Long-term disability (LTD) insurance benefit durations vary depending on the specific policy, but common lengths include:
- 2 years: Some policies provide benefits for up to two years if you cannot perform your occupation.
- 5 years: Many LTD plans offer benefits for up to five years.
- 10 years: Some policies extend benefits for up to ten years.
- Until retirement age (typically age 65 or Social Security Normal Retirement Age): The most comprehensive plans provide benefits until retirement age or sometimes up to age 70, especially for professionals with specialized skills or significant student debt
The average duration of a long-term disability claim is about 2.5 years, but this is just an average; some disabilities last shorter or much longer periods
. Benefit payments usually begin after an elimination or waiting period of about 90 to 180 days, often following exhaustion of any short-term disability benefits
. The length of benefits can also depend on the policy's definition of disability:
- Own occupation: Benefits may be paid if you cannot perform your specific job, often for a limited period (e.g., 2 years).
- Any occupation: After the own occupation period, benefits may continue only if you cannot work in any suitable job, which can affect the duration of benefits
Additionally, some policies limit benefits for certain conditions, such as mental health disabilities, to shorter durations (e.g., 2 years)
. In summary, long-term disability benefits typically last from 2 to 10 years or until retirement age, depending on the policy terms, the nature of the disability, and the insured's age at disability onset
