Disability Insurance General Information

Disability insurance protects individuals and their families from financial hardship when illness or injury prevents them from earning a living. Many employers offer some form of disability coverage to employees, or you can buy an individual disability insurance policy.

 

Disability.gov provides comprehensive information about disability programs, services, laws, and benefits.

 

Types of Disability Policies

There are two types of disability policies:

• Short-term disability policies have a maximum benefit of two years.

• Long-term disability policies have benefits that can last the rest of your life.
   

Employers may offer short-term disability coverage, long-term disability coverage, or integrate both of these as part of a competitive employee benefits package. When purchasing individual disability insurance coverage, you should ask: 

• How is disability defined?

• When do benefits begin?

• How long do benefits last?

• What dollar amount is promised?