Don’t Ruin Your Chance For Long-Term Disability
If you’ve been injured or have suffered an illness that makes it impossible to work, long-term disability benefits can offer you and your family some protections and offset financial hardships. But you first need to be approved for benefits by the insurance company.
Filing a claim and filling out crucial paperwork can be overwhelming and complex. Before you file an application, you should first consider things that will set you up for success.
Applying in a Timely Manner
Yes, you are suffering, but you must apply for benefits as soon as possible. Your long-term disability benefits are critical to you, and the sooner you have access to them, the better for you. In most cases, the insurer has a timing provision tied to the last day you worked. You don’t want to jeopardize your ability to get needed benefits by letting the clock run out and giving the insurer an excuse to deny your application.
Have a Discussion With Your Doctor
Your benefits are subject to your doctor completing a medical certificate supporting your need for disability benefits. Consequently, it’s important for you to have a discussion with your doctor beforehand to ensure that the medical certificate will support that need and not lead to a denial of benefits.
Describing Your Disability
In the application for LTD, you will be asked for a description of your disability, your pain, injuries, and functional status. You want to be concise and brief, letting your medical records do the talking. The more information you include, the greater the risk of contradicting yourself or providing the insurer with a reason to deny the application. In addition, you want to be careful of anything you say to your adjuster, as conversations are likely to be recorded.
Yes, There Will Be Frustrations
Unfortunately, big insurance companies are bureaucratic behemoths, and your policy is probably fraught with lots of rules and procedures. These are to protect the company, not you. But if you want benefits, you need to play by their rules. If not, you can be found in non-compliance and risk not getting the benefits you desperately need.
Don’t take chances with these essential benefits. Contact the Cambridge, Ontario long-term disability lawyers at Hilborn and Konduros for a no-cost consultation at (519) 658-6341 to understand your responsibility and rights regarding long-term disability benefits.
