You may have heard of Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits, but aren’t quite sure what they are or how to apply for them. LTD benefits are a form of insurance policy that is intended to protect you from income loss, by providing you with a portion of your income if you cannot work for an extended period of time as a result of an injury, accident or illness. LTD benefits are generally provided through an employer as part of your benefits package, but you can also purchase LTD benefits directly from an insurance company.
Applying for LTD Benefits
To apply for LTD Benefits, you will be required to complete forms and submit them to your LTD insurance provider. Your doctor may also need to complete forms for the LTD provider, which describe the nature of your disability and impairments. It is important to remember to submit your application in a timely manner as there are deadlines that must be met in order to make a successful claim.
Receiving LTD Benefits
In order to qualify for LTD benefits, you must demonstrate to the LTD provider that you satisfy a ‘test’ that your injuries or disability prevent you from meeting the requirements of your own occupation. It is important to note that in many LTD policies, the test changes after the first 2 years or 104 weeks of receiving LTD benefits. Often, the LTD provider will require you to provide additional medical documentation to support the position that your ongoing injury/disability prevents you from meeting the requirements of any occupation, for which you are reasonably qualified by education, training or experience or some other similar test. So long as you continue to meet the test, your LTD benefits should pay a replacement income to the age of retirement. But please note that the wording of these tests are not standardized and therefore may vary from insurer to insurer. You can satisfy the test by providing medical documentation authored by a medical professional, that outlines the extent and severity of your ongoing injury/disability.
Denial of your LTD Benefits
Has your claim for Long Term Disability been denied? There are a number of reasons why your LTD provider may have denied your benefits. Given that LTD policies are administered by privately owned insurance companies, who are profit-driven, there are times when disputes arise over your eligibility to receive LTD benefits. This can occur even on valid claims, which are frequently denied or delayed.
If your application has been denied, the reason for denial could range anywhere from an incomplete application, to the insurer taking the position that there is insufficient medical evidence to support your claim.
If your Long Term Disability benefit provider has been denying or delaying paying your payments, it is important that you speak to a lawyer as to your rights and obligations. Take note that everything you say or submit to your LTD provider may be used against you to further delay your benefits.
For more information please visit: www.iacobellilawfirm
Submitted by: Andrew Iacobelli, Personal Injury Lawyer
This article is also featured in our 2018 Fall Issue of Sharing our Recovery
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