What if you can no longer work? Understanding short-term and long-term disability

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Getting support until you’re back on your feet.

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When you start a new job, your employer might offer several different types of insurance. You definitely need health insurance, but what about the other types, like vision and dental?

And here’s a confusing one: Disability insurance. There are two types—short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD). What are they, why are they different, and do you need both kinds? What if your employer doesn’t offer them—should you buy them for yourself?

According to the Council for Disability Awareness, “just over one in four of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before they retire.” If you happen to be one of them (whether temporarily or for a long time), will you be able to pay for your expenses?

Here’s what you should know before signing up for, or declining, STD or LTD coverage.

If you have an illness or injury, you might not be able to do your regular job. Some disability policies require you to find work outside your normal occupation, while others pay benefits if you can’t do the job you’re trained to do.

It’s no fun to think about, but consider:

These events are typically covered by a disability insurance policy (depending on the policy).

If an illness or injury occurs, your employer will most likely keep paying your regular paycheck as you use sick days. If you need more time, their policy might require you to take all of your vacation days next. If you’re still incapacitated after your sick and vacation days are used up, you’ll typically stop receiving your paycheck. Your employer will need to hire someone else to do your job and therefore can’t afford to pay you as well.

If you have short-term disability insurance and go through the claims approval process, you’ll typically receive a check directly from the insurance company (not your employer). Short-term disability benefits usually begin after a waiting period (or “elimination period”) of one to four weeks (during which you’re presumably using your sick and vacation time). It then usually covers the first 3 to 26 weeks (about six months) of an illness or injury, depending on the policy.

Childbirth is typically covered by STD insurance. If your employer doesn’t have a paid maternity leave policy, your insurance plan will likely pay for up to six weeks of time off (longer for a C-section).

If your illness or injury prevents you from working beyond your policy’s waiting period, a typical long-term disability insurance plan will begin to cover your expenses. A typical LTD plan might cost 1% to 3% of your salary, depending on your age and the type of work you do.

This is important: If you plan to sign up for your employer’s long-term disability insurance, do it as soon as you’re eligible (for example, some employers allow you to sign up within 30 days of your first day of work). When you sign up right away, you’re typically not required to take a medical examination or disclose preexisting conditions. If you decide to apply for a policy later on, you might not be so fortunate. The insurance provider could look for reasons to deny coverage, such as high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes.

If you do file a LTD claim, you’ll need to provide your insurance company with proof of your disability throughout your illness or injury recovery period. If you do not provide ongoing proof, which usually includes medical records, your payments will likely end.

Some policies begin to pay benefits if you can’t perform your own occupation due to your disability, but after some length of time, the policy might require you to find another type of work. Other policies only pay for a certain number of years of disability. Make sure to read your plan so you know the details of your specific policy.

Disability plans typically pay between 50% to 80% of the wages you earned before you became sick or injured. Plans often have salary caps, however, such as up to the first $120,000 of your salary.

If you pay disability insurance premiums with your own money (either through a payroll deduction or by purchasing your own plan), your disability income is not taxable.

Your employer is required by the state to have workers’ compensation insurance. If you are injured while you are at work or become ill from a working condition, you must report it to your employer right away. Your employer or its insurance provider will require you to go to certain doctors for treatment, which will be paid for by the company.

If you are unable to work because of the illness or injury, most states will require your employer to pay you two-thirds of your salary after a waiting period of seven days. These payments, which are not taxable, will continue until you are able to return to work.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will make disability payments if you have a disability that’s expected to last 12 months or longer or end in your death.

If you can’t possibly afford any type of disability insurance on your own, you will at least be covered by this insurance. Note that your SSI or SSDI payments will be reduced by any LTD or workers’ compensation you receive.

It’s best to have an emergency fund in place so you have extra money available in case you lose your income for a while. Because a short-term disability event only covers six months, you may not want to pay for short-term disability coverage if your emergency fund is robust. Of course, if your company offers it as a free perk, take it.

Long-term medical issues are unpredictable, so long-term disability insurance is a good thing to have—whether you get it through your employer or buy it on your own (if your employer doesn’t offer a plan). Read and understand the plan details so you get what you expect in the event of an illness or injury.

LTD insurance is particularly important if you have a family that relies on your income. Remember: Insurance is about covering your financial needs during an emergency or catastrophe. A long-term disability would rank pretty high on the catastrophe list.

If you get injured at work, you’ll need to apply for workers’ compensation benefits. And the SSA has you covered if you have a serious condition that is considered terminal, although the benefits may be lower than through other policies.

Long-term and short-term disability insurance are two ways of protecting yourself and your family in the event of an injury or illness. No one can predict or prevent every future mishap, but tools like disability insurance, life insurance, an emergency fund, and estate planning can help you or your loved ones recover financially.