2 Group Short-Term Disability Insurance Disability elimination period and benefit payments timeline Disability claim is approved Elimination period (No disability benefits are payable.) Disability benefits end Short-term disability benefits are paid What happens if you’re not able to work because of a disabling illness or injury? Not only is disability more common than you may think, but you might not be as financially prepared for one as you would hope. 51% Over half of Americans have less than three months of emergency savings. 1 7.8 million About 7.8 million workers had an illness-related work absence in January 2022. 2 $ 1,352 / month The average benefit paid by Social Security Disability Insurance was $1,352 a month, or $16,224 annually. That’s barely above the poverty line for a one-person household. 3