Apply For Short Term Disability Online

How To Initiate A Claim For Benefits

How Do I Apply For My Short-Term Disability Benefits | Disability Insurance Answers

Your contact information
Disability details
Physician contact information

A MetLife Claims specialist will be in touch within 1-2 business days to confirm next steps *Online claim submissions are not available to all groups. Please call 888-608-6665 if you are not eligible to file online.

Timing Of Base Period

Here’s a chart showing your base period for recent and upcoming quarters.

Date Claim Filed

Because the state uses your highest-paid quarter of your base period to calculate your weekly payment, the date you file your claim can affect your benefits amount. You can use this to your advantage by choosing the date that will give you the base period with the highest wages, but you must file a claim with EDD within seven weeks of becoming unable to work.

What You Need For Apply For Ssdi Or Ssi Benefits

You will get a faster decision when you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income with the Social Security Administration if you provide:

Your Social Security number
Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers
Laboratory and test results
Names, addresses, phone and fax numbers of your doctors, clinics and hospitals
Names of all medications you are taking
Names of your employers and job duties for the last 15 years

If you are applying for a child, you also need school records regarding your child’s disability.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don’t wait to file your claim for disability payments even if you don’t have all this information.

If you think you may be eligible for payments, call 772-1213 to file a claim or contact your local Social Security Office . You must contact the Social Security Administration to apply for benefits. If you are looking for an online application for either SSDI or SSI visit ssa.gov. For an update on case status call the Vocational Disability Examiner as identified in your introductory claimant letter

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My Benefits Online Member Solution For Disability Claims

Submit and manage your disability claims online through My Benefits, our self-service tool.

Submit a new disability claim
Link to existing disability claims
Access and review your claim documents
Upload supporting documents
Track the status of your disability claims
Review your payment history
Send and receive secure messages

Best For Shortest Elimination Period: Haven

Haven Life

Maximum issue age is 55
Maximum benefit period of 12 months
Not available in all states

Haven offers the shortest elimination period of the companies we reviewed that offer STD insurance to individuals. You can choose an elimination period of 14 days, 30 days, or 60 days and a benefit period of three, six, or 12 months. Policies are guaranteed renewable until age 65, and policies are generally affordable.

Plus, you can get a quote and apply directly from Havens website for an instant coverage decision. We also appreciate the information, ease of use, and transparency the Haven website provides. Though Haven is a young company, policies are backed by MassMutual, which has an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, which is the highest possible.

There are some limitations to Havens policy, however. The maximum benefit period is one year and the maximum monthly benefit is $5,000 or 60% of your income, so higher income individuals may be better served by Mutual of Omaha. Whats more, youll need to go with another company if youre over 55 or live in CA, DE, FL, MT, ND, NY, SD, or WY.

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What Should You Know When Buying Short Term Disability Insurance

Before you start shopping for short term disability insurance, check with your employer to see if a policy is available at work, and look into the disability benefits offered in your state, so you know whether to factor something like temporary disability insurance into your overall plan. When comparing policies, you should know how much income youll need to replace if youre unable to work and how long youll need to receive benefits. If you have a long term disability policy in place, youll want to make sure that your short term benefits dont run out before your long term benefits begins, so plan to have a short term policy that will cover you during the waiting period, or elimination period, in your long term policy.

Next Steps For Apply For Ssdi Or Ssi Benefits

Evidence required by DDS for case documentation

Once you apply for disability benefits with the SSA, the Disability Determination Services , a division of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, will review your case. DDS will review medical information and vocational information, if necessary, that includes:

A history of all work performed in the last 15 years
A description of the physical demands and skill requirements for each job
Educational history

When all required medical and vocational information is received, the disability examiner and staff physician and/or psychologist carefully evaluate each claim, using a sequential evaluation process.

The following people or agencies can help supply the information that is needed to process a claim for disability benefits.

Treating physicians and psychologists
Consultative examinations authorized by the DDS

Non-physician health care professionals

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Applying For State Temporary Benefits

1Check if your state offers benefits. Currently, only a few states require short-term disability benefits: California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. The benefits differ depending on the state. In Hawaii, for example, employees can get up to 26 weeks of temporary disability benefits. In California, workers can get up to a year in benefits.XResearch source

The amount of the benefit differs by state. In California, benefits are 55% of the wages the employee earned in the year before applying for benefits. New York employees can receive 50% of their average wage .

Some of these states mandate that employers purchase private short-term disability for their employees from a private insurer. Do not be surprised if you have to file a claim with a private insurer.

2See if you qualify. Each state also has different qualifying criteria. You must meet the criteria in order to qualify. To find your states requirements, you should check with your Department of Labor.

In Hawaii, for example, employees must have worked at least 20 hours a week for a minimum of 14 weeks. They also must have been paid at least $400 in wages per week.XResearch source

3Notify your employer that you are disabled. You should tell your employer that you need to apply for short-term disability benefits. Your employer should then provide you with the appropriate form to complete.XResearch source

Is Your Condition Severe

Can you apply for Social Security Disability Benefits while on short term disability?

Your condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work-related activities, such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, or remembering for at least 12 months. If it does not, we will find that you do not have a qualifying disability.

If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, we go to Step 3.

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What Is The Difference Between Short

The Family and Medical Leave Act is a helpful regulation that allows employees to take leave if they are ill, injured, or need to care for a family member, without fear of losing their job in the process. FMLA is not paid leave, however, and only protects your position at your place of work for up to 12 weeks.

On the other hand, short-term disability insurance does provide paid coverage if you need to take leave due to an injury or illness. The exact financial coverage and benefit period that your short-term disability coverage will offer depends on the exact policy you purchase.

Benefits For Your Spouse

Benefits are payable to your spouse:

Age 62 or older, unless your spouse collects a higher Social Security benefit based on their earnings record. The benefit amount for your spouse is permanently reduced by a percentage, based on the number of months up to their full retirement age.
At any age if they are caring for your child under age 16 or who was disabled before age 22, and is entitled to benefits.

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Short Term Disability Insurance

Available through the workplace, this coverage helps protect your income if you cant work after an accident or illness.

Weekly payments: receive a portion of your salary for 3 months to 1 year, depending on your policy

Rehab incentives: coverage may include financial incentives designed to help you transition back to work

Easy claims filing: report claims online or by phone

Competitive rates: this group coverage is offered only through employers

For complete plan details, talk to your companys benefits administrator.

Is Short Term Disability Insurance Worth It

Whether a short term disability policy is right for you is a decision only you can make. But considering that over 1 in 4 of todays 20-year-olds will become disabled before they retire,3 having a short term disability policy in place can help you feel confident that youre protected, whatever challenges life may bring. If youre not sure how a short term disability policy will fit into your overall financial plan, talk with a financial professional who can help you figure out how to best protect yourself.

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Can You Do Any Other Type Of Work

If you cant do the work you did in the past, we look to see if there is other work you could do despite your medical impairment.

We consider your medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have. If you cant do other work, well decide you qualify for disability benefits. If you can do other work, well decide that you dont have a qualifying disability and your claim will be denied.

What Qualifies For Short

To qualify for short-term disability benefits, an employee must be unable to do their job, as deemed by a medical professional. Medical conditions that prevent an employee from working for several weeks to months, such as pregnancy, surgery rehabilitation, or severe illness, can qualify to receive benefits. Since employers in most states must legally provide workers’ compensation insurance to all employees, any injuries incurred on the job are typically covered under a workers’ comp policy and are therefore not eligible for short-term disability.

While most non-work-related temporary medical conditions are covered by a short-term disability policy, there can be exclusions for preexisting conditions or intentional and foreseeable injuries . While employees can qualify for time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a sick relative, most short-term disability policies would not provide benefits if the covered employee is not the one with the illness.

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What Conditions Qualify For Short Term Disability

Cancer, pregnancy, mental health issues, injuries and musculoskeletal diseases are among the top reasons for disability claims. Coverage varies by policy, but your plan should outline if there are any conditions that would be exempt from coverage under your policy. Unlike Workers Compensation, short term disability insurance pays benefits for an injury or illness unrelated to your job. You can also purchase additional cancer, accident or critical illness insurance to supplement your short term disability benefits if youre unable to work for one of those reasons.

What Happens If The Dac Gets Married

California EDD- Applying for short term and long term Disability Insurance in California

If the child receives benefits as a DAC, the benefits generally end if they get married. However, some marriages are considered protected.

The rules vary depending on the situation. Contact a Social Security representative at 1-800-772-1213 to find out if the benefits can continue.

1-800-772-1213

To speed up the application process, complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of your appointment.

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How Long Ltd Benefits May Be Payable

These benefits will begin after you have been disabled for 180 calendar days and are reduced by any sick leave you use. LTD benefits end when you are no longer disabled or reach age 65, except benefits for disabilities caused by mental disorders, or other limited conditions, which are limited to two years. If you become disabled after reaching age 60, however, your benefits could continue for a limited period after age 65. Your plan contains incentives and extra benefits to help keep you at work. Accommodations may be available under the plan to adjust your workplace so you can stay at work, or to help you return to work. Vocational rehabilitation and return to work services may be available to help you return to work after a disability.

What Is Short Term Disability Insurance

Disability insurance is sometimes referred to as income replacement because it pays you benefits to replace a portion of the income you lose if youre unable to work due to a prolonged illness or injury. Short term disability insurance typically starts paying benefits within two weeks of a qualifying illness or injury and covers you for a benefit period thats usually between 13-26 weeks. Youll continue to receive benefits until youre able to return to work or until you reach the end of your benefit period.

Thrivent Ltc Coverage Options

Thrivent offers multiple solutions for long-term care insurance. Its traditional coverage has a wide range of features and is highly customizable. In 2022, the organization launched CareForward, an approach that combines elements of long-term care insurance and life insurance .

Thriventâs traditional LTC policy provides coverage for home care, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult day care, and hospice care. It includes these benefits and features:

The flexibility of its LTC policy includes:

Choosing a monthly benefit between $1,500 and $15,000.
Choosing to pay premiums over 10 years or over your lifetime.
Choosing from 30-day, 90-day, or 180-day elimination periods.
Choosing annual benefit increases ranging from 1 percent compounded to 5 percent compounded.

The policy also includes several optional riders, including:

How To Apply Apply For Ssdi Or Ssi Benefits

Online+

If you think you may be eligible for payments, you can apply for disability benefits online with the Social Security Administration.

If you think you may be eligible for payments, call the Social Security Administration at to file a claim or contact your local Social Security office.

In person+

If you think you may be eligible for payments, visit your local Social Security office. You should call first to make an appointment.

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Amount Of Sdi Payments

The amount of your bi-weekly payment is tied to how much you earned during your base period. You will be paid 60-70% the amount of the average wages that you were paid by your employer during the calendar quarter of the base period that you made the most money. If you worked two jobs during your base period, your average wages will include wages from both jobs.

However, the maximum weekly amount is $1,357 . SDI payments are not taxable .

The EDD website includes a chart of weekly SDI benefit amounts based on the amount of money you made in the highest quarter of your base period.

Is Your Condition Found In The List Of Disabling Conditions

For each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical conditions we consider severe enough to prevent a person from doing SGA. If your condition is not on the list, we must decide if it is as severe as a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, we will find that you have a qualifying disability. If it is not, we then go to Step 4.

We have two initiatives designed to expedite our processing of new disability claims:

Compassionate Allowances: Certain cases that usually qualify for disability can be allowed as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Examples include acute leukemia, Lou Gehrigs disease , and pancreatic cancer.
Quick Disability Determinations: We use sophisticated computer screening to identify cases with a high probability of allowance.

For more information about our disability claims process, visit our Benefits for People with Disabilities website.

Best Overall: Mutual Of Omaha

Mutual of Omaha

No-exam policies available: Yes, for applicants ages 18-45 applying for up to $6,000 in monthly benefits
Maximum coverage amount: $20,000 per month

Benefit periods range from six months to 10 years
Maximum monthly benefit of $20,000
Generous built-in policy benefits
No-exam underwriting available for some applicants
Pregnancy benefit

Coverage for mental or nervous disorders is limited without purchasing an additional rider
Partial disability benefits cost extra
Must contact an agent to apply

Taking the top spot for best overall short-term disability insurance coverage is Mutual of Omaha. This insurer provides up to 10 years of benefits , with some policies offering coverage as soon as 30 days after your eligible disability. Monthly benefits are available up to $20,000, and policies can be issued through age 61.

Mutual of Omaha has been around since 1909 and has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best. It offers insurance coverage across the country, though not all policies are available in all states.

Short-term disability coverage through Mutual of Omaha is some of the most comprehensive and benefit-rich around. Policies come full of built-in benefits, such as a survivor benefit, waiver of premium benefit, guaranteed renewability, rehabilitation coverage, and up to six weeks of leave for maternity. Elimination periods are available in lengths of 30, 60, and 90 days. Longer elimination periods of 180, 365, and 730 days are also available.