The basic difference between short and long term disability insurance pertains to the duration of time that an individual expects to be unable to work at their current job. This is good to know when you are getting a disability income insurance quote. Short term disability insurance may be covered by an employer as paid […]
The basic difference between short and long term disability insurance pertains to the duration of time that an individual expects to be unable to work at their current job. This is good to know when you are getting a disability income insurance quote. Short term disability insurance may be covered by an employer as paid sick leave. As its name implies, this period may extend from one day to several months, depending upon how much sick leave an employee has accrued as well as other personnel issues.
Long-term disability insurance, however, covers a much longer period of time. To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, recuperation from an injury or medical and mental condition, must be expected to last a minimum of 12 months. Other considerations are if the disability or illness is expected to result in death.
In some cases, if an employee has an extensive amount of sick leave, combined with vacation pay, it may cover long-term leave. Some employers may have special programs such as the Voluntary Leave Bank, where co-workers may donate their unused sick leave to assist fellow employees. Other options include purchasing long-term disability insurance coverage through an employer, a union, or an outside company.
If an individual is unaware of their rights, or needs to determine whether their situation falls under short or long-term leave, they may consult a variety of sources. One of these resources is the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website, available at opm.gov. In addition to providing information on current legislation, the site lists terms and provides overviews and FAQ sheets for both short and long-term disability rights and conditions. A few of these links include “Bone Marrow or Organ Donor Leave”, “Funeral Leave and Other Bereavement Options”, “Leave and Work Scheduling Flexibilities Available for Childbirth”, general “Sick Leave”, and “Sick Leave to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Health Condition”.
