Disability insurance is a form of insurance that provides income to disabled persons to help cover living expenses, which often continue in spite of the disability.

A typical Short Term Disability plan starts to pay benefits after the employee has been unable to work for one or two weeks, and pays benefits up to three months or six months. If the employer also provides a Long Term Disability policy, the benefits for the Long Term Disability will begin after the Short Term benefits have been exhausted.

Long Term Disability does not usually pay benefits until the employee has been out of work for three months or more (this elimination period usually coincides with the ending date of the Short Term Disability policy). In addition, Long Term Disability benefits often continue until retirement age, if the disability continues until retirement.