What is an Elimination Period in a Disability Claim

When a person is injured or suffers an illness in Philadelphia, the benefits he or she receives are rarely made available immediately. Many insurance contracts contain a clause outlining an “elimination period” that sets a specific amount of time a person will have to wait before he or she can begin receiving benefits. This period is also referred to as a waiting period or qualifying period, and can greatly affect Pennsylvania disability claims.

In general, the elimination period typically refers to the time between the date that a person is injured or diagnosed with an illness and the date benefits begin being paid. Elimination periods can range anywhere from 30 days to add much as 720 days.

The idea behind elimination periods is to help eliminate claims from applicants who ultimately recover rather quickly. The elimination period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is five months.

If you need help filing a long-term disability claim in Pennsylvania, it is in your best interest to quickly contact Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP. Call (215) 858-8440 to schedule a free consultation.

Elimination Periods for Short-Term and Long-Term Benefits

Short-term and long-term disability insurance policies usually have elimination periods, and the length of the period can impact the premiums paid by the insured. Shorter elimination periods are typically more expensive because they will result in more claims, and the same is true for short-term insurance in comparison to the cost of long-term insurance.

It is essential to understand that an elimination period is not the same as a probationary period. A probationary period refers to the time after a policy is purchased in which the policyholder is prohibited from filing a claim. Most disability insurance policies do not contain probationary periods.

Another significant term to understand is the accumulation period, which allows claimants to satisfy the requirements of an elimination period when the specified number of days are not consecutive. For example, if an injured worker’s policy has a 90-day elimination period, and he or she misses 60 days of work before attempting to return only to learn he or she is unable to work, an accumulation period allows those 60 days to be counted toward the elimination period such that he or she would only then have to wait another 30 days before receiving benefits.

Even when a person has satisfied the elimination period of his or her disability insurance policy, there can often still be a delay in actually receiving the benefits. In many cases, it can take up to 30 days for a person to begin receiving benefits after clearing the elimination period.

The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) notes that the number of people qualifying for Social Security disability benefits has increased as more baby boomers reach their most disability-prone years. As a result, the SSA aggressively seeks to identify possible instances of fraud, and some qualified applicants have claims denied because of concerns about fraudulent claims.

Pennsylvania Long-Term Disability Insurance Attorney

Are you struggling to obtain disability benefits because of an elimination period in your disability insurance policy? Do not delay in contacting Edelstein Martin & Nelson, LLP.

Our firm has recovered more than $90 million for people just like yourself. Our lawyers can provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case as soon as you call (215) 858-8440 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

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