Temporary disability or short-term disability is when you need to take some time off due to an injury, illness or disability. The federal government does not offer any programs to help employees who are temporarily disabled, but employers may be required to provide unpaid leave for employees on a temporary basis. An example of this would be unpaid time off for maternity leave. You would not receive monetary compensation, but under federal law your employer would be required to hold your position for you for a period of time. If an employee is injured on the job it is most likely covered under workers’ comp. Many companies also offer short term disability programs that pay some monetary compensation to their employees while they are temporarily disabled as part of their benefit package. Why Should You Discuss Your Case With a Lawyer? If you are unable to work, and were not injured on the job, it may be beneficial for you to speak to an attorney to see if there are any compensation options available for you to take advantage of. Your workers' compensation lawyer can contact your employer and help you get the forms so you can take temporary disability leave. An attorney can help explain the process and tell you what rights and benefits you can expect to receive while you are out of work. Every short term disability policy is different and an attorney can help you determine what disabilities are eligible for coverage, explain how much compensation you can expect to receive and tell you how long the benefit eligibility period will last.
