Is Burnout A disability? Can You Claim Disability Benefits For Burnout?
Being stressed due to your job is not rare, but the hustle culture, overtime, and infrequent leaves have taken this stress to a new level. People have started experiencing severe burnouts. Healthcanal defines burnout as a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion due to excessive stress for a prolonged period of time. Not only does this affect the person in question but also their work. People experiencing burnout often find themselves overwhelmed, unable to meet deadlines, and significantly decreased productivity. Apart from this depression, fatigue, irritability, heart disease, and difficulty in sleeping are other symptoms of burnout.
Can burnout be considered a disability?
Yes, disability burnout is real. Respondents in this article healthcanal.com/supplements/259980-gundry-md-energy-renew.html even said they usually felt chronic stress and fatigue in their 20s. Burnout has serious detrimental effects on the individual’s mental and physical health and can result in life-altering consequences. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has now legitimized burnout as a medical diagnosis in and of itself. Going by the section of problems related to employment laid out in the ICD-11, doctors are now instructed to diagnose burnout if the person meets the following three symptoms:
- Energy depletion or feelings of exhaustion
- Negativity related to one’s job
- Increased mental distance from one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy
Claiming Disability Benefits for Burnout
The law permits an individual the right to apply for disability benefits if their work has impacted their physical or mental condition severely. You can learn more specifically about the details of what your insurance policy covers by reading through the policy provided to your by your employer. There are two types of disability coverage from which you may have one or both types of coverage.
Short term disability benefits
This coverage begins after an initial waiting period which could last up to two weeks and covers typically from 17 to 52 weeks. Although you can be approved for longer periods, it is best to check what policy your employer has offered you. Under this coverage, the individual may receive 50 to 67 percent of their salary which will be made bi-weekly.
Long term disability benefits
It covers periods much longer than short-term disability which can last until the individual returns to work, reaches the age of 65, and/or no longer meets the criteria of specified disability as per the benefit plan. The long-term disability burnout pays from 50 to 67 percent of the individual’s salary on a monthly basis rather than bi-weekly.
Supporting disability claims
It is very important to pay attention to the fact that in order to claim benefits the person would need to provide credible proof of their issues. A medical report is necessary to furnish evidence that they cannot work. The insurer needs solid proof that the employee’s mental or physical condition is severe enough to interfere with the core tasks of their job. Make sure to collect all kinds of medical documentation that might be helpful in any way to support your claim. The more detailed the record is, the more chances of your claim get approved smoothly.
In your medical documents, the following points must be described:
- Your symptoms
- In what way do these symptoms interfere with your work
If your claim gets approved then the insurance company will continue observing more proof of the fact that you keep on seeing your doctor(s) and receive proper treatment.
That said, in most cases, the chances of obtaining support are close to zero thus it is best to get proper legal guidance to compose the ideal responses in this legal minefield. The most common reasons for the denial of disability claims include inadequate medical evidence, unclear diagnosis and not following the prescribed course of treatment. Also for cases involving conditions like anxiety or depression, the probability of support being granted is low. But the good news is that it is possible to appeal an insurance claim denial. After your appeal, you will need to pay meticulous attention to your online activity as well since that can be used against you.
In conclusion, burnout is a serious issue that can lead to significant health consequences ultimately resulting in negative repercussions. It can affect anyone and at any time. If you, unfortunately, find yourself in such a situation where your health is affected by work and eventually the work by your deteriorated health, then finding a way to ensure your financial security is most likely the first step you must take. If you cannot physically or emotionally return to work due to your health issues and your disability claims get denied, consider seeking legal aid from insurance denial lawyers.
