The Hidden Value of Social Security Disability Insurance: Why It’s Important During Benefits Enrollment

By Steve Perrigo, Allsup Each year during benefits enrollment, you likely review your health insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits. One vital program is often overlooked: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Benefits enrollment season is the perfect time to assess the full range of coverage and protections you get from SSDI. Funded through FICA taxes,…

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Data Proves Correlation Between Depression, Anxiety, and Disability

By Ian Bridgman, Executive Director, The Claim Lab; Fred Schott, Consultant, Council for Disability Income Awareness   Research shows that depression and anxiety are risk factors for new disabilities. While this is not news to medical experts, it may be for claims adjusters and others in the integrated disability and absence management (IDAM) space, whose…

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The Science of Aging Well: How Your Beliefs Affect Your Health

By Fred Schott I was born in 1950. That means I spent my 20s in the 70s, and now I get to spend my 70s in the 20s. I remember when rock was young. Susie and I had so much fun holding hands and skimming stones. I had an old gold Chevy and a place…

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The Loneliness Epidemic is Making Us Sicker

Christi Doe, M.Ed., CPDM, Senior Consultant, Member Relations, Council for Disability Income Awareness   With decades of experience in the insurance industry and as someone who has experienced a difficult period of isolation, I’m increasingly interested in the relationship between loneliness and health-related disabilities. Today, America is in the middle of a loneliness epidemic that…

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The Power of Storytelling and Its Connection to Disability Insurance

Margaret O’Neill Underwriting & Thought Leadership GC Smith Group   Storytelling is an intrinsic part of our humanity. We share stories to reveal aspects of our lives, beliefs, and emotions. Storytelling helps us teach, explain, and connect with others in professional settings. The narratives we create shape our self-perception and worldview. So, how does storytelling…

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Smart Watch Anxiety

Can Your Smartwatch Make You Sick?   Lately, I’ve started wondering if I should get a smartwatch. Friends of mine routinely take calls or texts on their Apple® or Google® watches. Others track their steps or monitor their hearts. Paying for a coffee with a smartwatch looks so easy. And yes, some designs look terrific.…

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Who needs disability insurance?

The short answer is probably everyone. Your ability to work and earn a paycheck is one of your most valuable assets. It is essential to help support yourself and your family, but what would happen if you became too sick or injured to work?   What is disability insurance? Disability benefits replace part of your…

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Are Americans Financially Prepared for an Unexpected Absence from Work?

By Dan Iskra, assistant vice president, Group Disability, MetLife No one enters the workforce thinking about how to prepare for an unexpected leave of absence or disability. But the odds of such an event are higher than you think. Over a quarter of today’s 20-year-olds will experience a disability before they retire. That should be…

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Where do Voluntary or Worksite Products Fit into an Employee’s Benefit Package?

With the arrival of fall, two things are guaranteed to happen: leaves will begin to change color, and “Open Enrollment” will start for most employers. Employers will inform their employees about new benefits and price changes to existing ones. They will often add new benefits to these packages. Increasingly, voluntary payroll deduction products are offered…

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Understanding the Fundamentals of Employee Benefits

Creating an attractive and motivating compensation package for employees requires more than structuring an annual salary. Today, most employees are looking for comprehensive benefits that support themselves and their families throughout the year.   However, with so many benefits options available, it can be overwhelming for organizations looking to make smart choices for their employees.…

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Do I need disability income insurance? Yes — and here’s why

We all know that life insurance is a must when it comes to protecting our family’s financial well-being, but paying an additional premium for disability income (DI) insurance can feel like a low priority given the many demands on our budget. Younger workers, in particular, often dismiss the need for private disability income insurance, unaware…

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When Income Matters, Consider Stay-at-Work Services

Dan Jolivet, Ph.D., Workplace Possibilities Practice Consultant, The Standard   Income matters to virtually all workers, and the replacement of a percentage of income by disability insurance payments can make a tremendous difference for people who face a disabling injury or illness. But what if their disability insurance could help them remain on the job…

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