10 Things You Should Know About Long-Term Disability Insurance

Long-term disability (LTD) claims are very different than most other types of cases, including personal injury cases and Social Security Disability Insurance cases (although a Social Security Disability claim will impact your long-term disability claim – more on that later). Here are ten things you should know about long-term disability insurance.

1. What Is Long-Term Disability Insurance?

Long-term disability insurance is meant to replace a percentage of your wages if you are sick or injured and unable to work. Most policies will pay benefits for two years or until you reach your retirement age, depending on your disabling condition. LTD insurance can be acquired through an insurance representative or a group plan through your employer.

2. Group Disability Insurance v. Individual Disability Insurance

Both individual disability insurance (IDI or DI) and group disability insurance (GDI) programs offer cash benefits for disabled individuals, but there are several differences between the two.

Underwriting

One significant difference between individual and group policies is that individual policies are underwritten for the individual purchasing insurance coverage, while group policies are not individually underwritten. Instead, group policies are issued by disability insurance companies based on certain underwriting assumptions related to the general health of a group of people.

Another key difference is the type of law that applies. Under a group plan, because it’s through an employer, it’s subject to a federal regulation called ERISA.

ERISA was initially enacted to make it more affordable for employers to offer employee benefits such as life, disability, and health insurance. Still, there were some trade-offs to make it cheaper, and those trade-offs take away certain rights when you go through the decision-making process in that type of claim.

Under an individual plan, you’re not subject to the stringent requirements under ERISA, but you are still subject to whatever the requirements are under your policy.

RELATED POST: Is Your Long-Term Disability Claim Governed By ERISA? Key Signs To Look For

Your Right to a Jury Trial

For example, one of the fundamental rights taken away from you is your right to a jury trial. Second, you are not allowed to introduce any new evidence. The evidence is limited to whatever was in your claim file during the administrative review process, and that’s the only evidence the judge can consider in a bench decision.

With an individual plan, you have the right to a jury trial. You have the right to testify. You have the right to have your doctors and your friends and family get up to testify about the changes and impact that your disability has had on your life. Another key difference is having the ability to testify and introduce even new evidence that’s been developing over the recent months in that type of case.

The Appeal Process

The other significant difference when you have a group plan is that you must go through the appeal process directly with the insurance company before filing a lawsuit.

Typically, when you’re denied, you have either 90 or 180 days to file an appeal, depending on your plan, and you must file an appeal directly with the insurance company and go through each appeal that the insurance company requires before you go to court. If you do not go through the appeal process and try to file a lawsuit, then your case will be dismissed by the court for your failure to exhaust your administrative remedies. So, you must go through that appeal process before filing suit.

With an individual plan, you don’t necessarily have to have gone through the appeal process, although you should look at what your insurance policy requires. While you’re not subject to the stringent requirements under ERISA, you are still subject to whatever the requirements are under your policy.

The Standard of Review

The final difference between a group and an individual is the standard of review that a court applies. With a group plan, the “arbitrary and capricious” standard of review applies. What that means is when the court is looking at the case, they have to determine whether the decision was wrong and whether the insurance company’s decision was made without any reasonable basis. That’s a very tough burden for a claimant to overcome.

Although you can show that the disability exists and one should be entitled to benefits, it’s often more challenging to show that the insurance had no reasonable basis for the decision. They can frequently point to a medical review or report by one of their doctors that says that you’re not significantly impaired, and if they have that type of report, then the court may allow the decision to stand.

In an individual policy, the review standard is the evidence’s preponderance. It’s the civil standard under state court, not federal court. All you have to prove is that you should be entitled to benefits by a preponderance of the evidence. That’s a much easier burden to satisfy than the arbitrary and capricious standard.

The preponderance of the evidence standard is more similar to what you think of in any typical case or the classic scales of justice. So, when you present your case, the jury has to decide that they believe it a little more than the other side. Let’s say they believe you 51% and the insurance company 49%. Whichever side they believe more by a preponderance of the evidence, then that’s the side that they must rule in favor of. That’s much easier to establish than showing that there is no reasonable basis for the insurance company’s decision. If you’re using the scales of justice under that standard of review, it’s more like you have to prove your case almost beyond a reasonable doubt. 

3. What Does Social Security Disability Insurance Have To Do With My LTD Claim?

Long-term disability and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD or SSDI) are very different benefits programs. Long-term disability insurance is a policy you (or your employer) purchase to help cover your expenses if you become disabled through injury or illness. The Social Security benefits program is a government-funded program you pay for through the government tax system.

If you are approved for long-term disability, you may be required by the insurance company to file for SSDI benefits. This can be a long process – usually longer than the long-term disability process. For this reason, having a long-term disability policy is good. You can file for Social Security Disability Insurance while receiving long-term disability benefits.

The LTD insurance company is interested in seeing you approved for SSD. If approved, this will offset the cost to the long-term disability insurance company – making it in their best interest to see you approved. This is why it is often a requirement in the policy.

For example, if you are receiving $2,000 a month in benefits from the LTD insurance company and you’re approved for SSD for $1,000, then you will still receive $2,000 a month in total benefits, but $1,000 will come from the LTD claim and $1,000 will come from the SSD claim.

Claimants make the argument that this is unfair; however, the insurance companies point out that this policy is what keeps premiums low.

Many long-term disability benefits plans do have this written in as a requirement. Check your policy to be sure of the language and the requirements. If required, you must comply, or the insurance company may reduce your LTD benefits anyway. If you need help with your claim, our Social Security Disability lawyer can help.

Eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance

To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security, worked long enough — and recently enough — under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits, and have a medical condition or a combination of medical conditions that meet Social Security’s definition of disability. 

Covered Job Requirement

Social Security Disability Insurance does not cover all jobs. For example, certain federal government employees, state and local government employees, railroad employees, and children employed by their parents are not covered by SSDI.

Work Credit Requirement

Work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year. The earnings amount needed to gain additional work credit changes yearly, and the number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last ten years, ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify for benefits even with fewer credits.

Disability Requirement

To be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance, you must also have a disability defined by federal law. According to the Social Security Administration:

• “The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.”
• A “medically determinable… impairment” is one that “results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.”

Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance

An application for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is straightforward to initiate and file. You can apply for SSDI in person at a Social Security office, by telephone, mail, or the Internet. Typically, you can only apply for SSI at the Social Security office or by telephone conference with a Social Security representative. Some individuals may be eligible to file an application for SSI online.

Starting Your Application On the Phone

Once you have contacted Social Security (either through the national toll-free phone number or via your local district office) and advised SSA that you wish to apply for disability benefits, an interview will be scheduled to start the application process. This interview may be in person at the Social Security office or over the phone. If you select to have a telephone interview (or are strongly recommended to have a phone interview), all necessary paperwork will be mailed to your home.

Starting Your Application Online

For SSDI, you can apply for disability benefits by visiting the Social Security Administration website. SSDI is for workers who have worked long enough and have paid enough Social Security taxes into the system to qualify for the benefit.

Note: You can only apply for SSI benefits online if you meet specific criteria. Thus, even if you have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI, you may want to apply in person so that you have an opportunity to ask questions about the Supplemental Security Income program.

Starting In Person at Your Local Office

For most disability applicants, perhaps the safest and easiest method of filing a disability application would be to contact the Social Security office closest to you and inform them that you wish to apply for disability. The Social Security office can determine whether you qualify for disability insurance benefits or SSI.

Forms for the Disability Application

You will need to file several forms in your claim for benefits, depending on whether you qualify for SSDI or SSI. A Social Security field representative can help you fill out the forms.

• To apply for SSDI, you must fill out Form SSA-16-BK (Application for Disability Insurance Benefits) and Form SSA-3368-BK (Adult Disability Report).
• To apply for SSI, you must fill out Form SSA-8000-BK (Application for Supplemental Security Income) and, for adults, Form SSA-3368-BK (Adult Disability Report).

Many insurance companies will offer assistance from one of their representatives to help you navigate your case. Just remember that they work for the insurance company and are interested in saving the insurance company money if possible.

How a Social Security Disability Insurance Lawyer Can Help

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no “fast-track” for claimants who hire an attorney. However, experienced attorneys do know a few things that might help you get a decision on your claim faster. Because of the large amount of paperwork, it is sometimes worth hiring an attorney to help navigate the process. It may even be appropriate to have an attorney representing from the very beginning of your SSDI claim. You owe it to yourself to research the matter in as much detail as possible. Most Social Security attorneys offer free consultations.

4. What Other Income Offsets My Disability Insurance Benefits?

When you apply for long-term disability benefits, you may not realize how offsets can decrease your payout amount. After all, your long-term disability benefits will only replace a portion of your salary, not the entirety. Regardless, offsets can cause you to lose substantial benefits if they are too high. You could even be required to pay the money back to the insurance company. Let’s take a look at how offsets affect your long-term disability benefits.

What Are Offsets?

Offsets refer to income you receive before or after your long-term disability claim is approved. Examples include:

• Social Security Benefits – This can be from a Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, or Social Security Retirement claim. This is the most common type of offset. If you are approved for long-term disability, you may be required by the insurance company to file for SSD. Failure to apply may result in your benefits being canceled. Is this legal? It all depends on what your LTD contract says;
• Worker’s Compensation – If an injury on the job has caused your disability, you may receive worker’s compensation and long-term disability benefits.
• State Disability Benefits – Some states have disability benefit programs, which would decrease the amount you would receive from your employer.
• Retirement Benefits – Benefits that you receive on behalf of a spouse. For example, Susan has received her husband’s retirement benefits since he passed away. She applied for long-term disability for her myelofibrosis, but her benefits were less than expected due to her husband’s benefits offsetting her lost revenue.
• Sick Pay – Most employers have a sick-pay policy that allows for a certain number of days to be paid to the employee, even if they are not there. This can become an income problem if you have accrued too much sick leave. Most employers will have you use your sick leave before you can receive benefits. However, if you still have some sick pay left over when your benefits are approved, it will be calculated as income, decreasing your payout for your long-term disability benefits.
• Third-Party Payouts – This is when you receive a settlement from a third party responsible for your injury. For example, Mike is injured in a car wreck caused by a tractor-trailer. He sues the owner of the company and wins a settlement. That settlement offsets the long-term disability benefits you received from your employer.

Why Do Offsets Exist?

Insurance companies make the argument that offsets help keep premiums low. Whether that is true or not, you should always check your insurance policy to determine your financial obligations. Your insurance policy will briefly mention that your disability benefits may be decreased based on the number of offsets or additional income that you have. It may be just a few lines buried deep within your policy, but it will have significant implications for your claim.

Can I Prevent Offsets?

With a group policy, the policy negotiations are between your employer and the insurance company. However, if you have an individual policy, you have more wiggle room to negotiate the terms.

Beware of Back-Pay and Overpayments

Payments for benefits like Social Security Disability can take a while, even up to 12 months. Most of the time, “back pay” will come to you in one lump sum. However, you should be cautious about spending it all right away.

If you received your long-term disability benefits and now have received back pay from SSD, you will be required to pay back some of the money the insurance company paid you. They can require you to immediately return the money or decrease your benefits until you have paid them back. They even have the option of ceasing payment until you have paid them back in full.

Occasionally, a long-term disability insurance company will miscalculate your overpayment. It is always a good idea to have a long-term disability lawyer review the long-term disability insurance company’s calculations. At the Ortiz Law Firm, if an insurance company asserts an overpayment, we check the accuracy of the calculations before discussing repayment options with our clients.

5. What Does My Long-Term Disability Denial Mean?

Most LTD claims are evaluated by claims adjusters who work for the insurance company. Unfortunately, because ERISA regulations favor insurance companies, claims handlers routinely deny legitimate claims even where the medical evidence of disability seems clear. A long-term disability denial doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not disabled — look at your denial notice to see the specific rationale for the denial in your claim.

Claims handlers deny disability applications on behalf of the insurance company for many reasons, some of which are legitimate and others that are illegitimate. Understanding some of the reasons why claims are denied may help you prepare your best possible case. Once you know why your claim was denied, you will be better positioned to decide whether to hire a long-term disability lawyer. Here are some of the most common reasons why LTD claims are denied.

Insufficient Medical Evidence

The most important part of an LTD case is your medical records, so lack of sufficient medical evidence is one of the most common reasons claims are denied. Here is a sample of Unum’s denial language in a recent claim:

“Based on our review findings, there are no exams, laboratory testing, specialty evaluation, medication changes, or imaging to support the level of impairment [the claimant] describes, and the decisions to deny benefits on her claims are appropriate.”

Here are some of the issues that typically come up concerning medical evidence in support of the claim:

• Regular Medical Treatment: It is nearly impossible to win a long-term disability case without obtaining regular medical treatment. Your insurer expects your claim to be well supported by medical records and will expect to see evidence of regular, ongoing visits to your primary care physician and other medical specialists (as appropriate). Suppose you suffer from a mental/psychiatric condition (such as depression or anxiety). In that case, the insurance company will expect you to see a mental health provider, preferably a psychiatrist or psychologist, at least once a month. If you have a physical medical impairment, the insurance company will expect to see evidence that you are visiting the doctor regularly and that your doctor is ordering objective tests, including x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, whenever possible.
• Missing Medical Records: Disability claims are routinely denied due to insufficient medical evidence to support the claim. There may be several reasons why your medical records are not in your file. For example, your doctor’s records department may never have processed the insurance company’s medical records request. Or, the insurance company may have failed to request some of your medical records. It would help if you periodically asked your disability carrier for a list of the records it has requested and a list of those it has received. If some records are missing, you should ensure that your insurer requests the appropriate records or even provide the records yourself.
• Doctor’s Statement: Perhaps the most crucial evidence in a disability claim is the opinion of your treating physician. You (or your attorney) should ask your doctor for a detailed opinion on your work-related medical limitations. If you see multiple doctors, you should try getting a statement from each one.

Note: You should not rely on your insurance company’s Attending Physician Statement forms. These are often designed to elicit responses supporting a denial of the claim. Instead, you should give your doctor a Residual Functional Capacity form customized for your medical condition(s) or request a letter detailing how your impairment limits your work abilities. If your treating doctor refuses to support your LTD case, you should consider finding a doctor who will.

Failure to Satisfy the Policy’s Definition of Disability

The definition of the term disability is unique to each claim. You should always check to see how your long-term disability insurance policy defines the term disability to see if you meet it. And to make things even more complicated, the term disability changes over time. Most LTD insurance plans will transition from “own occupation” to “any occupation” after a specific time. Most policies have an “own occupation” definition of disability for the first two years you receive benefits and an “any occupation” definition after the first two years.

Under a typical “own occupation” LTD policy, you are considered disabled if you are unable to carry out the duties of your occupation (or “own occ” for short). An “any occupation” policy defines the term disability much more broadly. Under an “any occupation” standard, you are considered disabled if you are unable to perform the duties” of “any” job.

Excluded Conditions

Your long-term disability policy may exclude coverage for specific medical conditions. For example, medical impairments related to alcohol or substance abuse are typically excluded from coverage. Moreover, medical conditions based on subjective complaints rather than objective testing (such as mental health disorders, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue syndrome) may be limited to 24 months of benefits.

Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion

A typical Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion reads like this:

“A pre-existing condition limitation will apply during your first year on the plan or when you increase your coverage. If you received treatment, consultation, care or services; took prescription medication or had medications prescribed or had symptoms or conditions that would cause a reasonably prudent person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment in the three (3) months before your insurance or any increase in the amount of insurance takes effect, Prudential will not cover you if you become disabled from a disability that results from such pre-existing condition for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months from the date your insurance or your increased amount takes effect. After the twelve (12) month waiting period, a pre-existing condition(s) would be covered per the standard long-term disability insurance policy.”

Under the above “pre-ex” exclusion, you would be “excluded” from coverage if:

1. You stopped work within one year of the insurance policy taking effect,
2. You stopped work due to a medical condition, and
3. You received medical treatment for that same condition in the three months before the policy took effect.

For example, let’s say you have a back pain disorder but found a job that could accommodate your condition on December 15, 2023. With your first paycheck, you see a back pain specialist on December 22, 2023, to treat your back pain condition. As part of your benefits package, you are eligible for long-term disability coverage, effective January 1, 2024. Over the next several months, your back pain worsens, and you stop working on October 1, 2024, due to limitations caused by your back. You file for LTD benefits. This claim would likely be denied under the “pre-existing condition” exclusion because

1. You stopped working within one year of the LTD policy taking effect,
2. You stopped working due to a back pain problem, and
3. You were treated for back pain during the three months before the policy took effect (December 22, 2023, is between October 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023).

Video Surveillance Inconsistent with the Disability Claim

If you are pursuing an LTD claim or already receiving LTD benefits, you should be aware that your insurance company may be conducting video surveillance. Insurance companies are willing to hire private investigators to record your activities to determine your level of impairment. If these investigators record you on tape performing activities inconsistent with your allegations of disability, your claim could be denied. Or, if you are already “on claim,” your previously approved claim could be terminated.

Be aware that the surveillance footage does not have to be directly contradictory to your diagnosis for an insurance adjuster to deny your claim. In other words, video recordings may justify a disability denial even where the videotape does not prove you are not disabled. For example, let’s say you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Many patients with fibromyalgia often report having “good days and bad “days” regarding their pain and limitations. If an investigator “catches” such an individual performing light yard work, this evidence could be used to justify a denial – even if the video was taken o” a “good day.”

You should always follow your doctor’s advice concerning any limitations placed on your activity level. If your physician has advised you to walk with a cane and avoid lifting more than five pounds, you should avoid walking without a cane and lifting and carrying heavy groceries.

Missed Deadlines

You should know that there are specific deadlines when applying for LTD benefits and filing an appeal in your claim. Most long-term disability insurance plans governed by ERISA give you 180 days to appeal an initial denial. Although this is almost six months, you should be sure to submit all medical evidence as soon as possible in the appeals process.

Note: Under ERISA law, federal courts are limited to considering only the evidence contained in the administrative record, so you should not wait until your case is in federal court to present medical records, attending physician statement reports, third-party statements, or any other evidence helpful to your case. If the evidence was never submitted to your insurance company, it certainly will not be allowed in federal court.

You should use the 180 days to find and hire an experienced LTD attorney to help gather medical records and other documentation” to “stack the administrative record” with favorable evidence. If you miss the 180-day deadline to complete your appeal, you will not be allowed to sue your insurer in federal court because you failed to “exhaust” your administrative appeals. The deadlines should be identified in your decision letter. Look for any deadline on the notice of denial from your insurance company, and file your appeal as soon as you can.

6. How Does ERISA Govern Group Disability Claims Denials?

What Is ERISA?

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was initially enacted to protect employees’ rights to collect retirement benefits, particularly pension benefits. Over time, the courts expanded the reach of ERISA to cover other “fringe” employee benefits such as long-term disability, health insurance, life insurance, and other benefits provided by employers.

You planned for the unexpected by purchasing LTD benefits. Such insurance benefits are one of the only things we will ever buy that we hope never to use. You probably filed a claim for benefits only to be shocked to learn that insurance companies and ERISA administrators regularly deny benefits to claimants who are disabled.

Fighting to obtain and maintain ERISA LTD benefits requires a deep and thorough understanding of a highly complex area of law. It is easy to make mistakes that will destroy your opportunity to receive disability benefits.

RELATED POST: Is Your Long-Term Disability Claim Governed By ERISA? Key Signs To Look For

Federal ERISA Laws and Regulations Are Different Than State Laws

Federal ERISA claims are much different than state law breach of contract claims. Once the internal appeals are completed or “exhausted”) and a lawsuit is filed, you cannot submit additional evidence in an ERISA claim. The federal court considering the lawsuit must limit its review to the administrative record (i.e., the long-term disability claim file). Under ERISA LTD laws and regulations, there are no trials, depositions, or hearings. The claimant is not allowed to testify on their behalf. The claimant’s treating physicians are not allowed to testify. There are no third-party witnesses. The claimant cannot introduce evidence not in the claim file when the insurance company issues its final decision. In other words, the court limits its review to the medical and vocational proof already in the claim file.

Standard of Review

In most ERISA-governed long-term disability cases, federal courts must defer to the insurance company’s decision so long as there is a rational basis and reasoned explanation for the denial or termination of benefits. The federal court will only overturn the insurance company’s denial if the claimant can prove that the denial was “arbitrary and capricious.” This is the highest burden of proof in civil cases. Meeting it is far more challenging than the typical “preponderance of the evidence” standard in a civil claim; this burden of proof is far more similar to the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard in criminal cases.

The Insurance Company Is Not Bound By Findings of Other Insurance Companies or Governmental Agencies

Insurance companies must consider a favorable disability determination by the Social Security Administration as part of its review; however, case law across the country clarifies that it does not bind insurers. The insurance company is allowed to make its independent determination. If it does not follow Social Security’s disability findings, the insurance company must explain why it is not also making a finding of disability.

What Civil Remedies Are Available?

Under ERISA, the most the court can do is award the claimant his or her past-due disability benefits and have his or her monthly disability check reinstated. In a state law breach of contract claim, a claimant may be eligible to receive consequential, bad faith, or punitive damages; however, these types of damages are not available in ERISA claims. An ERISA claimant may seek attorney fees, but they are rarely recovered. As you can see, LTD law is stacked heavily in favor of insurance companies to the detriment of claimants.

ERISA Law Is Complicated

ERISA long-term disability insurance claims are complicated. They involve short deadlines and are governed by complex federal laws and regulations. Many of the legal guidelines for ERISA claims are created by case law that applies to each federal circuit. Here are some of the most common pitfalls claimants come across in ERISA LTD cases:

• Failing to provide adequate evidence of the disability;
• Failing to appeal before the deadline and
• Failing to recognize that you often only have one chance to appeal, and if the appeal is denied, the court’s review is limited to the evidence submitted to the insurance company.

What Does a Federal Judge Who Considers ERISA Claims Have to Say?

We aren’t the only ones who think that it is beneficial to hire an attorney to assist you in an ERISA long-term disability claim. Here is a comment from a Federal Judge:

“Having recognized the difficulties posed by Plaintiff’s position, the Court also recognizes that ERISA claimants may not have the advantage of legal advice or favorable referrals before the administrative process is complete, placing such claimants at a distinct disadvantage if discovery is not permitted on judicial review. For ERISA claimants not able or aware enough to hire legal counsel before the administrative process is complete, they likely enter into judicial review facing a loaded deck—a deck loaded with the expert opinions of those hired by the plan administrator and, with the possible exception of a treating physician or two, lacking the opinions of vocational or medical experts hired by the claimant.”

Abromitis vs. Continental Casualty Insurance Company / CNA Insurance Companies, 261 F.Supp.2d 388, 391 (2003).

7. Buyouts v. Settlements In Long-Term Disability Cases

We will separate buyout offers, which the insurance company makes while you receive long-term disability benefits, and settlement offers, which occur when you’ve been denied benefits and you’re trying to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company either right before or after filing a lawsuit.

This distinction is critical. Let’s go back to buyout offers for a moment.

Buyouts are only when the insurance company has acknowledged it’s supposed to be paying you benefits and is paying you benefits, but they want to give you a one-time lump sum settlement to buy you out. In the long run, this will save the insurance company money that it would have otherwise paid over the lifetime of the claim. Because they have acknowledged that they are supposed to be paying you benefits, they may offer to pay a higher percentage of the total value of the claim.

Many people go online and read about how when you receive a buyout offer from an insurance company, you may receive 50, 60, 70, or even 80% of the total value as a settlement as part of the buyout. Those percentages differ when the insurance company has denied your claim but you’re trying to obtain a settlement.

Here’s an example. You’ve had to sue the insurance company to get your benefits and are about to go to mediation. In that situation, we often see that the insurance company is only willing to settle that claim for less than 50%. Many people come to us and say, “But wait a minute, I did my research online. I see that insurance companies will settle cases for 50 to 70%.”

We then have to explain that the situation is different because the 50 to 80% range only applies when they already pay benefits like they should. In the latter situation, in litigation, they’ve already said that they don’t think they should be paying benefits. As a result, those claims have a lower value and typically settle at less than 50%.

Again, those are situations where the person is already receiving benefits. This is all very highly technical. If you have received a buyout or settlement offer, you should not decide without consulting with an attorney about the individual circumstances of your case.

8. Why Should I Hire a Long-Term Disability Lawyer?

So why should you hire a long-term disability lawyer? Insurance companies like to collect premiums but do not like paying out on claims. It would help if you did everything you could to satisfy your burden of proving you are disabled so the insurance company pays you the benefits you deserve. Your HR contact may offer to help you, but HR representatives are not always aware of the time limits and amount of proof necessary to support an LTD claim. 

Managing an appeal alone can be risky if you are not physically or mentally capable. If the case becomes too complicated to handle on your own, you may want to seek advice from a professional. Nick A. Ortiz is an experienced long-term disability lawyer who is compassionate and dedicated to the rights of those whose LTD benefits have been wrongfully denied or terminated. To see if you qualify for a no up-front cost contingency fee arrangement with an experienced LTD attorney, complete the consultation request form on this website today. Most inquiries are responded to within 24 hours of submission.

What Will Hiring a Disability Attorney or ERISA Lawyer Cost Me?

Here are three primary ways disability insurance lawyers earn a fee in long-term disability or ERISA claims:

• On a “Contingency” Fee” basis. A contingency fee means you do not have to pay any fees upfront to retain the attorney, and the attorney only earns a fee with a successful outcome in the case. The cost is contingent upon recovery. The attorney is paid a percentage of the recovery, typically between 25% and 40%.
• Other attorneys are paid on an hourly basis for an agreed-upon hourly rate. Such fees are typically paid whether you win or lose the case.
• A few attorneys will accept the entire case for one “flat fee.”

There are many variations within the three categories above. For example, in category two, the attorney may not ask for anything upfront and will bill you once a month. Or, the attorney may request a large retainer up-front, draw fees from the retainer, and ask that you always have a minimum amount in the retainer. The best choice of attorney fees for you depends on the specific needs of your claim.

The Ortiz Law Firm handles most long-term disability and ERISA claims on a contingency fee basis. The “contingency” is that you must recover benefits to have a fee. In other words, you do not have to pay a fee if there is no recovery in your claim. However, Mr. Ortiz does accept some cases on an hourly basis, depending upon the circumstances.

If you have any questions about attorney fees in these types of disability claims, our best advice is to pick up the phone and call us to schedule a free case review.

Get a Free Case Review

9. Can a Long-Term Disability Lawyer Speed Up a Case?

An attorney can only “speed up” an LTD claim concerning how quickly they can assemble a robust appeal package. It does not do a client any favors to use up the entire 180-day appeal period before filing the appeal. We know time is of the essence for our clients. They are not working, and they are not receiving their benefits. That is why we try to file the appeal as quickly as possible.

10. Protect Yourself by Hiring a Long-Term Disability Lawyer

The most important reason for hiring a long-term disability lawyer is that they can help you develop the evidence that will be critical down the road if and when a lawsuit needs to be filed. This is especially important because of ERISA.

ERISA specifies that if you have a lawsuit against an insurance company, the court can only consider what’s in the administrative claim file when the insurance company decides. This means that you need to get all the evidence that you potentially think you might use in a lawsuit during the appeal process because you will not be allowed to introduce any new evidence in the lawsuit.

Most people, when they file an appeal, it’s really basic. We’re talking a one or two-paragraph appeal that says, “Look, insurance company. I think you got this one wrong. I think there is more than enough evidence to support my case. Please take another look; you will find enough evidence to approve me. So, I appeal. Go back and take another look at “it.”

Now, that is wholly insufficient.

When preparing an appeal, we first request a copy of your insurance policy to determine your rights and responsibilities in proving your case. The next thing that we do is request an entire copy of your claim file. We then break that claim file down and reverse engineer it to determine what we must provide to the insurance company. That way, we can work with you to strategize and get updated medical records and, perhaps, custom forms or letters from your doctors to address why the insurance company denied your case.

That’s just one part of it. Another thing that we do is work with you to obtain your statement, typically in the way of an affidavit or what we call a sworn statement. The statement identifies your impairments and resulting limitations. That is additional evidence that we can use to show the insurance company why you can’t do your job. This new evidence may get the insurance company to change its mind.

Finally, we do a comprehensive legal analysis. We show why their reasons are insufficient as a matter of law. We may cite legal cases to compare your case to others where the insurance companies may have made similar mistakes. To give you an idea, our appeals tend to be anywhere from 16 to 20 pages long, with a summary of all your medical records, all the opinion evidence, and all the legal reasons why we think their decision is insufficient. That’s a lot different than a simple one or two-paragraph appeal.

The Ortiz Law Firm has assisted numerous clients in recovering benefits following a long-term disability insurance denial or termination of benefits. We have experience handling internal administrative appeals directly with insurance companies, and we have prosecuted numerous ERISA lawsuits in federal court against LTD insurance companies. We can help you anywhere in the country and will strive to make the process as easy as possible.

Consult with a Long-Term Disability Lawyer Today

Finding and hiring an attorney may seem overwhelming during an already difficult time, both personally and financially. While the process can be daunting, your experienced disability attorney will be able to guide you through the process. They do not get paid until you win your case. You can seek help without worrying about upfront costs or unexpected bills. When an insurance company has denied your benefits, you need a knowledgeable and aggressive advocate to pick up your fight and obtain the compensation you deserve.

Working with an experienced disability attorney will give you the best chance of getting the benefits you deserve. Even if you have been denied benefits, that does not mean your fight is over. Many people are denied benefits the first time they apply. You can file an appeal and get more information that may help your case. Getting expert help is often the difference between being denied and being approved for benefits.

We help disability claimants receive the long-term disability insurance benefits they are entitled to. If you have been denied benefits, we can help prepare and file your administrative appeal with the insurance company to maximize the chances that your LTD claim will be approved. If your benefits have been cut off or terminated, we can help prepare the appeal to reinstate your benefits. If you have exhausted your administrative appeals with the insurance company, we may be able to file a lawsuit against the insurance company. We handle group disability claims typically governed by ERISA regulations and individual disability insurance policy claims.

The Ortiz Law Firm has successfully represented people in disability cases across the United States. If you want to talk to an experienced disability lawyer, call (888) 321-8131. We would be happy to evaluate your case and discuss how to help you through the appeal process.