If you have ever had to attend court in order to prove your innocence, you know how much your appearance and attitude can impact the proceedings. Unfortunately, all too many people misinterpret how they should dress and what they should do in court, which is why I decided to make this blog. This website is all about creating a great impression in court and understanding how to present yourself to the judge and jury. After all, you might be trying to defend your innocence to avoid potential jail time. Check out this blog for great tips that could help you to protect your freedom.
You read the title correctly. Pregnancy is a disability, at least as it is defined by private disability insurance and short-term disability laws. If this is the first time that you are working and pregnant, you may not have heard about short-term disability claims and pregnancy. In fact, most of the population (those that are unmarried males or non-pregnant females) are unaware that pregnancy is considered a "disabling condition." Here is what you need to know about your own pregnancy and disability insurance claims.
Paying into Short Term Disability Insurance
When your employer hired you, you were probably offered a benefits package. If you signed up for long-term disability, short-term disability, accident coverage and dismemberment insurance, then you are covered for just about any condition that happens at work. Some conditions that happen outside of work are also covered, but usually they have to be work-related to count. The short-term disability benefit itself pays for a few weeks' worth of missed work with the expectation that whatever caused you to miss work will have healed and you can work under "normal" conditions again.
Covered for Work-Related Injuries and Accidents
Your short-term disability insurance covers you for disabling conditions that happen at work or for disabling conditions that are related to your job. However, that does not explain how a pregnancy, which typically occurs away from work, is counted under short-term disability insurance. Being pregnant, however, does affect what tasks you can do at work, as well as the fact that you cannot work when you are in labor, giving birth, or recuperating from your baby's delivery. This is why your post-delivery state is considered a "short term disability" and why you can file a claim against your short-term disability insurance.
How Your Short-Term Disability Insurance Works
You can file a short-term disability claim within a few weeks of your expected due date. Sometimes there is a waiting period while the insurance company goes over your pregnancy documents and/or talks to your OB/GYN. If you plan to use vacation and sick time after the baby arrives, schedule it around the assumed three weeks you expect to receive your short-term disability checks. The wait period is between one day and two weeks:
Coverage usually starts anywhere from one to 14 days after your employee suffers a condition that leaves them unable to work.
Depending on the insurance company, the wait period may be slightly longer or shorter, but this is the typically how long you will have to wait. In the event that your short-term disability claim is denied, even though your insurance policy clearly states that your "condition" is covered, you may want to talk to a disability claims lawyer, such as Iler and Iler, who can help you dispute the denial of benefits.
Share23 July 2015