Helpful Tips for Claiming Long Term Disability

Review and understand your long-term disability policy.  Your policy will clarify all you important information about your long-term disability benefits including how to apply, time deadlines, your benefit amount and what is covered.

Pay careful attention to complete and submit the correct application forms and avoid missing deadlines. There will typically be multiple documents to be completed by different parties such as yourself and your doctor. The sooner these forms are completed and sent to your insurance company, the sooner your insurance company will be able to start their review of your claim for long-term disability benefits. 

• Be honest about your claim to your doctor, and to your insurance company. Don’t exaggerate or embellish your claim.
• Don’t delay as there are time limits for claiming long-term disability benefits.
• Keep records and notes of everything relating to your claim for long-term disability benefits including summarizing your medical history, a list of the doctors and treatment providers that you have seen, as well as your symptoms, diagnoses, test results, prognosis and medications
• Document the activities that you are limited from doing or that you are no longer able to do as a result of your injury or illness. This should include an explanation about what has impacted your ability to work.
• Do not participate in any activities that might suggest that you are dishonest or not disabled. It is surprisingly common for insurance companies to conduct surveillance during the course of a long-term disability claim which your insurance company will attempt to use against you! This includes monitoring your social media.
• DON’T SETTLE before reviewing with an experienced disability benefit lawyer.
• Contact us at Hilborn and Konduros if your claim is denied, we have the experience to help.