As the name suggests, long-term disability benefits are supposed to last for the long term. But what does that actually mean? If you’re facing a serious injury or illness, the length of time you can count on benefits is one of the first questions you’ll want answered.
First, Consult Your Policy
Every long-term disability (LTD) policy is a bit different. The “plan documents,” or full terms of the policy, will spell out your policy’s specific rules for how long your benefits can run. Most policies will have a chart that looks something like this:
| Age When Disabled | Benefits Payable |
| Less than age 60 | To age 65, but not less than 5 year |
| 60 | 60 months |
| 61 | 48 months |
| 62 | 43 months |
| 63 | 36 months |
| 64 | 30 months |
| 65 | 24 months |
This maximum benefit duration table will spell out how long your benefits could run. However, this doesn’t mean that your benefits will automatically continue all the way through this time period.
Know Other Policy Terms and Benefit Limitations
The policy will generally state that benefits continue as long as you remain “disabled” under the policy’s definition and you haven’t hit a contractual end date. However, it’s important to know what the rest of your policy says as well and when your benefits could be denied or reduced.
Claim Denials, Including at the Change in Definition of Disability, Can Stop Your Benefits
In order to continue receiving benefits, the insurer needs to agree that you remain “disabled” according to the definition of your plan. Often for the first period of your disability, the insurer will pay if you can’t perform the duties of your own occupation. Most policies provide that after a set period (often 24 months), the definition shifts to any occupation. After this point, you must show you’re unable to work in any job. The policy may indicate that “any job” means a job that matches your education, training, and experience, or that would be expected to provide you with a certain percentage of your pre-disability earnings.
Many claims get denied at this transition mark from own occupation to any occupation, or at another time if the insurer believes that your conditions have improved.
Different Conditions May Have Different Limitations
Some policies spell out different limited benefit periods for certain conditions. Unfortunately, nearly all policies will have a mental health limitation which restricts benefits for claimants with mental health conditions to just two years of benefits.
Exceeding an Income Cap May End Your Benefits
If you return to work part-time, your claim could end if you earn too much money. The policy often provides for a set earning threshold that you cannot exceed.
Offsets can Decrease Your LTD Benefit
LTD benefits are usually reduced by other income you receive, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), workers’ compensation, or certain retirement benefits. Offsets typically don’t shorten your claim duration, but they affect the amount you’re paid each month.
Where Short-Term Disability Fits In
Many employees first receive short-term disability (STD) benefits, which usually cover a few weeks up to about 3–6 months after an illness or injury. Like LTD, it’s important to check the terms of your policy. Some STD plans can run longer—even a year or more—although this is less common. If you are covered under both STD and LTD, the STD is typically set up to replace income during the early phase of recovery and bridge the gap until LTD begins. If your disability continues beyond the STD period, and you meet your LTD policy’s requirements, the LTD benefits generally can begin once the STD benefits are exhausted.
Practical Takeaways
- Check your policy’s “Maximum Benefit Period.”
- Track transition dates carefully (for example, the switch from own- to any-occupation).
- Prepare for offsets by knowing how Social Security, pension benefits, or a worker’s compensation claim could reduce your payment.
Consult an Attorney if You Need Help
Reading and understanding insurance policies can be complicated if it is not something you do regularly. Our experienced Long-Term Disability team can offer consults to review your policy and answer questions about your claim, or representation in filing an appeal if your claim is denied. If you would like an attorney’s assistance, contact our office today to discuss your situation.