Short-Term & Long-Term Disability FAQ

If your disability insurance is through your employer, it may fall under a federal law called the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This law has strict rules for how you need to apply for benefits or file an appeal. It also affects your chances of approval.

Long-term disability insurance companies could deny your claim for a variety of reasons. A frequent reason is because your claim is excluded by a pre-existing condition, which will be discussed at length below.

Short-term disability benefits are designed to protect you if you cannot perform your regular occupation for a short period of time. Short-term disability insurance is usually purchased as an employee benefit through your employer. Many employers offer a self-funded short-term disability plan where a third party administers the plan.