Carla: I am very sorry that you have to face this abrupt detour in your life and career. If you’re not already talking to someone, your doctor or employee assistance program (if available) can direct you to a mental health professional or support group to help you through the emotional challenges ahead.
While I haven’t (yet) had to face a health crisis of this magnitude, I do know this: When I’m terrified, it’s usually because I’m looking too far ahead of the road ahead. I’ve barely laced up my boots, but my brain is already climbing Worst Case Scenario Mountain. For me, focusing on the practical helps me cut through fear like a flashlight through a fog. So that’s the approach I’m going to recommend here.
Two things help me control anxiety: map the terrain ahead, and then focus on the reality of the next step.
Learn about your benefit options
In charting your future in this kind of situation, “most of it is about educating yourself and getting the information you need to be able to make an informed decision,” says Terri Rhodes, executive director of the Disability Management Employers Coalition.
The standard path for someone facing long-term illness or disability would be to claim short-term disability benefits until they are exhausted, then claim long-term disability until eligible for federal disability benefits through Social Security. . But there may be additional benefits and options available depending on your employer and state; some private retirement savings accounts also include a disability component, Rhodes noted.
For each of these options, you’ll want to find out:
- How do I qualify for this benefit?
- How long does it last?
- How much do they pay?
- To learn the basics of how your benefit plans work and interact with each other, consult your human resources department or your employer’s third-party benefits administrator. They can also tell you how your health care coverage may be affected if you stop working long-term.
- Unfortunately, it is almost certain that your income will be affected. People with disabilities face disproportionate economic hardship. Census Bureau data indicates that up to 25 percent of people with disabilities live in poverty. Start researching how to reduce expenses, increase savings, or find alternative sources of income without losing your eligibility for assistance. EAPs often include access to financial and legal advisors who can help you prepare for lapses in income, or you can hire a private fiduciary financial planner (https://www.napfa.org/).
- Rhodes points out that the Social Security Administration offers an excellent Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool that guides you through the federal benefits you are entitled to based on your work history, marital status, health, and other factors with a simple questionnaire. try it on https://ssabest.benefits.gov/.
Having a short-term disability is scary and you don’t know what comes next. But you said it yourself: you know it’s the next best thing. And in case you’re thinking it means you’re “giving up”: it’s a strategic necessity. Taking disability leave will allow you to focus on managing your health and making plans.
And try not to get ahead of yourself. He may feel that he should keep all his options open by working part-time while applying for disability leave intermittently. But that could sabotage your chance of recovery, just as working during the holidays defeats the purpose of taking them.
Plus, Rhodes notes, there’s usually an even longer waiting period to qualify if you find out you need long-term disability benefits. If you’ve been working on and off for the past several months, “you’re eating up your short-term disability and not reaching your long-term disability waiting period,” says Rhodes. You may end up having to start that new waiting period without any payment.
Check your map. Consult the experts. Have a clear view of your current situation. Then take the next best step, along with my best wishes to you.
Reader Query: This column only scratches the surface of all the considerations of incorporating a long-term illness or disability into one’s life. If you have personal experience with this process, what was helpful to you or what dangers can you alert others to? Share your advice on [email protected].
