When is an individual eligible to receive disability benefits under their disability income policy?

An individual becomes eligible to receive disability benefits under their disability income policy upon satisfying the elimination period requirement. This elimination period is a specified duration during which the insured must be continuously disabled before they can start receiving benefits. It allows insurance companies to manage claims and ensures that benefits are only paid when the disability has persisted for a defined period, typically ranging from a few weeks to several months, depending on the policy terms.

Receiving benefits immediately upon diagnosis, while intuitive, is not aligned with how most disability income policies operate, as diagnosis alone does not represent the sustained inability to work that the policy requires. Similarly, merely being disabled after a certain period without meeting the elimination criteria does not qualify one for benefits. The option suggesting after six months of disability is not standard, as policies vary widely in terms of elimination periods, which can be significantly shorter or longer than six months. Thus, meeting the elimination period ensures that the individual has shown a consistent level of disability before benefits are disbursed.