April, 2023 - Postal Benefits Group

What is Postal Disability Insurance?

Employees of the United States Postal Service (USPS) may be eligible for postal disability insurance if their condition prohibits them from carrying out job-essential responsibilities. This insurance is intended to offer financial assistance to workers who become handicapped and are out of work for a considerable amount of time.

Disability insurance may help employees manage their medical expenditures and restore lost income, which can lessen the financial impact of a handicap. Employees must have a handicap that is certified by a licensed medical practitioner, be projected to endure for a substantial amount of time, and be recorded in order to be eligible for this insurance.

Waiting Periods

There is a waiting period before one can submit a claim under postal disability programs. The waiting times range from 14 to 30 days. For instance, if you had a 14-day waiting period and fractured your leg on September 1st, you might make your claim on September 15th. As a general rule, we advise you to get in touch with us as soon as you anticipate you’ll be off work so we can send you the claim form ahead of time. Typically, we advise the 30-day waiting period as the premium is less expensive if you have a few months of sick leave.

Benefit Period for Postal Disability Insurance

For any accident or sickness that keeps you from working, postal disability insurance can and will reimburse you for up to one year’s worth of benefits. For instance, if a postal worker chose a $3k monthly benefit and had to undergo a major operation that would keep them out of work for 9 months, they would earn $27k in tax-free payments.

Who requires postal disability insurance?

Employees at the post office who have exhausted their sick leave should think about disability insurance. How will you be able to pay your costs if you are on sick leave and have a mishap or are really sick? Your income and your bank account are both protected by postal disability insurance. Coverage is also necessary for part-time postal workers without access to sick leave.

Selecting the ideal postal disability plan:

Due to their high risk of accidents, postal workers don’t have many alternatives when it comes to disability insurance. To select an ideal postal disability plan, USPS employees should consider coverage, benefit amount, waiting period, cost, provider, and policy terms. We’d emphasize the cost as a determinant as premium comparisons is key to obtaining a fair price for the coverage you need.

We encourage you to read all the other articles in our blog, to learn more about life insurance, survivor’s benefits, short-term disability, and more important topics that we cover especially for postal workers.

USPS Disability Qualifications

Leave a Comment / Disability Retirement / By Nadia

Obtaining a disability law expert may increase the probability of receiving benefits because applying for disability benefits is a challenging process. The lawyer might help you handle the intricate paperwork correctly, ensure that deadlines are met, and provide you with proper counsel in any court proceedings.

Eligibility for Social Security Disability

One has to meet a number of requirements established by the SSA in order to be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.

The initial one is that the claimant has to submit proof to the SSA that they are permanently incapacitated or that they have a condition that has persisted or is expected to last for more than a full year. Given this window of time, applicants must meticulously organize, maintain, and renew their medical information, papers, and other records to prevent any misunderstandings over the extent of the condition.

The SSA will additionally attempt to evaluate if the applicant’s illness is serious enough to preclude them from performing any meaningful productive work. A situation like this must prevent the applicant from carrying out his official duties at his previous place of employment; it must also prevent him from acquiring another job due to his age, incapacity, or lack of education.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI is among the two federally funded programs that provide assistance to persons with impairments. The Social Security Tax Fund provides financial assistance for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). Pursuant to the aforementioned criteria, qualified handicapped people must have a sufficient number of labour credits in order to be eligible for compensation.

In theory, in order to be eligible for benefits, an individual has to have paid all social security taxes on their wages for a sizably long time. This implies that candidates must have worked for at least half of the 10 years prior to the onset of the disability and have a record of employment that is somewhat the same. Although parents’ work credits might cover claimants younger than 22 years old, younger claimants might meet fewer criteria for work credits.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Work restrictions aren’t necessary for need-related SSI (Supplemental Security and Income), as the project is funded by general tax revenues instead of the Social Security levy. A person must be older than 65, legally blind or handicapped, and have assets worth less than $3000 in order to qualify for SSI.

According to the SSA, assets include resources including real estate, cash savings, and stock holdings as well as revenues or income (like pensions, salaries, and other benefits projects). Applicants who meet these criteria may be eligible for SSI benefits regardless of their employment experience.

Why Denials Occur

1. The applicant’s inability to persuade the officials of the severity of a condition due to insufficient medical records or other relevant documentation.
2. A work history that does not meet the standards set by the SSA for work credits.
3. Lack of acquaintance with the Social Security Appeals procedure, which results in ignorance of the proper procedures to pursue the appeals when they are rejected.
It is advisable for claimants to continue receiving medical care in order to avoid such problems, and to make sure that all of their documents are both structured and complete.

Are you eligible?

Feel free to contact a financial expert for advice if you believe you fit the aforementioned requirements for SSDI or SSI. You can learn more about short-term disability at https://postallifeanddisabilityplans.com/

April 2023

Understanding Disability Insurance for Postal Workers