If you were to incur an injury or illness that made you unable to work, disability insurance covers a portion of your income. Short-term disability insurance covers a portion of your salary for a short time. The time frame depends on the individual policy and is typically around three to six months. Conversely, long-term disability insurance is designed to provide coverage for a portion of your salary for an extended period. This is typically when an employee is disabled and unable to return to work for at least six months. Please note every policy is different and may be subject to waiting periods and state or local legislation.