Long-Term Disability Lawyers Red Deer

What Are Long-Term Disability Benefits and Why Are They Important?

An unexpected injury or steadily advancing illness can interrupt your life and your capacity to work. New findings from 2022 show that 27% of Canadians aged 15 years or older had one or more disabilities that limited their daily activities. Your income may be halted, but your bills and daily expenses will continue. Long-term disability insurance provides income replacement to you and your family when you are unable to work due to an illness or injury.

The aim of long-term disability insurance is to alleviate any financial distress you might experience while you are unable to work due to your condition. For some, this may be one of the only resources available for income replacement. These policies and claims can be difficult to understand. If you are struggling with your claim, you can schedule a free initial consultation with our Red Deer long-term disability lawyers.

How Do You Apply for Long-Term Disability Benefits?

Each insurance policy has its own terms and conditions. It is vital that you understand your company’s policies and criteria for long-term disability benefits before submitting your application. You should also pursue other potential resources before submitting a long-term disability claim such as short-term disability and EI (Employment Insurance).

While the application process can vary depending on the insurance provider, these are some steps you may have to take:

• Obtain a copy of your application form: Your human resources representative can likely provide you with the documents you’ll need to get started. You also have the option of reaching out directly to the insurance company.

• Speaking with your healthcare provider: You will likely need to obtain medical support for your LTD claim. Without medical support, it can be more difficult to get approved. You will also need to encourage your healthcare provider to complete their section of the application form in a timely manner.

• Send in your portion of the application: There will likely be a section of the application that you are required to fill in. Be aware of the application deadlines and make sure to provide all of the requested information. Leaving anything out can potentially slow the process and cause you to wait longer for your benefits.

• Participate in your insurance company’s assessment: You may have heard from your friends or coworkers about their experience with getting assessed for long-term disability benefits. Your experience could be similar or quite different. Each case is unique and the sooner the assessment is completed the sooner a decision can be reached.

• These are only a few potential steps in the process, and this is not an exhaustive list. 

Navigating long-term disability benefits applications can feel daunting and overwhelming at times. The wording can be confusing and difficult to understand. Many people struggle with this process every day. Consider scheduling a free initial consultation with our Red Deer long-term disability lawyers and let us help you on this path.

How Do I Know if I’m Eligible for a Long-Term Disability Claim?

You may be wondering if long-term disability policies only apply to physical illnesses or injuries. People with severe mental health issues can also qualify for long-term disability benefits. In fact, the prevalence of mental health related disabilities increased from 2017 to 2022. Be sure to review your company’s specific policies and terms to be certain that you are eligible for LTD benefits.

Some medical issues that frequently meet insurance plans’ requirements are:

• Arthritis
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Chronic pain
• Cancer
• Migraines
• Neurological disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Heart disease or conditions
• Back problems
• Crohn’s Disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Bipolar mood disorder
• Herniated discs
• Lupus
• Lyme disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Psychological disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety
• And more

Normally, if you are unable to complete all or a significant amount of the duties that are required of you in your current job, then you will likely qualify for long-term disability benefits. You will likely need to provide medical evidence of your condition and demonstrate how your ailment prevents you from working. This may involve your own doctor filling out a form on your behalf, but your insurance provider may request an examination by a doctor of their choosing.

Your policy may require you to demonstrate that not only are you unable to work your current job but also any other job that you may be qualified for based on your education and experience. These two tests are known as “own occupation” benefits and “any occupation” benefits. For the first two years, you may be eligible if you’re unable to complete the requirements of your own occupation. After the first two years, you may be required to prove that you cannot work in other occupations you are qualified for that are comparable. Consult your policy to see what applies to your situation. You may wish to contact our Red Deer long-term disability lawyers for a free initial consultation.

What is the Difference Between Short-Term Disability Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance?

If you are temporarily unable to work, short-term disability benefits can assist through wage replacement. This can remedy the financial burden you may face while out of work and can prevent bills and expenses from accumulating. Usually, these short-term disability policies will only cover the first 120 days.

When your condition prevents you from working for a longer time period, a more permanent solution such as long-term disability benefits is necessary. Even after providing significant proof regarding your need for long-term disability benefits, insurance companies may still deny your claim. If this happens, you may want to reach out to our Red Deer long-term disability lawyers for a free initial consultation. We may be able to help.

What Are Common Reasons That Long-Term Disability Benefits Are Denied?

An insurance company may deny your long-term disability claim for a multitude of reasons. A denial may also come after a long waiting period. For long-term disability benefits, you may find yourself waiting for 3-8 weeks, although this can vary from case to case. Be aware that there is no set deadline or timeline for insurance companies to reach their final decision. Sometimes a denial can involve a straightforward solution such as providing the needed documentation or filling in missing sections of the application. At other times the situation may be more complex.

Here are some typical reasons insurance companies deny LTD claims:

• Your insurer believes you are lacking supporting medical documents and/or objective medical documentation that prove you are no longer able to work
• Your insurer thinks there is no diagnosis for your disability
• You have not followed instructions regarding reasonable treatments
• Your insurer believes you fall outside their definition of “totally disabled”
• Your application was too late
• An Independent Medical Examination (IME) from the insurance company finds that you are not disabled
• You are excluded from LTD benefits due to a pre-existing condition
• Evidence has surfaced that goes against your claim
• And more

The above reasons could potentially be unjustified denials that could be reversed. There are times when insurance companies do not apply their policies fairly. This process can be exasperating and discouraging but remember that you are not alone. No one should be given the runaround by insurance companies, especially while dealing with a medical issue, physical injury, or mental health issue that has put you out of work. If your claim has been denied but you are still unable to return to work, reach out to us today for a free initial consultation with our Red Deer long-term disability lawyers.

Contact Our Red Deer Long-Term Disability Lawyers for a Free Consultation. We Are Here to Help.

If you have received a denial for long-term disability benefits, you may be feeling scared, overwhelmed, and hopeless. For many people in Alberta, this may be the only source of income preventing them and their families from experiencing financial ruin. Without access to these benefits, seriously injured people as well as those suffering from mental health issues may not be able to pay their rent or mortgage or other daily expenses.

The thought of taking on a large insurance company in a legal battle may feel unnerving. But we are here to help. If you qualify to dispute the denial of your claim, our legal team may be able to help you recover compensation that you are owed. This may include money that has been lost due to the denial such as interest on loans and damages due to the worsening of your condition. To find out more about how our Red Deer long-term disability lawyers can help, reach out for a free initial consultation today.