included in your Delta disability check. Enhanced Disability is paid at a rate of 80 hours/month. A daily rate is applied for partial months (80 hours/# days in the month).

DPMA benefits begin after your EDB has been exhausted.

Pilot Resource Team (PRT)/Testimonials

The Pilot Resource Team is composed of volunteer Delta pilots who have experienced the challenges of disability firsthand. They provide invaluable support to Delta pilots facing similar circumstances or for questions such as filing for state disability and return to work. In addition, hear from some Delta pilots regarding their personal experiences during their disability event. Meet our PRTs / Testimonials

Return to Work

When you are well, you will be returned to active payroll status upon presentation of a valid First Class Medical Certificate. Contact Pilot Assist to ensure proper procedures are followed. Be aware that this process can occur very quickly, and that you may be assigned training within a few days of return to active status.

If you are disabled in excess of 120 days since your event date, have received a Special Issuance Authorization, or a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) from the FAA, you will be required to certify your return to work through the DHS. The DHS will require the following:

• Delta employee number and an active telephone number;
• Copy of a current and valid FAA First Class Medical certificate, Special Issuance Authorization (SIA) letter or SODA with all pages and attachments; and
• Summary letter or office notes from the treating physician(s) that provides: diagnosis, surgical notes, treatment summary, and date of full release without restrictions.
• A cover letter from the AME of record or Aviation Medicine Advisory Service (AMAS), the aeromedical service provider for ALPA, can provide this information as an acceptable substitute.

For any specific questions regarding a return to work Section 15 review, contact the DHS at: medicalteam@delta.com.

Other Considerations When Returning to Work:

Vacation: In a month that you have scheduled vacation, the vacation will remain unless there is a training conflict. Before February 1 st , you must take any unused vacation by the end of the vacation year. After February 1st but before March 31st , you may take the vacation, to the extent possible, prior to March 31 st or be paid your vacation on April 15th

When vacation bidding next year, your accrued vacation will be proportionately reduced for the time of a leave of absence other than known personal leave or furlough in excess 30-days. If you return after next year’s vacation bids are closed, you will be assigned an available week if you have any vacation accrued. See PWA, Section 7 for detailed vacation bidding information.

Sick Leave: After returning from disability status, you will have no sick leave until you fulfill the requirements set forth in the PWA, Section 14. Your sick leave balance will not recharge until you have completed all required training, including OE. Additionally, if you’ve used all of your sick leave for the present sick leave year, your sick bank won’t be reset until June 1st when the new sick leave year begins. Trips and training dropped due to sick during this period will be accommodated by TD benefits. Contact Harvey Watt for instructions. Remember, no TD benefits are paid for the first seven (7) days of TD.

When you return to work, the PWA allows you to debit up to 50 hours of sick leave from the following year’s sick bank and move it into the current sick year but this election must occur within 30 days of return to active payroll status. See PWA, Section 14D1.

Note: DPMA benefits are available when no sick leave is available and a properly completed DPMA Disability Claim Form (DCF) is submitted.

Quarterly CQ Training/ iCrew: While on disability, it is recommended that you login to iCrew on a regular basis in order to keep your login alive. In addition, when you return from disability, you will need to complete the four (4) most recent Quarterly CQ training events.

Crew Scheduling and Crew Resources: PWA Section 13 discusses the process for communicating to crew resources to which category you will be eligible to return after your disability.

You must be an active pilot to bid for your flying schedule. Bidding closes on the 11th of each month. Until you become requalified and current on your aircraft, your status will be Not Qualified (NQAT). See PWA, Section 14.

Open Enrollment: If you accomplished your Benefits Open Enrollment while disabled, you should be offered an Open Enrollment opportunity to change some benefits elections or add a dependent as an active employee. Contact the ESC (800-MY DELTA / 800 693-3582) for additional information.