LTD
 

Yes

Our benefit tax free and Delta taxable

Also ALPA has a couple seats at the table for LTD approval at UA

Not so at Delta

Yes it’s tax free just like SWA’s. The point remains valid that we are lacking in this benefit.

It is half of what a typical captain nets after taxes/deductions per month and thus not replacement income. We need this addressed in the upcoming contract and I will reach out to my rep and express my concern as many of you will I know. Hope to never use it but willing to pay more (and ask the company to do the same)for the peace of mind.

Having ridden the lightning of LTD, I make sure I point out to every Captain I fly with just how insufficient the current 8k tax free is, with nothing going into retirement.

The most important things in our next contract aren’t Pay rates.

Good luck with that. I can hear it now, "being on LTD is a choice". "Why should I have to pay for those who didn't take care of themselves" etc. Pay rates are everything to (almost) everyone. You could drive a TT through some of the sections of our contract.

Ditto. The child like innocence/ignorance is painful to see sometimes. If you haven’t been out sick or injured for an extended period you’ve got no idea how fast your world goes to crop.

Correct and this is the reason why the LTD are not deductible as a business expense.

Does anyone do the optional LTD lump sum policy offered by ALPA???

Since you pay the premiums yourself it should be tax free. Since at Delta the benefit is free you are required to pay taxes except for the 32% retirement contribution.

Some truth to that ...but how many pilots believe so strongly in their future good health that they choose not to carry LTD, or medical insurance for that matter ? Accidents and illness can happen at any moment and I think most of us realize being in perfect "First Class Medical" health until age 65 is nowhere near guaranteed. I once heard that 50% of the pilots do not make it to retirement age....I doubt that statistic but it made me want to ensure that I had adequate LTD coverage since day one.
Would pilots give up a few dollars of pay rates for a better LTD package....? Maybe, but keep in mind it's self funded ....so it's really about monthly premiums.