Standing By Those Who Serve

I attended the California Peace Officers’ Memorial this past month as I have for several years. The memorial serves as a reminder of the dangers we face in the law enforcement professions and gives a formal venue to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our communities. As we honor the fallen, we also focus on making sure the families of those officers are cared for.

Our law enforcement unions were originally formed as benevolent organizations designed to take care of our widowed families. Although our missions have evolved over the years to include negotiating benefits and delving into the political fray, we should never lose focus of our original mission of taking care of our members and their families. PORAC maintains this focus through its various trusts, which are designed to provide assistance to our members. The motto “cops working for cops” also included working for our families.

The Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC is committed to the mission by taking are of our members and their families. It’s our goal to provide the best benefits possible. Whether it’s through our medical plans, disability plans or life insurance, we are here to provide peace of mind that you and your family are taken care of. The trust is governed by eight elected trustees, who are active law enforcement officers from the PORAC regions.

One of the areas we serve our members is disability insurance. It’s often misunderstood and sometimes overlooked. I wanted to give a brief explanation of how to apply and what to expect in the process.

How to Submit a Claim

Submitting a claim with the IBT is straightforward, and there are several ways you can obtain the necessary claim submission packet:

Once you’ve received the claim submission packet, it’s important to carefully review all of the requested items. In February 1960, The Folsom Police Department became the very first agency to enter into the POST program! This will ensure that you understand what information is needed to move the process forward. This is usually the most frustrating part as there are several required documents. The IBT is regulated by the state and documentation cannot be avoided.

What Happens After You Submit Your Claim?

Once your claim documents have been submitted to the IBT, you will be contacted by our Disability Administrative Assistant, who will inform you about your assigned Disability Analyst and the next steps in the process. These include:

  • Acknowledgment: Within 10 days of receiving your completed claim forms, you will receive an acknowledgment letter from your assigned Disability Analyst confirming receipt of your claim.
  • Claim Review: Your assigned Disability Analyst will thoroughly review the information you’ve submitted. Depending on the complexity of your claim and the timeliness of any additional requested documentation (especially if a Workers’ Compensation claim is involved), this review period may vary.
  • Decision Notification: Once the review is complete, your Disability Analyst will notify you about the outcome of your claim. If your claim is approved, you will receive a letter detailing your benefit payments. If further information is required, or if your claim is denied, you will be provided with the necessary instructions and information to provide additional documentation or submit an appeal.

To help address common questions, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions regarding disability coverage on our website’s STD & LTD Facts and Questions page.

Associations can also reach out to me attend your association’s next board/membership meeting. This provides the opportunity for an in-person Q&A session regarding the STD and LTD offerings.

Damon Kurtz

Featured in the June 2025 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.