Disability insurance is a form of insurance, provided by companies like http://www.ezdiquote.com, that provides income, or “wage replacement benefits” to individuals who are unable to work due to injury or illness. According to the Department of Labor’s website, disability insurance may take the form of “wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and other benefits […]
Disability insurance is a form of insurance, provided by companies like http://www.ezdiquote.com, that provides income, or “wage replacement benefits” to individuals who are unable to work due to injury or illness. According to the Department of Labor’s website, disability insurance may take the form of “wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and other benefits to certain workers or their dependents who experience work-related injury or occupational disease.” There are, however, specific requirements and regulations that govern short and long-term situations.
In the case of private employment, The United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) website indicates that these benefits are generally negotiated between employers and employees. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (November 2004) National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in Private Industry in the United States, March 2004, whether or not an employee receives employer-paid disability insurance is dependent upon their occupation as well as whether they are employed on a part-time or full-time basis. While union involvement does play a role, in general, white collar employees, as well as those who are paid a minimum of $15.00 per hour, are more likely to receive paid benefits.
While some employers may provide disability insurance as part of an employment benefit package, others may require an employee have a certain percentage deducted from their paycheck. In other cases, this may be an option. Self-employed persons, as well as individuals who are not covered by their employers, may purchase private disability insurance from a variety of sources.
In the case of federal, or federally-protected employees, there are four distinct programs administered by The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. These are the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Program, and the Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation Program. Since these programs are occupation-specific, if an employee works in a field other than those outlined above, then they need to contact their respective state programs.
