Human Resource Blog

Short Term Disability Requirements

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I worked for [employer deleted] in Fort Pierce, Florida for 15 years and was laid off 4/30/07. I am still insured through COBRA. I just had spinal surgery and will be out of work at least 3 months. What steps to I need to take or who do I contact regarding short term disability?

Unless short term disability insurance is included in your group healthcare insurance, you may not be entitled to such benefits.

Unfortunately, there is no Alabama or federal law that guarantees you income when you have a short-term disability, whether it’s due to a heart attack, surgery, cancer treatment, pregnancy or an auto accident – or any other cause. Under a federal program, Social Security pays disability benefits, but only to those who are disabled for 5 months or more.

If you were injured at work, then workers’ compensation kicks in. Under those conditions, you might well be entitled to disability pay and medical benefits.

Check with your employer’s benefits coordinator to see what options are available for you. Many companies choose to provide short-term disability benefits to their workers. Those that do, often require that employees use any accrued sick or vacation time, before collecting short term disability pay. Others provide short-term disability insurance as an optional add-on to the group healthcare insurance, at an additional cost.

There are five U.S. states that provide short term disability benefits to workers with temporary disabilities. They are Rhode Island, Hawaii, California, New York and

New Jersey. In some cases, as in

Rhode Island, the state provides disability insurance that is funded through employee payroll deductions.  In other cases, the state merely requires that employers automatically provide short-term disability coverage to employees.

In all other states, temporary disability coverage is strictly optional. Some employers do offer it as part of an employee’s group health insurance. It may be included at the same price, or it may be an option available at an additional cost.

If you believe that you are covered under such a plan, contact your insurance company. Normally a toll-free number can be found on the insurance card.

Florida does not have any short term disability program at the state level. Workers who will be disabled for 13 months or longer may qualify for disability payments under Social Security.