Restoring Your Life: Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Long-Term Disability

If you suffer from chronic injuries or a serious health ailment, your condition can become a major source of frustration. You may even be forced to take an extended amount of time off from work. Here are some key mistakes to avoid when seeking long-term disability benefits.

Failing to Get Consistent Medical Treatment

When applying for long-term disability, it is critical that you have a documented medical history. Try to avoid missing any scheduled appointments with your doctor. Your medical records play a major role in your ability to get fairly compensated.

Not Hiring a Lawyer

Long-term disability cases can become very complicated. The various laws and regulations can be overwhelming for the average person. If you don’t have any formal training in the legal field, the best approach is to hire a seasoned lawyer. Not only will you have a greater chance of winning your claim, but you can also look forward to experiencing a lower level of stress.

Missing Important Paperwork

Don’t make the mistake of losing any important paperwork related to your case. If needed, purchase a fire-proof safe to keep the documents secure.

Waiting to Appeal

Even if you are denied an insurance claim, you still have the ability to make an appeal. Your lawyer could uncover mistakes that were made by the insurance company. However, it is essential that you always file an appeal before the deadline ends.

Meeting Requirements for Long Term Disability

Are you looking at applying for a long term disability claim? If yes, the first thing that you should do is to hire the services of a lawyer. This is because you will most likely be inundated with paperwork and requirements meant to derail you and bog your efforts down in making that claim.

A Stronger Case for Long-Term Disability Claims

Being severely injured is stressful because it can cause depression and even prevent you from getting back to work. If you are not able to work for a long time, you may want to apply for long-term disability. This process doesn’t have to be difficult if you are proactive and take these steps.

Getting Your Long Term Disability Benefits

Most long term disability benefits being provided by employers follow the provisions set in the ERISA or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The same policy states that claims for disability benefit would have to be evaluated by the claims administrator under the insurance provider handling your company. Now, you need to be aware that not all disability applications get approved. If you want to keep this from happening, you might need to keep a few things in mind.

Understanding Your Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan

Long term disability (LTD) insurance is an insurance product that an individual can purchase to help cover certain medical expenses in the event they become disabled. LTD plans are often offered through an employer’s benefits package and can either be paid completely by the employer or employee, or shared by two parties. It’s not mandatory to purchase these plans.

Things to Know About Long-Term Disability in Massachusetts

You May Think You Don't Need Long-Term Disability Insurance

You may thing you don't need both short and long-term disability insurance. You might think a serious illness or injury that keeps your from working won't happen to you. There's no way to know that this is the case. You should be prepared.

What is Long-Term Disability?

If you have been injured at work, you may be eligible for long-term disability insurance. Unlike workers' compensation benefits, these benefits must be offered by your employer, and not all employers offer the same plan. For those who are self-employed, it may be a good idea to buy LTD coverage in case you are hurt during the course of a job.

Tips to Think About When Filing a Disability Claim

When you are suffering from a chronic illness, the decision to file a long-term disability claim can be a daunting one. Not only is the process long and riddled with red tape, but the appeal process can make it even longer. In order to help speed things along, take these few simple tips to mind.

Hire an LTD Attorney Before Filing a Claim

If you’re thinking of filing a claim for long-term disability (LTD) benefits, it may be worthwhile to hire an attorney before doing so. As your employer's insurance company has no incentive to approve your claim, it will look for any excuse to deny you the benefits that you deserve. Therefore, something as simple as a missing document or missing a deadline to file a document could hurt your case before it begins.

An attorney will make sure that your case is as strong as possible before you start the process of filing paperwork. He or she will ensure that the evidence is stacked in your favor if your case ever goes to trial, as it may not be possible to present new evidence during the hearing process.

Likewise, your attorney will make sure that you have received regular care from a physician and that you have refrained from doing anything that could make you seem healthier than you really are. For instance, if you claim to have a back injury, your attorney will make sure that you aren't lifting heavy objects. Even if the lifting causes you pain, your employer’s insurance company is sure to look for evidence that you are faking your injury so it can deny your claim.

Finally, your attorney will make sure that you don't quit your job or take another position, as doing so could reduce the benefit that you are entitled to or eliminate it altogether.

An Employer's Responsibility to the Employees

In the state of Massachusetts, it is the responsibility of employers to guarantee to a reasonable degree the health and safety of their employees while they are working. This does not just apply to employees in high risk professions like warehouse workers, factory workers, or engineers. Regardless of the working environment, the safety of employees should be foremost on employer's minds.

If an injury was caused as a result of a failure on the company’s part to protect their employees, an employee can take legal action to recoup lost earnings and other damages. Work-related injury in the state of Massachusetts is defined as any injury or any sickness that takes place while the individual is involved in his or her work duties. This includes injuries that happen when a person is working at the office, at a remote location, or while traveling.

The most common work-related injuries are connected with heavy lifting, trips and falls, repetitive movements, and injury caused by machinery. Employers are responsible for minimizing these accidents by doing the following:

• Maintaining and regularly checking the safety of all machines
• Minimizing irritants such as dust, noise, and fumes
• Providing employees with protective clothing
• Reporting diseases and injuries to the necessary authorities
• Having sufficient first-aid kits and supplies available
• Assessing the risk of fire and floods

When an employer fails to provide proper protection, and as a result an employee is injured, the employee may be entitled to financial compensation for his or her injuries and lost wages.