Group disability insurance
Don’t let an illness or injury stop your income
A disabling injury or illness can happen to anyone. If a disability prevented you from working, how long could you meet your financial needs?
First Symetra short-term and long-term disability insurance helps protect your income when it matters most.
Short-term or long-term disability insurance?
Short-term
Short-term disabilities are more common than you may think. Pregnancy, digestive disorders and broken bones are just a few conditions that may qualify for claims.
Short-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income when you’re unable to work so you can focus on recovery and getting back on the job.
Long-term
No one plans on becoming disabled, but the truth is that a disabling injury or illness, such as cancer, can happen to anyone.
Long-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income if you become too sick or injured to work for an extended period of time—until you can return to work or you reach your plan’s maximum duration.
How does disability insurance work?
Both types of disability insurance replace a portion of your income if you become too sick or injured to work. Here’s what happens after your claim is approved.
Benefit payments begin after a certain amount of time—called the elimination period—following the start of your disabling condition.
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• For short-term disability, you’ll receive benefits for a limited time—usually nine to 26 weeks—or until you return to work. • For long-term disability, you’ll receive benefits until you return to work or reach your plan’s maximum duration. |
When possible, First Symetra will work with your employer to facilitate a gradual return to work.
Claim examples
Meet Ashley
On her last hiking trip, Ashley fell and broke her leg. The bad news: Her doctor said it could be weeks before she could work again. The good news: Ashley’s disability insurance replaced some of her income while she was out. Now she can focus on getting back on her feet—both at work and on the trails.
Ashley’s short-term disability benefits timeline
1. Ashley gets hurt and is unable to work. She files a short-term disability claim with First Symetra.
2. During the elimination period, Ashley does not receive disability benefits, but she can use any remaining paid time off to fill income gaps.
3. Ashley’s disability benefits begin. She's approved for a benefit that pays 60% of her weekly income for up to 9 weeks.
4. Ashley makes a full recovery and returns to work with no limitations. Her disability benefits end.
Meet Paul
Paul never thought he would become disabled, but that changed when he was diagnosed with cancer. He spent several months in treatment and was unable to work, but his long-term disability coverage helped replace his income during this time. Now, he’s in remission and looking forward to resuming his daily life.
Paul’s long-term disability benefits timeline
1. Paul is diagnosed with cancer and undergoes treatment. He’s unable to work and files a long-term disability claim with First Symetra.
2. During this elimination period, Paul does not receive long-term disability benefits, but is covered by his short-term disability benefits.
3. Paul’s long-term disability benefits begin. He's approved for a benefit that pays 60% of his monthly income until he returns to work or reaches his plan’s maximum duration.
4. Paul is in complete remission and returns to work with no limitations. His disability benefit ends.
Note: These examples are for illustrative purposes only and are meant to provide a general overview of how disability insurance works. Any resemblance to actual persons is purely coincidental. Refer to your enrollment materials for your plan’s benefit amounts.
Why enroll in disability coverage at work?
If you couldn’t work because of a disabling illness or injury, you might not be as financially prepared as you’d hope. Disability insurance replaces a portion of your income so you can focus more on your recovery and less on your finances.
Signing up for First Symetra’s disability insurance also means you can enjoy:
- A simple enrollment process with no medical questionnaires if enrolling during your initial eligibility period.1
- Convenient payroll deductions if any premium is owed.
- 24/7 access to your benefits information with our user-friendly online portal.
Next steps
To learn more about group disability insurance offered by First Symetra, contact your benefits representative.
Group disability insurance policies are insured by First Symetra National Life Insurance Company of New York, New York, NY. Mailing address: P.O. Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124. Certificate form number is GDC-4500-NY 12/05.
Coverage may be subject to exclusions, limitations, reductions and termination of benefit provisions.
1Up to the maximum guaranteed issue amount; may be subject to a preexisting conditions exclusion.
WEB 1374/NY 11/24