When it comes to benefits, federal employees often believe they’re fully covered. After all, the federal benefits package includes health insurance, FERS retirement, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and life insurance (FEGLI). But there’s one glaring gap that catches many by surprise — federal employees do not have short-term disability insurance.
Why Short-Term Disability Matters
Short-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income if you can’t work due to illness, injury, surgery, or pregnancy complications. In the private sector, many employers offer it as a standard benefit.
For federal employees, it’s missing entirely. That means if you’re out of work for several months, there’s no automatic paycheck replacement unless you have enough sick or annual leave saved — and once that’s gone, so is your income. That’s why many federal workers look into supplemental disability insurance for government employees to fill the gap.
The Cost of Going Without
If you earn $70,000 a year and become disabled for just three months, you could lose around $17,500 in income. For longer periods, the loss is far greater:
- 6 months out: ~$35,000 in lost wages
- 1 year out: ~$70,000 in lost wages
This doesn’t include additional expenses that often come with an injury or illness — like medical bills, travel to specialists, or in-home care. Without a federal employee disability insurance plan, you may have to dip into your savings, raid your TSP, or take on debt.
Why Federal Employees Assume They’re Covered
Many federal employees mistakenly think FERS Disability Retirement or OWCP (Workers’ Comp) will protect them for all disabilities. But:
- FERS Disability Retirement is only for permanent conditions that prevent you from performing your job and can take months to get approved.
- OWCP only covers work-related injuries or illnesses — nothing off the job.
If your disability is temporary and not work-related, there’s no built-in safety net. That’s where a short term disability insurance option for federal employees becomes essential.
The Bottom Line
The most overlooked federal employee benefit is one that’s not even included — short-term disability insurance. Without it, you’re gambling with months of lost income and financial stress if illness or injury keeps you from working. The solution is to explore federal employee supplemental disability coverage tailored for your needs so you can protect your income before something happens.
Get a quote now at https://federalemployeeinsurancebenefits.com/