Only five states—California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island—offer state-sponsored short-term disability insurance. While there are no short-term disability laws or insurance offered by the state of Ohio, there are other programs for which a temporarily disabled individual might qualify. Below, the disability law attorneys at Agee Clymer Mitchell & Portman in Chillicothe, OH, share some general eligibility requirements for any short-term disability program.

General Requirements to Qualify for Short-Term Disability Insurance

1. A Verifiable, Disabling Medical Condition

Any program is going to want to see verifiable evidence that you suffer from a disabling or otherwise life-limiting medical condition. This information can be provided through medical records, doctors' statements, and a comprehensive medical history. The health issue must be of a temporary nature; a permanent disability would make you a more appropriate candidate for Social Security disability or Supplemental Security Income, which are geared toward individuals with long-term disabilities.

2. A Condition That Is Not Work-Related

Assistance programs are not designed to help those whose injuries are the result of a work-related accident. That is the domain of workers' compensation—not disability law. Workers' comp laws are in place to protect individuals who have been temporarily disabled by workplace injuries, so filing a claim would be the first step in pursuing the necessary resources for a job-related condition.

3. A Waiting Period

Many programs have a waiting period before the benefits for short-term disability will kick in. For most state-sponsored programs, this is one week after the approval of benefits. In other words, your first benefit payment will not be made until the eighth day after your request for short-term disability has been granted.

Explore your options for short-term disability by contacting Agee Clymer Mitchell & Portman. With more than 90 years of combined experience, they bring the highest levels of professionalism and advocacy to clients throughout central and southern Ohio. Call (740) 775-5551 to schedule a consultation with a disability law attorney today, or visit them online to learn more about their practice areas.