Injury On Duty (IOD)
Contact Information
Health and IOD Text Support Line
The APFA Health and IOD Text Support Line is dedicated to supporting you when you need assistance. We are available M-F during business hours.
Send a message with your name, base, and employee number. One of our Health or IOD Representatives will contact you.
Injury On Duty (IOD) Guide and Checklist
Use the checklist on the left to track what you need to do with injured on duty. You can download a copy of the checklist here.
View and download the complete IOD Guide for step by step instructions, resources, and more information. Log in to access the PDF.
Keep Good Records
It is extremely important to keep an accurate record of everything that happens when your injury occurs until your case is eventually closed. It is advisable to start a folder with all of the records listed below to have all of your documents in one place should you need them.
All paperwork documenting your injury:
— All medical reports and records
— All correspondence with AA, Sedgwick, doctors, nurse case managers, attorneys, or anyone else involved in your case
— Records of all income and benefits received
— A history of the dates you are off work
— A record of your mileage related to your medical treatment
— A diary of your symptoms, treatment, and how your daily activities are affected by the injury
— A telephone log including names, dates, and what was discussed
APFA strongly encourages communication by email for a paper trail.
Dealing with Sedwick CMS
Sedgwick Claims Examiner is responsible for:
— to determine compensability and administer claims in accordance with state law
— to inform you of your legal rights and obligations under the applicable state Work Comp law
— to issue your wage replacement benefits according to state law
— to pay your state acknowledged medical providers for approved services
You are responsible for:
— to stay in communication with your claims manager and to let them know if you are not getting the treatment that you need
— to cooperate with reasonable requests made by Sedgwick in order to investigate your claim
— to attend all reasonable medical appointments scheduled by the insurance company and notify your claims manager as soon as possible if you must reschedule an appointment or if your doctor cancels an appointment
Lack of Contact with Sedwick
If you have reached out to Sedgwick and it has been more than 72 hour or 3 business days (do not include weekends) since someone returned your call or email use the APFA Lack of Contact Form to file a report. Submit a Report Here
Types of Injuries
IOD Terms & Definitions
Workers' Compensation
Sedgwick administers Injury on Duty (IOD) claims with applicable Workers’ Compensation laws for the state in which the injured worker is based. Rules vary by state. All claims are administered and subject to approval by the Company’s Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier Sedgwick.
Worker's Compensation Pay
A Flight Attendant who becomes injured or sick due to an occupational injury or illness shall receive Workers’ Compensation benefits by individual State laws providing the claim is compensable.
The wage replacement benefits that an injured employee may receive are known as Total Temporary Disability (TTD) or Temporary Income Benefits (TIBs).
- TTD/TIBs will be paid directly by Sedgwick CMS according to a state mandated formula. *See Worker's Compensation State Specifics.
- Workers' Compensation benefits are non-taxed.
- Benefit amounts may vary considerably from state to state. Low time fliers will usually get a reduced benefit.
- In some states, your benefits may be reduced if your Doctor says you can perform Light Duty. AA and Sedgwick are aware that Light Duty is not an option for Flight Attendants. Light Duty or Restricted Duty means that you are off work until the Doctor releases you to full duty. (See IOD Work Status Report).
- Employees receiving only Workers' Compensation pay benefits will be placed on unpaid IOD LOA status. This simply means that they are not getting a paycheck from AA.
Find a Worker's Comp Doctor
Preferred Provider Network
The Preferred Provider Network is a nationwide list of approved Workers' Compensation doctors. A medical provider search tool is available at all bases www.iodmedical.com.
State Specific Workers' Compensation Benefits
Statutory Waiting Period
The time frame the injured worker must wait before state mandated workers' compensation payments become available. This waiting period varies from state to state. In order to qualify for state mandated pay, you must exceed the statutory waiting period in your state. You will not receive any pay for the time during the statutory waiting period unless you exceed the Retroactive Period, which also varies from state to state. Work Comp/Medical Benefits should be paid immediately in an approved workers' compensation claim.
Example: In North Carolina there is a 7-day statutory waiting period before you can receive temporary total disability benefits. If you are out of work for less than 7 days, your medical expenses should be paid, but you do not qualify for wage-loss benefits until after the seventh day. You will not receive any wage-loss benefits for the first 7 days of your disability unless you are disabled for more than 21 days.
Notice to Employer
The statutory state time limit that the employee has to notify their employer of a work-related injury and file the claim. If you sustain a work-related injury, immediately notify your employer of the injury at your first opportunity. If your injury developed over a period of time, notify your employer as soon as you have symptoms and realize that you have been injured as a result of your job.
By filing your injury with AA, you can avoid any misunderstanding about whether or not you reported the injury and it will protect your right to workers' compensation benefits.
Notice to Employer is mandated by the state.
State Mandated Workers' Compensation Benefits At-A-Glance
| Jurisdiction | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 66 2/3% | Monthly wage determined by Arizona Industrial Commission | $1,311,59* | $50.00* | Duration of disability or MMI |
| California | 66 2/3% | 52 | $1,619.15* | $194.91* | As of 4/19/04 104 weeks or P&S |
| Florida | 66 2/3% | 13 | $1,260.00* | $20.00* | 104 weeks or MMI |
| Illinois | 66 2/3% | 52 | $1,897.92* | $605.23* | Duration of disability or MMI |
| Massachusetts | 60% | 52 | $1,796.72* | $297.56* | 156 weeks or MMI |
| New York | 66 2/3% | 52 | $1,145.43* | $100.00* | Duration of disability or MMI |
| North Carolina | 66 2/3% | 52 | $1,330.00* | $30.00* | 500 weeks or MMI |
| Pennsylvania | 66 2/3% | 52 | $1,325.00* | Contact your state compensation office | Temporary total disability 104 weeks or MMI Permanent total 500 weeks |
| Virginia | 66 2/3% | 52 | $1,343.00* | $298.75* | 500 weeks or MMI |
| Texas | 70% | 13 | $1,174.00* | $151.44* | 104 weeks or MMI |
*The maximum/minimum weekly payment rates can change from year to year. Contact your state workers' compensation agency for the current max/min weekly payment rates in your state.
Pay & Dues While on IOD
Salary Continuance
In addition to receiving Workers' Compensation benefits, a FA must select a physician from the PPN to be eligible for salary continuance, except in the following cases:
— They live in a state where the Company chooses not to participate in a PPN
— The state does not have a PPN
— The FA's primary residence is more than 45 miles from the nearest PPN provider
The amount of a FAs salary continuance will be equal to their six (6) month average but in no case shall they receive an amount greater than one hundred and ten (110) hours. A FA's salary continuance will be offset by their Workers' Compensation benefits. FAs shall be eligible to receive salary continuance for up to six (6) months. If a FA sustains injuries as a direct consequence of an aircraft accident that results in substantial aircraft damage or a single fatality, they will be eligible to receive salary continuance for up to thirty-six (36) months.
End of the Six-Month Salary Continuance Period
At the end of the six-month salary continuance, if you choose to USE sick hours, you will be placed on a paid Occupational injury/Medical Leave of Absence and, required to use any available sick hours, for all hours of trips missed in your bid line or reserve guarantee.
PROS
Once you have exhausted the six-month Salary Continuance, if using SK hours, you remain active on AA payroll.
— Being active on payroll delays the start of the 5-year clock.
— Being active on payroll will extend the ability to be covered by AA insurance benefits.
— Using with SK hours may generate enough income to cover your normal contributory portion for insurance benefits.
— Using SK hours makes it simple to get LTD payments in a timely manner.
CONS
If you exhaust your SK hours in conjunction with an IOD, it will not be there should other health concerns arise.
Pay While on an IOD
Statutory Waiting Period
This is the period of time an injured worker has to be off work before they are considered eligible for Workers' Compensation pay. The waiting period is determined by state law and begins when the employee is removed from work by a physician for a compensable injury.
The duration is determined by state:
— 3 days: California, Illinois
— 5 days: Massachusetts
— 7 days: Florida, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania
During the statutory waiting period a Flight Attendant must use accrued sick leave hours, if available, or at the FA's option, they may use vacation time when sick leave hours have been exhausted. If a FA received retroactive payments of Workers' Compensation benefits for the statutory waiting period, they will be required to reimburse the Company for any sick leave and vacation used during such period.
IOD DECS Removal Codes
| Code | Notes | Definition/Accruals |
|---|---|---|
| 3S | Reoccurring Injury | Salary Continuance (36) months, active and accrue SK/VC |
| AI | Unpaid | No pay, does not accrue SK/VC, used for Treat and Release |
| AU | Company paid, active and accrue (i.e. AA requested court appearance, IME) | |
| HI | Reoccurring Injury | Recurrent IH, after SC ends paid via sick bank for full line value, active and accrue SK/VC |
| IA | Paid | Pays from sick bank, active and accrue SK/VC, used for Treat and Release |
| IC | New Injury | Salary Continuance (6) months, treatment with a PPN doctor, active and accrue SK/VC |
| ID | Day of Injury - Full Pay, company paid, active and accrue | |
| IH | New Injury | After SC ends and paid via sick bank for full line value, active and accrue SK/VC |
| IR | Recurrent IC, salary continuance (6) months, active and accrue SK/VC | |
| IU | Not active does accrue SK/VC, used if FA does not have enough sick time to cover WI | |
| NU | Reoccurring Injury | Recurrent UN, SC ends no pay from the flight attendant’s sick bank, inactive and does not accrue SK/VC |
| PR | MMI Recode, paid using Sick bank | |
| RU | MMI Recode, no pay | |
| S3 | New Injury | Salary Continuance (36) months, active and accrue SK/VC |
| TU | Paid | Pays from sick bank, active and accrue SK/VC, used for cabin order events |
| UN | New Injury | SC ends no pay from the flight attendant’s sick bank, inactive and does not accrue SK/VC |
| UT | Unpaid | No pay, does not accrue SK/VC, used for cabin order events |
| WI | Accepted IOD claim – State wait period, Sick Bank | |
| WV | Accepted IOD claim, Vacation use |
IOD and Family Medical Leave
The Family Leave Act allows employers to run FML concurrent with a work-related injury, and AA will do so if an injured employee meets the eligibility criteria.
Union Dues
Contact the dues department to check the status of your dues obligation while you are on an IOD. (817) 540-0108 ext. 8469.
Benefits While on an IOD
Maintaining Your AA Benefits and Optional Coverages
Sedgwick CMS, the Worker's Compensation insurance company, is responsible for payment of all approved medical expenses related to the IOD. If you seek medical treatment (other than the initial emergency treatment) without Sedgwick approval, Sedgwick may refuse payment.
You will be responsible for payments of the monthly contributory portion of your personal insurance benefits while on AA payroll and for the first 12 months on an unpaid status. You will be direct billed for your benefits for the first 12 months of an unpaid IOD LOA. After 12 months on an unpaid status, FA's will be given the option to continue their contribution benefits coverage under COBRA.
If you have any outstanding loans with the AA Credit Union or Fidelity 401K, you will need to call them to make payment arrangements.
You are responsible for filing your LTD claim before the 1-year deadline has elapsed, and for supplying MET Disability with requested medical documentation.
Workers' Comp with Long Term Disability (LTD)
This benefit is only available to those who have LTD coverage. Short-term Disability does not cover work related injuries. Always file your LTD claim as soon as possible. There is a one-year filing deadline from the date of disability. The LTD claim form is available on the Benefits page of Jetnet.
LTD benefits begin at the end of 4 months of continuous disability, or when FA's sick bank is depleted, whichever comes later. If your LTD claim is approved, you will receive a minimum benefit as long as you are also receiving Worker's Compensation benefits. LTD benefits are non-taxed.
If you are no longer receiving Workers' Compensation pay, LTD payments is based on 50% of 71 hours of the FA's base pay. In order for LTD to continue beyond 24 months, medical substantiation is required which shows that FA is permanently disabled and cannot perform any type of employment.
Flight Attendants who receive LTD benefits are required to apply for Social Security Disability within 6 months of when the LTD claim is approved. FA's with no LTD coverage may also apply for Social Security Disability. SSD eligibility is normally based on 12 months of continuous disability.
Social Security Disability benefits are taxed as income only if you or your spouse earned taxable income. Contact your local Social Security office or log on to the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/ for more information
Travel Benefits While on IOD
While on an IOD, if eligible, FML will run concurrently with your IOD. During this period, yourself, your eligible dependents and guest travelers will continue to have travel privileges on American, as well as travel on other airlines through ZED agreements (booked through myIDTravel). When traveling on American, you and your dependents will travel D2. Travel privilege for parents (D2P and guest travelers (D3) will continue for the duration of your absence.
If you are not eligible for FML or your FML has exhausted, your travel will be discontinued effective the first day of your paid or unpaid leave of absence for the duration of your leave. However, travel privileges will continue for your eligible dependents, parents and guest travelers on American.
Any exceptions to such travel must be specifically approved in advance and in writing as follows:
- The Worker's Compensation Department must request travel in advance for required medical treatment related to your injury and not locally available.
- Travel booking for medical treatment related to an IOD will be via Comply 365 or the American Airlines IOD Admin team at [email protected]
- If you need ground transportation and hotel accommodations, contact your adjuster at Sedgwick.
- Your FSM may grant an exception to travel for an A9 qualifying emergency with written verification of emergency.
Vacation and IOD
Flight Attendants receiving Salary Continuance shall accrue sick and vacation up to six (6) months. Vacation is banked and the Flight Attendant can rebid their vacation when they return to work for later in the year or carry it over to the next year. If the FA returns to work prior to their originally awarded vacation days, vacation can be reinstated over the original dates or the FA can request a vacation payout for a full or a portion of the remaining vacation days. (See CBA 8.C.7.d.i)
Additional Supplemental Coverage
If you happen to carry any additional supplemental coverages from AFPA and or American Airlines. You may be entitled to additional benefits. APFA encourages every flight attendant to contact their provider. Example: Accident Insurance, Continental for LUS.
Denied Claims or Benefits
Resources While on an IOD or Leave
Clearing From an IOD
If you receive treatment at a hospital, clinic or an urgent care facility and you are released to full duty, you will need to fax your release to Sedgwick at (859) 280-3274. It is also a good idea to fax your release to the AA IOD Admin Team at (682) 275-9015.
The FA's Workers Comp treating doctor must provide medical documentation to show that the FA can return to full duty and able to perform the physical demands of the Flight Attendant position. Many doctors are unfamiliar with the physical specifications of the Flight Attendant job, so make sure that your doctor has reviewed the Flight Attendant job description in order to adequately judge your ability to return to full duty with no restrictions.
FAs are responsible to contact the AA's IOD administration to return to work. They will advise you of any return to work requirements such as training, fingerprinting, drug testing, and making sure you are current with your AA IDs or local base badges. Once you have cleared from your IOD, contact the AA training department with questions regarding any training you may have to attend. If you have questions about the timelines for training, contact the APFA contract rep on duty at [email protected].
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-Th: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Live Chat Messaging
Fridays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-Th: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Live Chat Messaging
Fridays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-Th: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Live Chat Messaging
Fridays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
Social Security Disability Benefits