You probably have worked hard all your life, but now you must use your private disability insurance or California’s state disability (SDI). Your disability may be from an illness or injury at work, but navigating any disability application and follow-through can be daunting. You may even be reluctant, at first, to accept the need for disability, so overall, many obstacles may hinder you from getting what you legally and rightfully are entitled to.

In truth, however, millions of people face this situation every year. There’s no reason to hesitate or feel bad about this decision to accept disability insurance, SDI, or SSDI to assist you and your family.

Even if you have private disability insurance on your own or through your employer, and if you qualify for SSDI, you may be able to receive payments from Social Security disability. However, your private insurance carrier may require you to apply for SSDI. If you qualify for both benefits, however, your personal (or employer) insurance carrier could deduct your SSDI payments from the unique benefits you now receive.

Additionally, depending on your exact circumstances, you may also qualify for California’s State Disability Insurance (SDI) while you are on one or both programs. Again, receiving California’s SDI benefits might decrease your SSDI or private benefits or stop them altogether.

So, navigating all these various benefits packages can be enormously daunting. The key to remember is that if you have employer disability insurance, and wish to add SDI or SSDI benefits, is to do it in such a way that you end up with the right “mix” so that you receive all the help you rightfully deserve

You now see that getting the guidance and professional advice of a San Diego SSDI attorney will be invaluable in this endeavor. Your SSDI lawyer is knowledgeable in what programs you need, may qualify for, and the “mix” required to help you, and your family, in the best way possible.

What Are Some Differences Between Private Disability Insurance and SSDI?

Suppose you are in a position of possibly losing income because of s disability. In that case, the chances are you have not closely examined the benefits of private disability insurance vs. Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) and other types of benefits.

All disability insurance is designed to lessen the economic hardship if you cannot work because of a disability. However, SSDI provides essential protections to workers, mainly if they have long contributed to Social Security. Also, SSDI requires meeting a strict definition of total disability.

Often, private disability insurance could offer more extensive and liberal coverage and possibly more significant benefits.

To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must show that you meet Social Security’s strict definition of disability.

For example, to get SSDI, you must show that:

  • You can no longer work in your previous occupation.
  • You won’t be able to adjust to new work.
  • Your disability will prevent you from returning to work for at least a year.

Usually, if you are only partially or temporarily disabled, you most likely will not receive benefits from SSDI.

One of the most valuable benefits of private disability plans is there are less restrictive definitions of disability. While SSDI requires a showing of total disability, many programs will pay benefits without requiring individuals to prove that they can do no work.

However, some plans are costly, and these definitions of coverage vary, but most have the following three in common:

  • They have “Own occupation” coverage – Which insures you against disabilities that prevent them from performing the duties of their occupation.
  • They will cover “Own occupation” with time limits – So they will protect you when you cannot perform your occupational duties for a limited time.
  • They include “Any occupation” coverage – Which defines your disability as being unable to perform any job.

The main thing to remember is that SSDI or SDI in California should always be far less expensive for you than private or even employer disability insurance. Also, your case is unique, and consulting with a qualified, empathetic, and knowledgeable San Diego SSDI attorney will provide you with all the pertinent facts you must know to choose what to do and how to do it.

What Are Some Facts About Receiving Multiple Forms of Disability Benefits?

Depending on your unique situation, when comparing private disability insurance vs. SSDI, you, fortunately, don’t have to take one or the other.

It’s possible, especially with the correct guidance and advice, to receive multiple forms of disability benefits simultaneously.

Let’s say you qualify for SSDI; you can usually receive payments from Social Security disability and private or employer insurance. As stated before, your private insurer will usually require that you apply for SSDI, then reduce their payments by all (or some) of the amount your SSDI payments now provide.

Importantly, and if you qualify, you may also receive benefits from workers’ compensation or military benefits for veterans while still receiving private disability and SSDI benefits. Consulting with a San Diego SSDI attorney will ensure you know all the facts you need and how these various benefits complement each to provide you with the best benefits package possible.

Can I Receive SSDI and Short-Term Disability Together?

As a “Californian,” you are very fortunate in this case as it’s one of only five states that even offer short-term disability benefits. In most other states, short-term disability benefits are referred to as “temporary disability insurance” (TDI). It does not fall under state disability insurance (SDI). So, as a California resident, you can take advantage of the SDI program while applying and waiting for approval from the Social Security Administration for your disability benefits.

However, you must note that usually, you won’t be able to collect the total amount of both Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits and additional short-term disability (SDI) benefits. Social Security commonly will reduce your SSDI if the combined amount of your SSDI and SSI exceeds a specific limit. However, this is a valued advantage to most states and can benefit you and your family considerably.

I Have Disability Insurance Provided, but want SSDI; How Should I Proceed?

Sorting through the various programs and applying correctly for them is a challenging, severe, and time-consuming task. It’s always tricky to determine how best to protect yourself against disability or believe you’re currently entitled to disability benefits you’re not receiving.

Consulting with an experienced and knowledgeable San Diego SSDI attorney will always help to ensure you are aware of all the programs provided and file correctly and comprehensively the first time. Your San Diego lawyer will help you get the best legal advice on what documents you must compile, complete, and file to win.

The best advice is: Do not try this alone; consult with a San Diego SSDI law firm and allow their experience to get what you, and your family, rightfully need and deserve.