This discussion provides practical tips for people who are still working but considering filing for short or long-term disability. A key first step is getting a copy of the full disability policy (not just a short summary). For employer group plans, employees can request all benefit policies from HR under the guise of general financial planning if they don’t want to signal a pending claim. The most critical foundation of any claim is strong, consistent medical documentation. Claimants should seek treatment before stopping work when possible, have doctors document all symptoms and functional limitations in detail, and ideally obtain medical support for stopping work. Using sick leave while building medical evidence can help bridge the gap and show a consistent history of problems.

They also warn against rushing to notify the insurance company before the medical record is well developed. Filing too quickly can lead to incomplete paperwork, missed deadlines for forms, or weak proof, increasing the risk of denial and a long disability insurance appeal process. Most policies have elimination periods (often 90–180 days), so immediate notice is usually not financially necessary, as long as notice and proof are provided within policy timelines. The overall strategy is to “get your ducks in a row” first—gather records, secure physician support, and submit a thorough application “on a silver platter”—because a strong initial filing greatly improves approval odds and avoids lengthy appeals.