Temporary vs Permanent Disability Benefits
- Posted on: Apr 15 2019
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, on the job accident, or other type of injury that has left you unable to work for months, years, or for the rest of your life, you need to seek out disability benefits. These benefits will allow you to maintain your current state of living while you deal with medical bills, physical therapy, and adjusting to your new way of living. Before you begin the process of applying for benefits, though, you need to understand the differences between temporary and permanent disability so you know which one to pursue.
Temporary Disability
Temporary disability, as the name suggests, is designed to temporarily help you cover your bills and medical costs until you can return to work. You will likely be awarded temporary disability if you will eventually fully recover and be able to return to work. It’s meant to help you remain financially stable in the short term. It can cover injuries such as broken bones or illnesses such as severe cases of the flu. Anything that makes it impossible to do your job or to handle routine tasks such as walking or preparing meals can make you eligible for temporary disability.
Note that a number of insurance companies and even state governments don’t offer this type of disability. Even those that do will have a maximum amount of time you can take advantage of temporary disability benefits.
Permanent Disability
If, on the other hand, you have been injured to the point that you will be permanently impaired, you can apply for permanent disability. This type of disability is designed to provide you with financial assistance for the rest of your life. This type of long-term disability is only awarded if medical experts have determined that you will not recover completely and will always have a disability. Losing a limb, for example, could qualify for you for permanent disability if it means you cannot do the job you’ve been trained to do. In addition to being injured, it’s also possible to be born with a qualifying disability such as blindness.
Determining which type of disability is right for you often requires a medical specialist. The experts at Maximum Orthopedics can help you apply for the correct type of disability.
Posted in: Blog