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Health · Chapter 16 · Defining Disability

Own Occupation Definition

Definition
Totally disabled if unable to perform the material and substantial duties of YOUR OWN occupation — even if you could do other work. The most generous (and most expensive) definition; often applies for the first 2 years, then switches to 'any occupation.'
In plain English
The neurosurgeon who can still teach is disabled under own-occ — being unable to operate is enough.
Easy to confuse with

These are what this term gets tested against — if you can't tell them apart cold, drill the contrast.

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Verified against primary sources · 2026-08-07