Protect yourself against long-term financial difficulty
Long-term disability insurance from Equitable helps protect your finances over a long period due to an extended illness or injury. This benefit protects your paycheck if you are unable to work due and pays a portion of your salary, helping stabilize your finances and ensuring you can focus on recovery, not medical bills.
Learn how long-term disability insurance from Equitable can be a crucial part of financial planning.
How long-term disability insurance works
When you need to recover from an extended illness or injury, this benefit will start paying a portion of your salary after a certain period, typically after short-term disability payments end, paying 60% of your income up until you recover or reach normal retirement age. There is often a maximum payment based on salary. Long-term disability payments don’t start immediately, before this coverage begins, short-term disability will typically cover the first 13 to 26 weeks of payments. This benefit does not provide job protection. Check with your benefits representative for your company’s specific plan details.
Submit claim
When you experience a qualifying disability, submit a claim. This typically requires documentation from your doctor or a medical professional supporting your impairment.
Be prepared for a covered event
For a covered event, long-term disability insurance kicks in after short-term disability payments end.
Get paid
You receive income replacement to cover costs until your benefit period ends or you return to work.
Long-term disability insurance helps ensure your financial safety net stays intact
Only 40% of U.S. households have enough in savings to cover at least 3 months of their recurring expenses.1
This statistic highlights the importance of having a safety net like long-term disability insurance. Without it, many families could face severe financial hardship if the primary earner is unable to work for an extended period.
Q&A
-
What is long-term disability insurance?Long-term disability insurance provides you with income replacement and protects you against the possibility of losing income for an extended period of time due to an illness, injury or accident.
-
When do long-term disability benefit payments begin and how long can they last?They typically start after short-term disability payments end and can last for as long as you are disabled up to your normal retirement age (according to ssa.gov). Payments are made directly to you.
-
What is an elimination period?It’s a waiting period between the time when your disability begins and the time when you begin receiving benefit payments during which time you must remain disabled. The most common options are 90 days and 180 days and you should check with your benefits representative for your company’s specific plan details.
-
How much disability insurance do I need?That depends on your needs and what percentage of your salary you think you would need if you were unable to work.
-
How do I get disability insurance?Typically, you would get it through your employer, though you can purchase it on your own. It tends to be more expensive if you purchase it on your own.
-
What does it mean to be disabled?This is determined under the terms and provisions of the policy. Check with your benefits representative for your company’s specific plan details.
-
What can I use disability benefit payments for?If the same disability recurs within a certain amount of time, you don’t have to satisfy the elimination period again, so your benefits would begin right away if you are determined to be disabled under the terms and provisions of the policy. If a new disability occurs, you will need to satisfy the elimination period before you can receive benefit payments if you are determined to be disabled under the terms and provisions of the policy.
-
Are there disabilities that aren't covered by the insurance?Every policy is different, but typically short- and long-term disability insurance will not cover things like intentionally self-inflicted injuries, loss of professional or occupational license or certificate, or injuries that happened while committing a crime or during war or an act of war, whether its declared or undeclared. It also may not cover pre-existing conditions, like a disability you were treated for in a specific period of time before you signed up for the policy.
-
Can I keep my coverage if I leave my job or my employment is terminated?Coverage typically ends when employment is terminated. Check with your benefits representative for your company’s specific plan details.
-
Will my disability benefit payments be taxed?They can be. Please seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
-
Does workers compensation or other government benefits affect my disability benefits?If you are receiving income from another insurance policy, retirement benefits or a government program, such as workers’ compensation, your disability benefits may be reduced.
-
How much will I receive for disability benefits?The amount you receive depends on your pre-disability earnings and the benefit percentage in your policy.
-
When should I file a claim?As soon as possible after you’ve been disabled. If you have Short- or Long-Term Disability Insurance from Equitable, you can obtain a claim form from your employer. If your disability is scheduled, such as surgery or childbirth, you can file a claim prior to the event to help speed up the process.
-
What information do I need to file a claim?You’ll need your personal contact information, work schedule, reason for not being able to work, last day worked, first day of missed work, information about your condition and the contact information for your treating physician.
-
How do I file a claim?If you have Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability from Equitable, we will initiate the long-term disability claim as the end of the short-term disability benefit period approaches. If we don't insure your short-term disability policy, you will need to fill out and send a long-term disability claim form to the group claims department address on the form.
-
Once I’ve filed a claim, how long does it take to get a decision?This varies by carrier. If you have short- or long-term disability from Equitable, you’ll typically have a short-term disability claim decision within 10 business days and a long-term disability claim decision within 30 business days from when we received the appropriate completed claim form. If it looks like it will take longer than that, we will let you know as soon as possible and explain why it’s taking longer than expected.
-
What do I do when I’m ready to go back to work after a disability leave?Your claim analyst will work with you throughout the process and can help you design an appropriate return-to-work schedule when you are no longer disabled. Please notify them when you know your return-to-work date.
Take the next step toward staying protected
- Speak to human resources at your company to determine what benefits are available to you.
- Learn how long-term disability insurance from Equitable can be a crucial part of financial planning.
Watch the video
Already a member?
Visit customer service to get in touch with us.
1 2022 Insurance Barometer Study, Life Happens and LIMRA.
2 LIMRA. August 2022.
The policy has limitations and exclusions. Optional riders and/or features may incur additional costs. Plan documents are the final arbiter of coverage. Please read your certificate carefully for complete details regarding your benefits, reductions, limitations and exclusions. Policy form/contract ICC18 MOEBPLI; ICC18 AXEBPLI; MOEBP0618 LI; AXEBP0618 LI; and state variations.
All group insurance products are issued either by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company or Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America, which have sole responsibility for their insurance and claims-paying obligations. Some products are not available in all states.