Many times Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is confused with private disability insurance a worker receives through an employer. It is important to know that these are two programs are different entities and just because you receive payments through either a short-term or long-term private disability insurance plan, it does not guarantee you Social Security disability payments. The basic rules of SSDI are:
- You are unable to do the work you did prior to becoming disabled.
- You have physical or mental health limitations, which prevent you from learning to do other types of work.
- Your condition has lasted, or is expected to last at least 12 months.
Private disability insurance you may qualify for through an employer does not have as many qualifications as SSDI and in general, is easier to qualify for. It is important to know that even if you are eligible for private, long-term disability insurance through an employer, it does not mean you have a better chance of receiving SSDI unless you meet the previously mentioned SSDI criteria.
Although a private disability insurance policy and SSDI do not have any impact on one another, it is possible to receive payments from both programs at the same time, but many private disability insurance programs will require you to apply for SSDI while you are collecting your private disability payments. The main reason for this is that your long-term private insurance provider may require you to pay back any money you received from them if you are approved for SSDI (dollar for dollar), which, makes the policy more like a loan than insurance. To learn more about how long-term disability insurance through an employer may impact an SSDI claim click here.
