Leave & Disability

NorthWestern Energy understands the value of benefits that provide important financial protection and security for you and your family in the event that you need to take time away from work. 

How do I file my disability claim/leave?

Short-Term Disability Insurance

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Short-Term Disability Insurance

Think of disability insurance as protection for your paycheck. NorthWestern Energy provides, at no cost, short-term disability (STD), which provides up to 26 weeks of income assistance if you're unable to work due to your own qualifying illness or injury that is not work-related. The benefit replaces all or a portion of your pre-disability pay and extends for up to 180 days.

There is a waiting period before STD benefits begin that is generally satisfied by using PTO. Lincoln Financial administers the benefit and the company pays the benefit.

Please view the Plan Summary for additional information.
Plan Summary

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Man with disability with his service dog using electric wheelchair.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

NorthWestern Energy provides, at no cost, long-term disability (LTD), which replaces a portion of your income if you're unable to work for an extendend period of  time due to your own qualifying illness or injury that is not work-related.

There is a waiting period before LTD benefits begin and STD generally satisfies the waiting period. The benefit provides income replacement of 60% of your pre-disability pay with a maximum monthly benefit of $15,000. Lincoln Financial administers and pays the benefit.

Please view the Plan Summary for additional information.
Plan Summary

Family and Medical Leave (FML)

Image of senior disabled person holding walking

Family and Medical Leave (FML)

Consistent with federal law, NorthWestern Energy will grant eligible employees up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a calendar year for:

  • Birth or adoption of a child;
  • Employee's own serious health condition;
  • To care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition;
  • To care for a covered military service member recovering from an illness or injury sustained during active service (allows for an additional 14 weeks of leave)

Employees are required to use available PTO for the leave before unpaid FML. The leave is generally paid using PTO.  PTO, STD and Workers' Compensation run concurrently with FML and count toward the total 12 or 26 weeks of FML available. Lincoln Financial administers the benefit.

Click on the Benefit Policy link below for additional information.

Benefit policy

Parental Leave

The NorthWestern Energy short term disability plan provides income replacement for any period of disability arising from pregnancy complications, in addition to the postpartum recovery period associated with the birth. Short Term Disability and Family & Medical Leave are administered by Lincoln Financial Group.
Benefit Policy

Bereavement Leave

NorthWestern Energy provides paid time off for grieving the loss of a loved one, attending funeral services, making funeral arrangements and addressing other matters related to the loss of the employee’s spouse, child, parent, sibling, stepsibling, grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law, daughter/son-in-law, or brother/sister-in-law. Click on the Benefit Policy link, below, for additional information.
Benefit Policy