What Is Disability Insurance And How Does It Work? 
Disability Insurance is a type of policy that pays a cash benefit to the Insured if the Insured can not work due to an extended illness or injury . When buying the policy , you select an elimination period , which is the waiting period until the policy pays out . As a rule , the longer the elimination period , the lower the premium . If you become `` disabled '' -LRB- laid up with a bad back , chemo treatments , or any other range of impairments that can keep you from working -RRB- beyond the time of the elimination period , the policy will pay you cash until you are able to work again . 