Missouri residents applying for disability benefits sometimes need a roadmap plus an early warning system. You cannot file an insurance claim for coverage you do not have.
The state does not require a short-term disability program covering off-the-job accidents and illnesses. You must purchase a policy from a private insurance company before the need arises.
On the other hand, the government mandates participation in two temporary disability programs so that more people have coverage and qualify to file claims.
Worker’s Compensation addresses temporary wage losses while on the job, and Social Security helps with non-occupational conditions expected to last more than one year.
Short-Term Disability In MO
People applying for short-term disability benefits in Missouri often miss out due to a lack of coverage for non-occupational losses. The state does not mandate a program for government or private sector workers.
Application Requirements
In Missouri, the primary requirement for short-term disability is purchasing a policy from a private insurance company before suffering a non-occupational loss. The state does not require coverage for off-the-job accidents and illnesses.
Government Money
Many Missouri workers become aware of the coverage requirement when applying for short-term disability benefits after a non-occupational loss and need an alternative support resource.
Free government benefits for household bills can lower expenses. Many programs qualify applicants on projected taxable income, which will be lower than average after a brief work absence.
New Policy
Complete a new policy application to satisfy the first requirement for short-term disability in Missouri. You must have off-the-job coverage to file a claim for benefits.
To start the process, get a quote tailored to your coverage needs. A licensed insurance agent may contact you to review the projected monthly premiums based on three feature choices.
- Elimination period: how quickly benefits begin
- Monthly amount: how much the policy pays
- Benefit period: the maximum length of claim payments
The agent will ask a series of medical questions to establish if you are healthy enough to buy a policy. The agent will submit the application to the insurance company for underwriting review.
Filing Claims
Apply for short-term disability benefits by filing a claim with the insurance company that issued your policy, provided you met a second requirement. Coverage must begin before becoming sick, hurt, or pregnant.
Pre-existing condition clauses exclude claim payments during the first year if you are healthy enough to qualify for the coverage. In other words, you cannot wait until the last second to act.
What Qualifies
Workers should understand what qualifies for short-term disability in Missouri. This insurance covers off-the-job accidents and illnesses, provided you purchase a policy far enough in advance.
Maternity Leave
When purchased before conception, maternity leave qualifies for short-term disability when the mom cannot perform her work duties because of a pregnancy-related medical condition.
- Pregnancy disability leave before childbirth
- Recovery from labor and delivery
- Postpartum medical disorders (not depression)
Missouri maternity leave laws do not include income replacement benefits for parents working in the private sector. Meanwhile, state government employees receive three to six weeks off at 100% of their previous pay.
Surgery Recovery
When purchased at least one year before your surgeon recommends an operation, your surgery recovery may qualify for short-term disability benefits. Once again, timing matters.
A policy might cover knee replacement if you purchase the policy at least one year before the surgery to overcome the pre-existing condition exclusion. Arthritic joints do not happen suddenly, so you have plenty of advance notice to buy a policy in time.
Temporary Disability In MO
Workers in Missouri have more success when applying for temporary disability benefits because the government requires two types of coverage: occupational injuries of any duration and off-the-job accidents and illnesses lasting at least twelve months.
Social Security
The federal government requires Missouri workers to purchase Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and fund the premiums jointly with their employer through payroll taxes. FICA taxes fund this coverage for off-the-job injuries and illnesses.
You may qualify for Social Security benefits without a permanent disability. The government’s definition speaks for itself.
“To meet our definition of disability, you must not be able to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) that is either:
- Expected to result in death
- Has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months”
Workers Compensation
The Missouri state government requires employers to purchase Workers’ Compensation Insurance, which covers temporary disabilities for on-the-job accidents and illnesses.
Apply for temporary disability through Workers’ Compensation by immediately reporting the job-related incident to your employer. File the notice in writing and keep a copy for your records, noting the date you mailed the document or handed it to a person in your human resources department.
After reporting your injury, your employer should arrange for the necessary medical treatment and file the reports with the Department of Labor.
