Short-term disability and workers’ compensation both replace part of your wages after an illness or injury, but they cover different situations and are claimed in different ways. The distinction turns on whether the condition is work-related. This article sets out how the two differ in purpose, scope and eligibility.
What Is Short-Term Disability?
When you file for short-term disability coverage, you are seeking benefits during a temporary period in which you cannot work due to non-work-related injuries, illnesses, or childbirth. California’s State Disability Insurance program provides this insurance, which pays out a percentage of your salary. Some recipients can receive benefits that pay as much as 70 percent and have them last for up to a year.
What Is Worker’s Compensation?
Worker’s compensation provides coverage when you experience injuries and illnesses due to your job. California’s Division of Worker’s Compensation oversees this program, which often covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages similar to short-term disability.
A key difference is that worker’s compensation also provides benefits to dependents in the case of the employee’s work-related death, an aspect absent in traditional short-term plans.
What Should I Do When Filing?
Although short-term disability and worker’s compensation differ, you must do similar things when filing. For example, it is important to act timely whenever you experience an injury or illness that prevents you from working.
You should report your injury or situation as soon as possible, because adherence to deadlines is critical for claim validity. Thoroughly document your doctor’s visits and treatments, as comprehensive records can substantiate your claim. You should expect to supply evidence demonstrating that your condition prevents you from performing job duties.
Which program applies depends on whether the condition is work-related, and the two systems have different deadlines and evidence requirements. Our note on what qualifies you for short-term disability covers the SDI side. If a disability claim has been denied, our short-term disability team works with claimants on appeals.