Short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance plans are a crucial part of employee benefits. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of these disability claims has relatively spiked along with pandemic- and mental health-related disabilities. However, employers and plan sponsors grappled with assessing the eligibility of such claims. It has also heightened the risk for potential litigation. These issues underscore the need for employers, plan sponsors, and insurers to carefully manage their STD and LTD insurance plan coverage to avoid pitfalls. Also, the public policy environment for Social Security Disability Insurance, an integral part of most LTD benefits, is changing.

Listen as knowledgeable employee benefits practitioners Denise Y. Tataryn (Nolan, Thompson, Leighton & Tataryn, PLC) and Mark J. Warshawsky (American Enterprise Institute) provide an in-depth discussion on short- and long-term disability benefits claims and Social Security disability. Speakers will also present recent regulatory developments and share best practices to avoid pitfalls in this evolving regulatory climate.

Key topics include:

• Short- and Long-Term Disability Claims: An Overview
• Regulatory Trends and Developments
• Critical Issues and Red Flags
• Best Practices in Managing Disability Benefits Claims
• Recent and Proposed Changes in SSDI Policies
• How to Mitigate the Risks of Litigation
• An Outlook