Short-term disability benefits are meant to help when illness or injury interrupts work. Unfortunately, what you say and do during a short-term disability claim can later be used against you in an SSDI application.
Many claimants are shocked to learn that employer disability paperwork often contradicts their SSDI case.
How Short-Term Disability Differs from SSDI
Short-term disability is an insurance benefit. SSDI is a federal disability determination. The standards are completely different.
Short-term disability often asks:
- Can you perform your specific job
- Will you recover soon
- Are you temporarily unable to work
SSDI asks:
- Can you perform any substantial work
- Will your condition last at least 12 months
- Can you sustain work consistently
Statements made for short-term disability often assume improvement. SSA later treats those statements as admissions.
Common Mistakes That Harm SSDI Claims
These issues appear frequently:
- Doctors writing expected return-to-work dates that never materialize
- Claimants reporting improvement to insurers to avoid job loss
- Employer forms stating light duty is possible
- Surveillance or functional assessments by insurers
SSA may obtain these records or rely on them indirectly through medical notes.
Timing Matters More Than People Realize
Applying for SSDI too late after short-term disability ends can cause:
- Loss of insured status
- Gaps in medical evidence
- Onset date disputes
Applying too early without explaining temporary benefits can also raise questions. Coordination is critical.
How Attorneys Prevent Conflict
We align:
- Onset dates
- Medical narratives
- Employer paperwork
- SSDI applications
This prevents SSA from misinterpreting temporary benefits as proof of work ability.
Final Takeaway
Short-term disability does not disqualify you from SSDI. Poor coordination between the two does.
Call to Action
If you received short-term disability or are currently on it, do not apply for SSDI without a strategy.
Call for a free SSDI timing and conflict review.
We protect your long-term benefits.
No fees unless you win.
