| When disabled, the amount of money you will receive | | | | perform his full time occupation. An injured back or |
| in benefits from your short term disability policy will | | | | knee may prevent him from performing his full time |
| depend upon a variety of factors. First you must look | | | | occupation, but he may be able to handle paperwork |
| at your disability: the length of time you will miss work, | | | | back at the home office. A disability policy that pays |
| whether you got hurt working on the job, whether you | | | | benefits for your own occupation is worth more in |
| can perform the duties of your full time occupation. | | | | these situations than a policy that covers disabilities for |
| You then have to compare these factors to the | | | | any occupation. In this case, because the soda |
| features you chose when applying for your policy: the | | | | deliveryman could perform a desk job, an "Any |
| elimination period, the benefit period, the percentage of | | | | Occupation" policy would not cover his injury, whereas |
| income replacement, hard dollars income caps, and | | | | an "Own Occupation" policy would. |
| disability definitions. | | | | Features in Your Disability Policy |
| About your Disability | | | | Important features that will impact your disability benefit |
| Most disabilities are very short: a week or two is very | | | | include the elimination period, the benefit period, and the |
| common. But one out of three working people will | | | | amount of income replacement. |
| suffer an extended disability sometime during their | | | | The elimination period describes the length of time you |
| working career. The average disability lasts almost | | | | must be disabled before benefits begin to be paid. |
| two years. The first factor impacting the amount of | | | | Generally, the premium cost is higher for shorter |
| disability benefit you might receive is the length of time | | | | elimination periods. But the happiest policy holders are |
| you will be unable to work. Of course you must be | | | | those who chose the shorter elimination period, |
| under the care of the doctor, and the doctor must | | | | because most disabilities are fairly short. People with |
| indicate that your disabling condition prevents you from | | | | longer elimination periods often find they return to work |
| returning to work. Once the doctor clears you to | | | | before the elimination period lapses. |
| continue working, your disability benefits will stop. | | | | The benefit period defines how long the benefit lasts. |
| Most short term disability policies contain provisions | | | | Short term disability benefit period options range from |
| about on the job accidents. If you get hurt while | | | | three months, up to twenty four months. The premium |
| working on the job, workers compensation insurance is | | | | cost is highest for longer benefit periods. If your |
| designed to be your primary form of income | | | | disability last longer than your disability benefit period, |
| replacement. Some short term disability policies may | | | | you will endure a period of time with no income |
| exclude benefits entirely for on the job accidents, while | | | | replacement. |
| other may provide the option to cover on the job | | | | The level of income replacement is the final factor |
| accidents at 50% of the stated benefit amount. Check | | | | impacting your benefit. Most policies will replace up to |
| your policy for details. | | | | two thirds of income. That amount is designed to |
| Some disabilities prevent you from performing your full | | | | replace the majority of your income, while providing an |
| time occupation, but you may be able to perform other | | | | incentive to return to work. |
| work. For example, a worker who delivers soda must | | | | Your income is your most important asset. Protect |
| drive a truck, and lift heavy stacks of soda cans to | | | | your income with short term disability benefits. |