How to Get Short Term Disability Insurance

Short-term disability is type of insurance that will help a worker cover his or her costs and bill obligations when unable to work. With short-term disability, the insurance pays a percentage of a worker's wages depending on the amount of coverage they have.

1.  Seek a doctor to confirm your disability as soon as possible. Once it has been confirmed that you are unable to perform your job, get the necessary paperwork.

2. Speak to a human resources representative to see what steps you need to take.  Some places of employment may require you to use     all of your accumulated sick time before you can receive short-term disability insurance. Once you have met the requirements, your disability allowance will become retroactive from the date of your illness or disability.

3.  Collect your benefits.  These will usually be paid at a percentage (usually 60 percent) of your regular wages.  For example, if you made $1,000.00 every two weeks while you were working, at sixty percent disability your allotment would now be $600.00 every two weeks. It may seem like a huge pay cut but when you consider that you're not commuting to work or buying lunches every day, the reduced earnings are less drastic.  Do remember that benefits are taxable.

4.  Consider that if you are injured while working on the job that would be covered under worker's compensation.  Worker's Compensation is covered through your job and entails seeing their doctors, using their hospitals, and following their paperwork and procedures.

5.  Call an insurance provider if your company doesn't offer short term disability.  You may wish to find an insurance professional who can provide you with rates and coverage options for various providers.  Though it is likely it would not be needed, it is always best to be prepared.