Long Term Disability Lawyer Oakville

Long-Term Disability Insurance

If you are suffering from a physical, mental, or emotional impairment that has prevented you from working for a period longer than six months, you could qualify for long-term disability benefits. Long-term disability coverage protects workers by providing them with an easy and affordable way to get the financial support needed when they can no longer work. Insurers will receive a monthly benefit only if they can prove that their condition is considered a disability. An unfortunate reality for most workers is that their disability insurance claim may be denied, often because they provided insufficient information to prove that the condition meets the insurance provider’s definition of disability. There are also exclusions that could prevent the insured from collecting benefits.

Most long-term insurance benefits will only replace 60% to 70% of your normal income. You may also qualify for long-term disability benefits for up to two years, and after that, you can only receive benefits if you prove that your condition doesn’t allow you to work at any job. There are disability plans that may require you to enroll in a rehabilitation program which can help you resume work. It’s important to contact your insurer and request your policy information which will help you understand if you qualify for benefits, how much you are entitled to and how long you will receive the payments.

Insurance policies have variations that indicate what qualifies as a long-term disability. Generally, the most common qualifying medical conditions for long-term disability insurance coverage include visual or hearing loss, mental illnesses, various kinds of cancer, immune system disorders like lupus and kidney disease. Working with an experienced disability lawyer will help enforce regulations and protect your rights as an injured worker in Oakville.

Short-Term Disability Insurance

With short-term disability insurance, you will receive benefits for up to 6 months when you’re sick or injured. Short-term disability plans are provided by some employers as part of employee benefits. You can reach out to your human resource department for details on your short-term disability plan.

If your employer doesn’t offer any short-term disability coverage, you may still be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. To qualify for this form of coverage, you must usually have exhausted all your paid sick leave days and have worked enough hours. Your long-term insurance benefits will only begin once you stop receiving short-term and EI benefits.

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

If you’d like to pursue a disability insurance claim, our lawyers can help you understand what options are available depending on your circumstances. Even though each policy is different, there are general factors that distinguish short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage.

Short-term disability coverage is designed to cover the insurer’s expenses for a short period, typically not more than 6 months, after their sick leave is exhausted while they’re still employed. This is best suited for those who are sick or injured and cannot work temporarily. In most cases, short-term disability benefit payments are about 70% of the injured worker’s regular earnings.

Long-term disability coverage, on the other hand, will be paid after the injured worker is no longer receiving short-term disability benefits. To qualify for long-term disability benefits, the insured has to prove that they are completely unable to return to work. These benefits will be paid for much longer, typically at least 2 years. Injured workers can receive long-term disability benefits until the age of 65 if they can prove that they cannot work at any job. Long-term benefits can cover medical costs, rehabilitation as well as income replacement, but this will depend on the policy.

If Your LTD Benefits Have Been Cut Off, We Can Help You

It’s not uncommon for employees to be denied long-term disability benefits even when their short-term benefits have run out and they are no longer physically or mentally ready to resume work. Every policy specifies what conditions need to be met in order to qualify for benefits but proving that you meet these requirements can be a long and tedious process.

Our Oakville long-term disability lawyers will handle the entire claim, so you don’t have to deal with insurance companies. Oftentimes, insurance companies will deny your claim or offer an amount that is lower than what was asked for. We take the stress out of the equation by making sure that your rights are protected, and you can receive the benefits you are entitled to after your injury or illness.

Applying for Denied LTD Benefits

If the insurance company has denied your claim for LTD benefits, you have every right to file an appeal. You will receive a denial letter that has information on why your application was denied together with instructions for appealing the decision. The process of applying for denied LTD benefits can be complicated and confusing. Our Oakville LTD lawyers will handle every aspect of your case.

When you hire us to handle your denied LTD benefits, we will begin by reviewing the denial letter to determine if the reasons for refusal are valid. We will then review a copy of your claim file and begin a fresh application to be submitted to the insurance company. Our lawyers will work tirelessly for you to collect all necessary evidence that was missing from your initial filing. We will ensure to submit the appeal before the deadline (which is 180 days from the denial date). We specialize in LTD claims and will work diligently to get you a favourable outcome and recover the benefits you deserve.