How To Qualify For Short Term Disability

What Is Short Term Disability Insurance

Applying for short or long term disability insurance benefits should not be done alone

Short term disability insurance replaces a percentage of your income if you experience a temporary injury or illness that prevents you from working. It is ideal for disabling events that may limit the ability to work, but people generally recover from â such as a plumber breaking a hand, a pilot undergoing back surgery, or a pregnant teacher giving birth. Short term disability coverage can be obtained individually from a private insurance company or as a part of a group, typically through your employer.

Faq: Temporary Disability Insurance

Temporary Disability Insurance provides cash benefits to workers who suffer an illness, injury, or other disability that prevents them from working, and wasnt caused by their job. In addition, if your healthcare provider certifies that you are unable to work because you were diagnosed with COVID-19 or are at high risk for COVID-19 due to an underlying health condition, you may be eligible for Temporary Disability benefits. Most employers in New Jersey are required to have Temporary Disability Insurance for their employees.

Before You File
After You Get a Decision
Pregnancy-Related Questions

How do I apply for Temporary Disability Insurance benefits?

You can apply online, which is the easiest way to apply for benefits. Once you submit your application, you will get immediate confirmation that we received it.

You can download, print, and fill out a paper application , and mail it to us at: Division of Temporary Disability Insurance, P.O. Box 387, Trenton, NJ 08625-0387, or fax it to 609-984-4138.

Who is eligible for Temporary Disability Insurance benefits?

Any New Jersey worker who contributes to the state plan for Temporary Disability Insurance, or to an employers approved private plan, and meets the minimum gross earnings requirements, may be eligible. Check your pay stubs or ask your employer if youre not sure about your coverage.

What are the Minimum Gross Earnings Requirements?

If your claim is dated in:

Your claim is based onearnings from:

Which Medical Conditions Are Likely To Qualify For Disability

While any of the above medical conditions are SSDI and SSI qualifying disabilities, some medical conditions are more likely to lead to an approval of benefits than others. We recently surveyed our readers about their experiences in applying for disability benefits and compared their answers to government statistics. For details, see our article on survey statistics on getting Social Security disability for common medical conditions.

Streamline Your Application Process

The application process will depend on what kind of Short Term Disability coverage you have and your insurers requirements. If your benefits plan includes services from a third-party disability management service like DMI, ensure you are utilizing their expertise to help you along the way.

If you are applying for short term disability coverage, you want to focus on your treatment and recovery. To get your claims experience started right, our partners at DMI offer their advice to get things going in the right direction:

Fill out application forms in their entirety. Your application for benefits will be based primarily on the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information that you provide, so double checking or having a close friend or family member look over your application form for any missing information can save you valuable time and energy.
Ensure your doctor, treatment team or specialist fills out the appropriate paperwork and provides the clinical records relating to your claims. This is the information your insurer will use to adjudicate your claim for benefits.
You will need to provide a clear and legible copy of one of the following documents: birth certificate, drivers license, or a government-issued passport.
Other information you may need to include is your SIN number, banking information for direct deposit, an up-to-date mailing address, as well as your employers address.

Making A Coverage Change

The Help You Need: How to Qualify for Short Term ...

Complete the Voluntary Disability Insurance Enrollment and Change Form at any time of year if you want to:

Enroll for the first time or re-enroll
Increase your coverage
Change your coverage because of a qualifying event

Return the form to Employee Benefits in the Donhowe Building. For re-enrollment or increasing coverage you will need to provide proof of good health . Complete the statement of health form on the Unum website and use access code 3BPP4WN.

You can decrease or cancel your disability coverage only during Open Enrollment in November or for a qualifying event. Open Enrollment changes take effect the following January 1.

What If Youre Still Not Ready To Go Back To Work

If youre on short-term disability, your benefits will end when your predetermined time period is over or when you return to workwhichever comes first. But what if youve already maxed out your short-term disability benefits and you still cant head back into the office?

Lets return to our example of missing out on work for major back surgery. Your doctor determined that youd need six months to fully recover, and your short-term disability plan approved you for that amount of time.

However, you had some pretty significant complications with your surgery and your recovery. As the end of those six months draw near, its evident that you arent physically capable of sitting at a desk for eight hours each daythis is a problem that will plague you for a lot longer, perhaps even permanently. Now what? Are you just out of luck?

If you have long-term disability benefits, it should be straightforward enough to transition into those benefits if you meet the new definition of disability for your long-term plan. The definition for disability under a long-term plan is typically subtly different than the definition for short-term disability.

Some insurers require new paperwork from the claimant and new medical records before they will begin paying a long-term disability benefit, says McDonald.

How To Apply For Short Term Disability Insurance Coverage

Many employers offer short term disability insurance coverage to employees as a group plan. Many companies even pay the full premium for their employees. A handful of states require employers to provide this coverage.

If you cannot get short term disability through an employer or other group membership, you can buy an individual policy. This can be done through an insurance agent or directly from an insurance company that offers this type of coverage.

Group plans are guaranteed issue, meaning you automatically qualify for coverage without going through underwriting. Short term policies sold on an individual basis are sometimes guaranteed issue as well.

However, most short term policies sold directly to an individual will require the applicant to answer health-related questions. These questions will ask whether you are currently or in the past have been treated for any number of pre-existing conditions. If so, you may be disqualified for getting coverage or have your benefits limited.

You May Like: Ssdi Asset Limits 2015

Your Responsibilities When Illness Or Injury Prevents You From Working

Administering sick-leave benefits is complex. You need to work closely with your manager, your departmental human resources team and the Pay Centre to ensure that:

leave records are accurate and up-to-date
you receive information of your options and benefits
forms are filled out accurately
forms are sent to the appropriate organization in a timely manner

How Long Does Long

Can I apply for Social Security Disability while on short term disability

Once long-term disability benefits have been approved, an employee can continue to receive benefits for the length of the policy term or until they return to work. Most long-term disability plans provide coverage for 36 months, although some plans can provide coverage for up to 10 years or even for the life of the policyholder.

Also Check: Reserve Component Retirement Pay Calculator

What Are The Benefits Of Short Term Disability

STD provides crucial income replacement when a person is unable to work and bring in an income. Ask yourself could your family pay all their bills and maintain their current lifestyle if you were unable to work for up to 26 weeks?

If the answer is no, you can begin to see how STD can help ease financial strain and the stresses that come with an accident, illness, or injury that prevents you from working.

What Does Short Term Disability Insurance Cover

Short term disability insurance covers temporary injuries and illnesses that are less serious in nature. Like long term coverage, what qualifies for short term disability depends on the definition of disability, which varies from policy to policy. In general, eligibility for benefits is tied to your ability to perform the duties of your current occupation.

Your short term disability insurance policy may also require that you lose a certain percentage of earnings due to disability. During your short term disability leave, you may be required to provide the insurance company with updated medical information to verify your disability and continued eligibility for benefits beyond the initial approval of your claim.

In addition to injuries and illnesses that limit your ability to work, surgical procedures that are deemed medically necessary will qualify you for short term disability benefits. Some policies will provide benefits for bariatric weight-loss surgeries. Organ donation is usually covered as well. Purely cosmetic procedures will likely not be covered.

You may also qualify for benefits if prescription medications or medical procedures cause side effects that keep you from working.

What Falls Under Short Term Disability

Short term disability insurance covers leave from work for a temporary disability, such as pregnancy, accidental injuries, and illnesses. STD insurance replaces a portion of the employees income, which is a huge benefit for employees. The replacement income comes from the insurance company, not your business.

Short And Long Term Disability

How to Apply for Short Term Disability Benefits: 10 Steps

Short and Long Term Disability pay may be available to benefits eligible partners to provide partial pay replacement if you are unable to work for an extended period of time due to an eligible injury or illness.

Short Term Disability replaces 66 and 2/3%, up to the cap, of your average weekly earnings for up to 26 weeks. You do not need to enroll to receive Short Term Disability coverage is automatic and fully paid by Starbucks when you become benefits eligible. Partners in Hawaii receive the same benefit, but there it is called Temporary Disability Insurance . Payment may be offset by other disability pay replacement.

Long Term Disability provides 60%, up to the cap, of your average monthly earnings when STD or TDI ends. Retail hourly partners have the option to purchase LTD when you become benefits eligible. For retail management and non-retail partners coverage is automatic and fully paid for by Starbucks when you become benefits eligible. Payment may be offset by other disability pay replacement.

For Current Starbucks Partners

For more information or to initiate a claim, log in or create an account at mySedgwick or call .

Retail hourly partners may enroll in LTD coverage during their initial benefits enrollment, or each year during benefits enrollment by logging in to mysbuxben.com.

See the U.S. Benefits Plan Description at mysbuxben.com for full details .

The information on this page is for partners in the United States. Select your location below.

About this site

Don’t Miss: How To Calculate Disability Retirement Pay

How Much Does Short Term Disability Insurance Cost

The cost of short term disability insurance is determined by the underwriting process. The underwriting for short term disability insurance may differ slightly from long term disability policies.

Individual long term disability insurance requires full underwriting. Insurers have to assess a personâs risk of filing a claim because benefits may be paid out for a long period. Therefore, insurers will assess your application based on your age, health, gender, the level of risk associated with your job, and any hobbies or interests that could cause disability.

On the other hand, disability insurance carriers may not fully underwrite short term policies. As stated earlier, many short term policies sold on an individual basis are guaranteed issue, which means no underwriting. Others may only require the answering of questions about your health without the medical exam required for long term disability insurance.

Injuries that cause temporary disabilities generally are not related to the insuredâs age, health, job, or other risk factors. They just happen, be it a bad fall that causes a broken bone or a complication of pregnancy. Still, you may be asked about pre-existing health conditions that disqualify you from coverage or that will limit your benefits.

The main factors that affect the cost of short term disability insurance include:

Long Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care insurance pays for a variety of services for people who are unable to care for themselves due to an injury such as a paralysis from a car accident, a chronic illness such as arthritis, an acute episode such as a stroke, or a cognitive impairment like Alzheimer’s disease. Long term care services may include assistance in a home, adult day care center, an assisted living facility, or nursing home.

New enrollments into LTCi are no longer available as of February 1, 2016.

Employees who had enrolled in LTCi may continue the coverage currently in place. Employees enrolled in this coverage must pay CNA directly for their LTCi premiums.

Disclaimer: Changes In Your Work Or Life Situation

The information on this page applies to departments and agencies served by the Pay Centre. If your department or agency is not served by the Pay Centre, contact your departmental compensation unit.

Please request additional guidance from your manager, departmental human resources and finance, as pay-related information and processes are subject to change.

If You Become Disabled Will You Have To Pay Taxes On Your Disability Pay The Answer: It Depends

Filing for Short Term Disability

If you suffer some disabling ailment or injury, youll be glad to have disability pay coming in. However, its important to understand that the IRS and your state may want to take a cut of that pay. Some sources of disability pay will be taxed as income, while others are completely tax-free, and still others may or may not be taxed depending on the situation.

Don’t Miss: How To Collect Disability In Nj

Benefits For Disabled Widows Or Widowers

If something happens to a worker, benefits may be payable to their widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse with a disability if the following conditions are met:

The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse is between ages 50 and 60.
The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse has a medical condition that meets the definition of disability for adults and the disability started before or within seven years of the worker’s death.

Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses cannot apply online for survivors benefits. However, if they want to apply for these benefits, they should contact Social Security immediately at 1-800-772-1213 to request an appointment

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

We use the same definition of disability for widows and widowers as we do for workers.

How Can I Qualify For Short Term Disability

To qualify for STD you must first have STD insurance. You only qualify for STD if you experience a covered accident, illness, or injury that prevents you from performing the duties of your occupation. The specific definition of disability will vary by Insurer however, generally speaking, STD could provide coverage for common situations such as:

Recovery following major surgery
Mental health issues or leave
Recovery following an injury or accident

Best For Quick Issue And Simple Underwriting: Assurity

Assurity

If youre searching for short-term disability income insurance that can be obtained quickly and without arduous underwriting, Assurity sets itself apart from the competition. It offers a guaranteed four-day issue for qualified applicants with minimal medical underwriting requirements.

Benefit periods from six to 24 months
Coverage available up to $3,000 per month
Many features included at no charge, with a variety of additional riders available
Quick, simple application with a four-day- guarantee on qualified applications
Full and partial disability coverage

Not available in New York
Though broad, only two occupational classes are accepted
Policies only issued through age 59
Online quotes are limited and policies can only be purchased through an agent

Assuritys Simplified Disability Income Insurance is our top choice for those looking for a feature-rich policy with quick issue and simple underwriting. It provides between six and 24 months of coverage whether you are totally or partially disabled. Coverage is offered from $300 up to $3,000 with elimination periods of 30, 60, 90, or 180 days.

The Simplified Disability Income Insurance policy is only offered to two occupation classes, which include professional/office occupations as well as skilled and unskilled manual occupations . While these categories are pretty broad, the acceptance of only two classes may be limiting to some applicants.

What Happens If The Adult Child Gets Married

If he or she receives benefits as a disabled “adult child,” the benefits generally end if he or she gets 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