The Social Security Administration provides disability benefits to individuals who are not able to work because of a permanent and total disability. Social Security field offices require applicants to submit detailed medical evidence proving the existence of a long-term disability and will not process partial disability or short-term disability claims. Individuals who suffer short-term injuries or short-term disabilities may qualify for standard short-term unemployment insurance from a private insurance company or through their employers.
Employer-Sponsored Short-Term Disability Benefits
Short-term disability benefits for non-work related injuries help employees receive a percentage of their annual salaries during their disability absences. Employees may be using unpaid family and medical leave to excuse their temporary absences from employment. Employers may provide an employer-sponsored disability insurance plan through its private insurance carrier. However, not all employers provide short-term disability insurance coverage.
Individual Short-Term Disability Insurance
Individuals with short-term disabilities may be able to purchase insurance coverage through their own insurance plans. A few insurance carriers such as Met Life offer short-term disability insurance as a separately purchased insurance plan or offer it as a supplement to their existing medical insurance coverage. Employees who are able to purchase short-term disability insurance coverage pay a premium for the insurance coverage and may receive benefits after a waiting period. Generally, insurance companies require recipients to show the existence of a debilitating injury or illness precluding them from working. Most employees cannot qualify for individual short-term coverage and can only receive benefits if their employers provide them with optional coverage.
Workers’ Compensation
Employees who suffer on-the-job injuries or job-related sicknesses may be able to qualify for their state’s unemployment or workers’ compensation programs. To receive workers’ compensation benefits, each state requires injured employees to file claims with the state’s unemployment or workers’ compensation office. Most states provide some form of disability and workers’ compensation insurance for job-related injuries, and each state’s rules vary as to the medical requirements, evidentiary requirements and claim amounts recipients may receive.
Disability Laws
Because the Americans with Disabilities Act may provide limited coverage for short-term disabilities, states may enact their own laws protecting employees with short-term disabilities. States must enforce laws requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations. As required by the U.S. Department of Labor and Equal Employment Opportunities Commission through the Americans with Disabilities Act, short-term disabilities must significantly limit a major life activity. Thus, if the individual’s short-term disability substantially limits a major life activity such as walking, then the employee may be able to request reasonable accommodations.
Since disability laws can frequently change, you should not use this information as a substitute for legal advice. Seek advice through an attorney licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction.
Yongjin Kang - Yongjin graduated from Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor's Degree in psychology and history. She ...
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