Short Term Disability Leave- The Basics

Welcome back! This blog provides financial resources and information for people living with cancer. In this post, I want to focus on the basics of short-term disability benefits. Specifically, how these benefits relate to people living with cancer. Disability benefits are complex, so check with your healthcare team to determine who can provide expert guidance on applying for benefits.

Short Term Disability:

 This is an insurance benefit that provides 3-6 months of payment to you when you are unable to go to work. Depending on your income, the payment may or may not be equal to your current paycheck. However, many plans have wait times, which may delay your first payment. Typically, employers provide this benefit. However only 5 states require employers (with more than 15 employees) to do so: NJ, CA, HI, NY, RI (see below for state links). If your employer does not offer this benefit, you can purchase a plan privately. However, this can be expensive, so check with your healthcare team to determine if you need to apply.

Does a cancer diagnosis count as a “disability”?  

In general, yes. Disability benefits are available if you have an injury (not work related) or illness that limits your ability to do your job. However, each plan is different, so check with your human resources representative. They often have someone that specializes in disability claims.

Do you need short term disability?

It depends on your cancer treatment plan. If your treatment plan includes a minimally invasive procedure and/or you have sufficient “paid time off” or “sick leave” days accrued, you may not have to apply. However, you may want to anyway. Cancer treatment is rarely a one-day procedure. Talk with your cancer treatment team on realistic recovery times and the need for further time off. Unless you work for an extremely flexible employer, you will need to apply for short term disability. In other words if your cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation you should apply. This treatment course can be tough, and working full time during this period may be unrealistic.

How do I apply for short term disability?

Usually, the application process starts by contacting your employer’s HR office. Paperwork is typically required to be completed and signed by your cancer treatment team. We fill out these forms for most people, so please don’t hesitate to ask for help. We want you to maintain an income during treatment.

State links:

New Jersey: Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance (nj.gov)

California: State Disability Insurance (ca.gov)

Hawaii: Disability Compensation Division | About Temporary Disability Insurance (hawaii.gov)

New York: Introduction to the Disability Benefits Law (ny.gov)

Rhode Island: Temporary Disability / Caregiver Insurance- Rhode Island -Department of Labor and Training

Links for additional information:

Short-Term Disability: What Every Employee Should Know | The Muse

Filing for Disability Due to Cancer | Cancer and Careers

I hope this information is helpful.  If you would like to continue this conversation, please click on the Subscribe button at the top of the Blog page. I would love to hear your comments as well as resources that have worked for you. Please share this information with your family and friends.

Keeping you in my prayers,

Jackie

For introductory information and to understand the mission of this blog, please see Introduction – Living with cancer take my hand