Understanding Disability Insurance Waiting Periods

Estimated read time: ~6 minutes

Video Transcript

Summary: The waiting period for disability insurance is the time between when a disability begins and when benefits start, and it plays a key role in how soon you receive financial support. This article explains the differences in disability insurance waiting periods and how they can affect the timeliness of the benefits you receive.

Lots of people protect their homes and cars with insurance, but surprisingly few insure their biggest financial asset–their income. This is unfortunate given that many families live paycheck to paycheck, and roughly 37% of adults say they would need to borrow money, sell something, or could not pay at all if faced with a $400 emergency.¹

If you are injured or become seriously ill and cannot work, disability insurance can help you pay your bills. But insurance benefits don’t start right away. There is usually a waiting period before you can start collecting disability insurance benefits.

Let’s look at the specifics of disability insurance and how the waiting period for disability insurance affects when you receive your benefits.

What is disability insurance?

Disability insurance is a type of coverage designed to provide a portion of your salary if you can’t work because of injury or illness. It is often offered to you by your employer as part of your benefits package. But you can also get coverage through an individual policy, professional association membership or government program like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Disability insurance policies can vary, but they cover conditions that prevent you from performing the duties of your job, either temporarily or permanently. Short‑term disability insurance typically replaces 40–70% of income, though some higher‑end policies replace up to 80% depending on plan design.²

What is the disability insurance waiting period?

There is usually a waiting period before you can receive benefits. The waiting period, also known as the elimination period, is the time you have to wait between when you first become unable to work and when your disability insurance benefits begin. Once the waiting period has ended, you will receive your benefit in either a lump-sum check or installments to help cover a portion of your expenses.

The disability insurance waiting period can be anywhere from seven to 90 days, depending on the type of disability coverage you have. The time you have to wait for benefits depends on whether you have a short-term or long-term disability policy.

Short-term disability

Short-term disability is when you cannot work for a year or less because of an illness, injury or medical condition. Some examples of covered instances include surgery recovery, pregnancy or a non-work-related injury. With short-term disability coverage, you could see waiting periods as short as seven days and as long as 30 days, but most short-term disability policies have a 14-day waiting period before coverage begins.

Long-term disability

Long-term disability is when you are unable to work for an extended period, from two years to the rest of your life, because of a serious illness or injury. Because the coverage for long-term disability lasts longer than short-term, the waiting periods for disability insurance are longer. The waiting period for long-term disability insurance is usually about 90 days, but you have a choice of selecting a longer waiting period if you want to lower your insurance premiums. As with other insurance products, you are not eligible to receive any payments during the waiting period.

How do disability insurance waiting periods differ from probationary periods?

People sometimes confuse the waiting period for disability insurance with the probationary period, but there’s an important distinction. The waiting or elimination period is the number of calendar days since your disability began that must pass before benefits become payable.

The probationary period determines when you’re able to file a claim. After you purchase a disability policy, there is usually a probationary period before you can file a claim. Most long-term disability insurance policies don’t have probationary periods, meaning you’re typically covered as soon as you purchase your policy and can file a claim the next day if necessary.

Things to know about the disability insurance waiting periods

• The disability insurance waiting period doesn’t have to be consecutive days. For example, if you’re out of work for a period, and then you try to return to work and realize you’re still unable to work, the waiting period doesn’t start over — it just continues from where you left off.
• Most insurance providers will waive the waiting period if you file a second claim on the same condition after satisfying the previous waiting period. For instance, if you’re diagnosed with leukemia and go on disability for 10 months, and then recover and return to work but the leukemia comes back, you don’t need to wait through a second waiting period — as long as it has not been more than 6 or 12 months in a row, depending on your benefit period.

Protect your income with the right disability insurance coverage

Disability insurance plays a crucial role in protecting your finances when an illness or injury prevents you from working. The waiting period for disability insurance can delay your first benefit payment, so it’s important to understand how your policies work and plan to bridge that gap so you can stress less and focus on your recovery.

Mutual of Omaha financial professionals offer a wide range of disability income insurance options for your needs, with flexible waiting periods and reliable coverage.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How does the disability insurance waiting period affect claims?

The waiting period directly affects when you can start receiving benefits from a disability insurance claim. This waiting period can vary depending on your premiums and whether you have short-term or long-term disability insurance. Shorter wait times usually mean higher insurance premiums. You’ll need to rely on other financial resources during the waiting period to cover your expenses.

How does short-term disability insurance differ from workers’ compensation?

Short-term disability insurance and workers’ compensation both provide income when you’re unable to work, but they cover different situations. Short-term disability typically applies to non-work-related injuries or illnesses, like recovering from surgery or pregnancy complications.

Workers’ compensation is designed specifically for job-related injuries or illnesses. Employers are legally required to carry workers’ compensation, but not short-term disability. Also, workers’ comp may include medical coverage and rehabilitation services, while short-term disability only covers lost wages.

Can I choose the length of my disability insurance waiting period?

In many cases, you can choose the length of your waiting period for disability insurance when you buy a policy, especially with long-term coverage. Insurance providers offer waiting periods of 30, 60, 90, or even 180 days. With shorter waiting periods, you’ll get your benefits sooner, but may also have to pay a higher premium. Longer waiting periods can lower your premium costs, but you’ll need savings or another income source to cover your expenses while you wait for your disability benefits.

Sources:

1. Federal Reserve Board. (2025). Economic well‑being of U.S. households in 2024. https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2025-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2024-savings-and-investments.htm, (Accessed April 14, 2026)
2. What Does Short‑Term Disability Pay: Amounts and Eligibility. April 1, 2026. https://legalclarity.org/what-does-short-term-disability-pay/

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Video transcript:

If you’re considering protecting your income with disability insurance, it’s important to understand your policy’s waiting period. The waiting period, also called the elimination period, is the time between when you become unable to work and when your benefit checks start arriving. The waiting period is not the same as the probationary period. The probationary period happens right after you buy your policy. It’s basically a short window before you can even file a claim.

The length of your waiting period depends on whether you have short-term or long-term disability coverage. Short-term disability is for illnesses or injuries that keep you out of work for up to a year. These policies typically have waiting periods ranging from 7 to 30 days, though most are around 14 days.

Long-term disability covers you for extended periods, sometimes even for life. Because the coverage lasts longer, the waiting periods are longer, too. The standard is usually 90 days, but you can choose a longer waiting period if you want to lower your premiums. Here’s some good news. If you file a second claim for the same condition, most policies will wave that waiting period if it hasn’t been more than 6 to 12 months since your first claim ended.

When it comes to disability insurance, understanding your waiting period can help you plan better and avoid surprises when you need your coverage most. For helpful information about disability insurance and more, visit mutualofomaha.com.