When you find yourself unable to work due to a disability, managing your finances and supporting your family can be really difficult. This is where long-term disability comes into play. It will provide the financial support needed to support you and your family during your disabled state. This leads to the question: What would qualify for long term disability? There’s a wide range of illnesses, conditions, and disabilities that qualify for this benefit, and that’s what we’ll be covering in today’s blog.

What Would Qualify as Long Term Disability?

While the eligibility for long-term disability will depend on your policy, there are several conditions that are likely to be covered. Below we’ll go over several conditions that are typically covered by long term disability insurance.

Qualifying Cancers

Cancer is the uncontrolled production and growth of abnormal cells in the body that causes damage to healthy tissue and organs. Many different types of cancer will qualify for long term disability benefits, but some of the most common ones include:

• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Melanoma

Qualifying Autoimmune Disorders

An autoimmune disorder is a condition where a person’s immune system—which protects against foreign infections and viruses—mistakes its own tissues as foreign. When this happens, the person’s immune system will attack its own healthy tissue, thus damaging its own body. Common autoimmune disorders include the following:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Lupus

Qualifying Neurological Disorders

A neurological disorder is a disease of the peripheral and central nervous systems, including the spinal cord, brain, muscles, and nerves. Common neurological disorders that qualify for long term disability include:

• Strokes
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Bell’s Palsy
• Epilepsy
• Migraines

Qualifying Mental Illness

Mental health disorders are health conditions that alter one’s mood, thought process, and/or behavior. Mental health disorders that may qualify for long term disability benefits include:

• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Personality disorders
• Anxiety
• Depression

*Important note – many LTD policies only cover such conditions for up to 24 months.

Qualifying Chronic Illness

Chronic illnesses are typically defined as a condition that persists over a length of time and requires ongoing medical attention. Chronic illnesses that usually qualify for long term disability include:

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Fibromyalgia

Qualifying Degenerative Diseases

A degenerative disease usually involves the deterioration of tissues and cells in an organ over time. Several degenerative diseases include:

• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Other Conditions that May Qualify

Other types of conditions or symptoms that may qualify for long term disability benefits include:

• Chronic pain
• Chronic fatigue
• Certain long-term injuries
• Vision loss or blindness
• Hearing loss of deafness

There are hundreds of conditions and illnesses that can qualify for long term disability—as well as many that do not. That’s why it’s important to speak with a long-term disability attorney to see if your disability qualifies for long term disability. At Bonnici Law Group, we can help you better understand all the details related to your specific situation, do feel free to reach out. We can help guide you with your disability insurance claim so that you can obtain the best results possible! Give us a call at (858) 261-5454 or click here for a free consultation!