Short-term disability insurance in Minnesota pays you part of your salary if you cannot work because you are injured, ill, or pregnant. You can receive benefits only while you are unable to work. The maximum time span during which you can receive short-term disability benefits varies from between 9 weeks to a year. Each plan allows you to receive benefits for a different length of time. The percentage of your salary that you receive as benefits also varies according to your short-term disability plan. Each plan requires you to pay a different monthly premium to receive benefits when you need them. If you work for a Minnesota state government agency, you can enroll in a plan at the time of hiring. Some private employers also offer short-term disability insurance plans to their employees. Short-term disability, or STD, is available through private insurance companies, not a state or other government agency. If your employer does not offer a plan, you can independently purchase one through a private insurance company. Once you have purchased a plan, you must apply to receive short term disability benefits if you become temporarily disabled. If your employer provides your STD insurance plan, you apply by speaking to someone in your company’s Human Resources department. If you purchased STD insurance on your own, you will speak to your insurance agent to apply. It is important to note that you must purchase a plan in advance to receive benefits. You will likely not receive benefits in time if you are already injured or sick when you purchase your plan.