When a person becomes disabled, the most important thing they have to accomplish is finding an experienced disability lawyer to help them with their disability claim. Whether you are pursuing long term disability insurance or Social Security Disability benefits, the disability claim process is a complicated one.
The sheer volume of paperwork and the complexity of the laws is overwhelming. You should find a Baltimore disability lawyer who has experience with disability cases, detailed knowledge of the law, and flawless negotiating skills to give yourself the best chance of receiving the disability benefits you are entitled to.
Kinds of Disability Payments
There are several different ways people can collect disability. Many people have group disability policies through their workplace. Employers can offer short-term disability policies or long term policies.
Some individuals obtain an individual disability insurance policy that is not sponsored by an employer. An experienced disability lawyer can help make sure you are receiving the proper compensation regardless of who sponsors the plan.
Another option is to file a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This is available to anyone who has been working and paying their social security taxes.
However, as with all disability insurance plans, benefits don’t just happen automatically. Many claimants hire a Social Security Disability lawyer to file their application for benefits or to represent them at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
Long Term Disability Insurance Claims in Baltimore, MD
Whether you purchase a long term disability insurance policy on your own, or through your employer, these policies have many exclusions and limitations. The Ortiz Law Firm will fight to make sure you receive the disability benefits you have paid for despite these exclusions and limitations.
You will also need a knowledgeable attorney to explain how your policy defines the word “disability.” Some policies will pay some benefits if you can’t do your normal job, but you are able to do a job that pays less than your usual salary. These kinds of policies will pay you a part of the money you are losing by working in a lower-paid job. Other policies will not pay you any benefits at all if you are able to do another kind of work, even if the other job pays you less.
Usually, there is a waiting period after you file a claim before benefits can even start. Most private and employee-sponsored long term disability plans have a waiting period between 90 and 180 days before you can start collecting benefits. Later, when benefits do start, they will usually pay about 60 to 80% of your previous salary.
Then there is also a time limit on how long the policy will pay these benefits. Some long term policies pay for a certain number of months. Others pay for a certain number of years. Other policies stop paying out when a person reaches a certain age, usually retirement age.
Your goal when hiring an experienced Baltimore disability lawyer is to make sure you get everything your policy covers. If your claim has been wrongfully denied or terminated, our law office can assist you with the appeal process. If necessary, we will also file a lawsuit to help you get the benefits you are entitled to.
What Disabilities Are Covered by Long Term Disability Insurance?
It’s not only injuries and accidents that cause people to become disabled. Most people who are claiming disability benefits are disabled by a medical condition. The most common causes of disability are back pain, cancer, arthritis, depression, heart disease, and strokes.
Baltimore Courts, Government, and Department of Insurance Information
District of Maryland | United States District Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Official government website for the State of Maryland
Maryland Insurance Administration
District of Maryland Case Summaries and Resources
Aetna Did Not Abuse Its Discretion In Denying Plaintiff’s Claim
Top Ten Mistakes That Will Destroy Your Long Term Disability Claim (eBook)
Baltimore Social Security Disability Insurance Claims
A good Baltimore Social Security Disability lawyer will explain to you that receiving SSDI benefits is a totally different animal.
You don’t pay premiums for SSDI, but you do have to complete a certain number of years of paid employment where you paid social security taxes. The SSA decides whether or not you qualify based on credits earned by working and paying social security taxes.
The amount of credits you need is based on the age you were when you became disabled. The SSDI laws are quite complex. This is another reason to find an attorney who has years of experience studying and understanding these laws.
On the positive side, SSDI payments don’t have an arbitrary stop date. You can receive Social Security Disability benefits from the SSA until you reach your Social Security Normal Retirement Age. However, Social Security Disability won’t pay you for being partially disabled and doesn’t pay temporary benefits.
Who is Considered Disabled?
To claim Social Security Disability benefits you must be unable to do the work you used to do and have a disability that keeps you from adjusting to a different line of work. You must be expected to be disabled for at least a year or you must have already been disabled for a year before you place your claim. If those two facts aren’t true, then your disability must be so serious that it is expected to result in death.
The Social Security Administration will check to see if your disability is on their list of medical conditions (also known as the Blue Book) before they will approve your claim. If your disability isn’t listed, then the services of an excellent Baltimore Social Security Disability lawyer will be needed to prove that your medical conditions prevent you from performing any past work or work that you could be trained to do.
How Our Social Security Disability Lawyers Can Help
Nick Ortiz is a Social Security Disability attorney who is ready to fight for the benefits you deserve. Although our office is based in Pensacola, Florida, we do represent Social Security Disability claimants in Boston, Massachusetts. We represent Maryland Social Security Disability claimants at the following stages:
Baltimore, Maryland Social Security Disability Resources
Contact Information for the Baltimore SSA Offices
Top 10 Mistakes Social Security Disability Claimants Make
Our Long Term Disability and Social Security Disability Lawyers Handle Claims in Baltimore, MD
Many people mistakenly believe that they have to hire a lawyer in their local area. However, the physical location of your lawyer is rarely a consideration. Most disability insurance claims are governed by federal ERISA law, and our law office is experienced with all the major disability insurance companies around the county.
Social Security Disability claims are the same in every state. In addition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently announced they will be doing their hearings in a virtual format online with Microsoft Teams which makes it even less important where the lawyer is geographically located. You are free to choose a lawyer who focuses on disability claims day in and day out and knows what they are doing.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Disability Insurance and Social Security Disability Lawyer
If you are looking for a skilled, experienced Baltimore disability lawyer, remember that you are not restricted to working with the lawyers in Baltimore. Choose the national disability attorneys at the Ortiz Law Firm.
We offer a free consultation to claimants whose long term disability claims have been wrongfully denied and terminated, and to Maryland Social Security Disability claimants who need help with an initial application, reconsideration, or a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Contact us online or call us at (888) 321-8131 for a free consultation.