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Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)

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    updated May 14, 2025
    Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)

    The Basics

    Short-Term Disability (STD) is private insurance that replaces some of your income if an injury or illness prevents you from working. While you are away from work, it pays you a certain percentage of your income for a set period of time. Some employers provide group STD policies as part of their benefits packages. If your employer doesn’t offer STD, or you want additional coverage, you can buy an individual policy from an insurance agent.

    Every STD policy has different features. Your Human Resources department (or your insurance agent if you have an individual policy) is usually the best source of information about your specific plan.

    Important to Know

    Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance is not a government benefit, and it is not connected to any public benefit program. It is private insurance coverage that you get through a private company. To find out if you have STD coverage through your employer, talk to your Human Resources person.

    There is a totally separate public benefit program that also helps people who become disabled for up to a year. It is called State Disability Insurance (SDI). It covers most people in California who are working. If you become disabled and are unable to do your job, you may be able to get SDI benefits, whether or not you also get STD. To learn more about SDI, read DB101's SDI article.

    Note: If you are looking for information about Social Security benefits for people with disabilities, see DB101's Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) article and DB101's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) article.

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    Long-Term Disability Insurance

    Private insurance for people who paid premiums or whose employers did. LTD may continue for years.

    California State Disability Insurance (SDI)

    SDI helps Californians who worked, paid SDI taxes, and now can't work because of a non-job-related disability.

    Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

    SSDI helps people with disabilities who worked and paid Social Security taxes.