What is Short-Term Disability?

Short-term disability benefits are designed to protect you if you cannot perform your regular occupation for a short period of time. Short-term disability insurance is usually purchased as an employee benefit through your employer. Many employers offer a self-funded short-term disability plan where a third party administers the plan.

How long is short-term disability?

Short-term disability benefits can be from 11 weeks (about 2 and a half months) to 26 weeks (about 6 months). After your short-term disability benefits are exhausted, they can convert to long-term disability benefits if the benefits are with the same insurance company.

Most short-term disability policies will not allow you to pursue short-term disability benefits if your disability is work-related. This exclusion can be difficult when the workers’ compensation insurance company has denied that you sustained a work-related injury, because the short-term disability insurance company could still deny the short-term disability claim by saying your disability was work-related.

Please contact our office if your short-term disability insurance company has denied your benefits. We are well-prepared to file an appeal of your denial and get you the benefits you deserve.

Is short-term disability taxable?

In the instances where the employer funds the plan, the short-term disability benefits will be taxable.

Contact Pond Lehocky Giordano for more information.

If you have questions about your short- or long-term disability benefits, contact us to speak with an attorney for a free consultation.