What is the difference between short-term disability insurance and long-term disability insurance?

Short-term disability benefits are available to you soon after you have become disabled. In general, the waiting period for applying for short-term disability benefits is between 0 and 2 weeks. An insurance company can provide short-term disability benefits, but more often, such benefits are paid by your employer directly.

Long-term disability benefits, on the other hand, usually only commence following a three to six-month waiting period and may be payable for months or even years, depending on the nature of your disability.