Long Term Disability Benefits vs. Social Security Disability

Long term disability is similar to Social Security Disability benefits because they are both paid based on a calculation of how much you earned while you were working. Before you can receive SSD payments, you must be able to prove that your condition will make impossible for you to return to work for at least a year, though it is not necessary to wait a full year before you begin the application process. Long term disability policies vary in the amount of time that lapses before benefits are paid. You insurance provider may require you to apply for Social Security Disability before they will pay on your policy.

Certain eligible employees may also qualify for long term disability (LTD) benefits under the State of Nevada Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP):

If you participate in the State of Nevada's PEBP–sponsored medical plan, the State provides Long Term Disability (LTD) insurance. This insurance is designed to help protect you against a loss of income in the event you become disabled and are unable to work for an extended period of time.The monthly LTD benefit is based on your earnings from the State of Nevada. Your monthly LTD benefit is 60 percent of the first $12,500 of your monthly earnings, as defined in the group insurance policy, reduced by deductible income.

Experience with Disability Cases

If you have long term disability coverage through your employer or a private policy, it is important for you to understand how your existing coverage will interact with your Social Security Disability insurance. When you know how the system works, you can avoid complications that could prevent you from receiving benefits when you need them. We invite you to contact us at Disability Action Advocates so that we can give you an in-depth consultation to determine the best approach for your unique situation. We have been representing individuals on disability claims for over 17 years, and we are dedicated to getting results for our clients.

Our legal team will take the time to answer any questions may have regarding the ways that your long term disability insurance and SSD may overlap, as well as providing guidance to help you take full advantage of your benefits. If you encounter difficulty recovering your claim from either source, a lawyer may be able to take your case through the process of appeals and hearings or even to court to defend your right to payment.