Long-term disability is more common than many expect. See a rough lifetime chance.
This calculator estimates your compounded lifetime chance of a long-term disability before retirement from an annual disability rate.
The tool takes the annual chance of becoming disabled and compounds it across every year between your current age and your retirement age. Because the risk applies each year, the cumulative chance over decades is much higher than the single-year rate suggests. The result is the probability of at least one qualifying long-term disability before you retire.
Many people underestimate disability risk because they focus only on the low annual figure. This estimate helps illustrate why disability insurance is a common part of financial planning. It is an educational figure based on the single rate you enter and not medical advice, so it cannot reflect your specific occupation, health, or lifestyle.
Because the risk repeats every year, the odds accumulate over time. Compounding a small annual rate across many years produces a much larger cumulative probability.
You can start with a general published figure for your age group or occupation, or adjust it to be more conservative. The output is only as reliable as the rate you enter.
No, it is an educational estimate and not medical advice. Consult an insurance or financial professional for guidance suited to your situation.
See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.