Common Pitfalls

Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance is not a government benefit and is not connected to any public benefit program. It is private insurance that you get through a private company.

To find out if you have LTD coverage through your employer, talk to your Human Resources person. To sign up for an individual policy, contact an insurance company or insurance agent.

If you are looking for information about public Social Security benefits for people with disabilities, see DB101's Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) article and DB101's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) article.

Most of us rely on the experience of others to understand how to deal with similar situations. The problem with this is that benefits are person-centered. Benefits programs fit each person differently, based on a variety of facts and conditions, such as:

• Your work history
• How much you earn
• What you own
• How disabling your condition is
• How clearly you report the details of your condition to your medical provider
• How well your medical provider understands or documents these details
• What benefits an employer offers
• What benefits you have purchased individually

The more you document your medical condition, the easier it will be to support a claim and to make a case for continuing benefits. Writing down even minor symptons in a daily journal can be of great value. If you are too ill or can't keep a journal, a friend or relative can help you take notes on your symptoms. This journal can also help you tell your medical providers about your condition.

Many people go through a time when they deny to themselves, their families, and their medical providers that they have a disabling condition. For some people, denial is their way of coping with the changes in their life. During this time, what they tell their medical providers may not match the severity of their condition or how seriously it affects day-to-day activities.