Nonoccupational Disability

Condition that results from injury or disease that is not job related. Workers compensation applies to employees disabled by on-the-job injuries or disease. In addition, five states require employers to pay income (not medical expense) benefits if a worker is disabled by illness or injury that did not occur at work: Rhode Island, California, New Jersey, New York, and Hawaii. Except for Rhode Island, employers may buy private coverage; in Rhode Island, they must get coverage from a state fund. Hawaii is the only state without an optional state fund.