Day One “Short Term” Coverage for Members Seeking Help with Substance Issues

SMART-TD Removes a Barrier to Recovery

June is National Men’s Mental Health Month, a time to have honest conversations about challenges that too many members carry alone. At SMART-TD, we believe one of the strongest things a person can do is ask for help when they need it.

What Changed in 2026?

SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson along with the leadership team of TD’s First Vice President, Brent Leonard, and SMART’s General Secretary Treasurer, John Daniel oversee the Voluntary Short-Term Disability (VSTD) program. This group has approved an important change in 2026. Members who self-report that they need treatment for drug or alcohol dependency will now be eligible for VSTD benefits beginning on day one of an approved claim.

The change reflects a simple principle: No member should face a financial penalty for seeking help.

The VSTD plan is self-funded by SMART and administered by Southern Benefits Administrators, Inc. Designed to work alongside Railroad Retirement sickness benefits, it provides 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week coverage for accidents and sickness, both on and off duty.

Under normal plan provisions, rail and bus members are subject to a 21-day period before benefits begin. For members voluntarily entering treatment for drug or alcohol dependency, that waiting period will no longer apply.

Mental Health and Recovery Matter

Substance use disorders affect transportation workers, families, and communities across this country. They do not discriminate by age, seniority, craft, or job title. Recovery often begins with the difficult decision to admit help is needed, and SMART-TD leadership believes that decision should be supported, not delayed by concerns about lost income.

As a union family, we look out for one another. Members seeking treatment are taking responsibility for themselves, their families, their co-workers, and their future. The last thing they should worry about is whether they can afford to take that first step.

Your Union Stands with You

National Men’s Mental Health Month is also a reminder that too many men are conditioned to carry problems in silence. In our industry, that mindset can be especially common. But strength is not found in suffering alone. Strength is found in taking action, finding support, and making the decision to get healthy.

The message from SMART-TD is straightforward: If you need help, get help. Your union stands with you. This enhancement to the VSTD program is designed to make sure financial concerns are one less barrier between a member and recovery.

Members with questions about the VSTD program can contact Southern Benefits Administrators at 1-844-880-1071, email support@smart-vstd.com, or visit www.smart-vstd.com.

Recovery starts with a single step. SMART-TD is committed to helping our brothers and sisters take it.