I am a truck driver needing surgery. Need to take work off. How do I find benefits while I cannot work?

Q) I am a OTL trucker who drives for a small operation in Des Moines, IA. I need colon-rectal surgery soon and I need income while I am off work, having surgery and afterward for recovery. How can I find benefits while I cannot work?

A) There are a few things you can do to find benefits while you are unable to work due to colon-rectal surgery.

• Check with your employer. Some employers offer short-term disability insurance, which can provide you with a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury.
• Apply for unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are available to workers who are laid off through no fault of their own. You may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you have been working for your employer for at least a certain amount of time and you are unable to find a new job.
• Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is a government program that provides benefits to people who are unable to work due to a disability. You may be eligible for SSDI if you have a medical condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months.
• Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a government program that provides benefits to low-income people with disabilities. You may be eligible for SSI if you have a disability and your income and assets are below certain limits.

If you are unable to find benefits through your employer or the government, you may want to consider looking into private disability insurance. Private disability insurance can provide you with a monthly income if you are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury.

It is important to note that the process of applying for benefits can be complicated and time-consuming. It is a good idea to start the process as soon as possible so that you can get the benefits you need to cover your expenses while you are unable to work.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Again you may look at applying for Short Term Disability – Short term disability (STD) is a type of financial benefit that pays a percentage of an employee’s salary for a specified amount of time, if they are ill or injured, and cannot perform the duties of their job. Generally, the benefit pays around 40 to 60 percent of the employee’s weekly gross income.

Eligibility Requirements

State temporary disability is usually easier to get than Social Security disability. In the states that provide for short-term disability, here are some general requirements that apply to all of the states.
The worker must have worked a certain length of time before being eligible for benefits, 30 days to six months, depending on the state.
Some states have a minimum earnings requirement.
There is a one-week waiting period before benefits are payable. (You can’t receive benefits until the 8th day you are temporarily disabled).
The illness or injury must be non-work related.
Benefits last no more than 26-30 weeks (52 weeks in California).
The weekly benefit is approximately 60% of your wages.
Pregnant women can receive short-term disability for several weeks for delivery and recovery.
You will need to submit medical records or go to a medical exam to prove your disability.

Source: https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resources/disability/filing-for-disability/eligibility-short-term-disability.htm