Disability

This section generally explains employee rights under state and Federal, disability insurance benefits programs and related laws.

It also generally explains employee rights under Federal anti-discrimination laws, that specifically prohibit employment discrimination against disabled workers.

Lastly, it explains Veterans' Preference, a program that gives qualified disabled veterans an edge over other applicants for Federal government jobs.

Disability Topics

Social Security Disability Benefits
About the disability insurance and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits provided by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

State Disability Benefits
Information about the short-term disability insurance that five states and the Commonwealth of Puerto provide or require employers to carry for employees.

Workers' Compensation Disability Benefits
The basics of state workers' compensation disability insurance, referred to as "workers comp" for short. Provides general information about claims, benefits, eligibility and appeals along with resources for researching specifics in your work state.

Topics Related to Disability

Click on a link below to display the related topic indicated. Click on the to display the section from which the related topic originates.

Americans with Disabilities Act
Employee rights under the landmark law that prohibits employment discrimination against workers who have disabilities and requires employers to reasonably accommodate them in the workplace.

Association Discrimination
Association discrimination is outlawed by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It occurs when employees suffer prejudice on the job, because of their associations with disabled people.

Family and Medical Leave
About the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It entitles qualified workers to take unpaid sick leave to care for themselves or family members. Qualified workers now include those who are involved in same-sex marriages legalized by the states. Mentions maternity, paternity and child-adoption leave, and leave arising from a family member's military duty.

Rehabilitation Act
Employee rights under the law that prohibits discrimination against disabled workers by Federal-government employers, and by other employers with certain Federal-government associations.

Self-Employment Assistance
Learn about the special program in a few states that provides self-employment help to eligible unemployed workers, including those who have disabilities.

Sick Leave
Learn whether or not your employee rights entitle you to take sick leave from work, with or without sick pay.

Veterans' Preference Disability Benefits
Explains the preferential treatment in hiring and then retention during layoffs, to which many veterans and disabled veterans are entitled by law for government jobs.