The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Chicago has a population of 2,693,976 (as of July 1, 2019). Additionally, 6.9% of the population under the age of 65 is living with a disability. So what are these individuals to do if they find themselves unable to work due to their disability?
If you have a disability insurance policy, you may be eligible to receive benefits from your disability insurance company. Employer-funded disability insurance policies (as well as those paid by the employee as part of a group plan benefit with the employer) may provide short term disability benefits and long term disability benefits.
If the illness or injury that prevents you from working is expected to last 12 months or longer, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits.
Chicago Long Term Disability, ERISA, and Disability Insurance Claims
We are dedicated to helping long term disability claimants get the benefits they deserve. We handle both group disability claims that are typically governed by ERISA regulations, as well as individual disability insurance (“IDI” or “DI”) policy claims. Although we do not usually handle short term disability claims, we may be able to help if you also have a long term disability policy that may be impacted.
If the insurance company has wrongfully denied or terminated your claim we will file any administrative appeals that may be required. It the insurance company continues to uphold the denial of your claim we will file a lawsuit against LTD insurance companies. Occasionally the insurance company will offer to buy out your claim for a lump sum, in which case we will help you evaluate the offer.
Ortiz Law Firm Handles Chicago Long Term Disability Claims
Do not let our location discourage you from seeking assistance with your long term disability claim. We are located in Pensacola, Florida, but we represent long term disability claimants anywhere in the United States. We’ve even represented claimants that live abroad (past clients have lived in Morocco and the Philippines)!
You do not need to hire an attorney in your local area to handle your long term disability claim. An attorney can prepare and file an appeal with the insurance company from anywhere in the world, so long as they have a reliable internet connection. Consider your own communications with the insurance company – you’ve likely been corresponding with a claims adjuster who is out of state as well.
When it comes to filing a lawsuit, the majority of long term disability claims (not all, but most) are governed by a federal regulation called ERISA. Under ERISA, you do not have the right to a jury trial, and – in most cases – you do not have the right to engage in extensive discovery. That means, at the end of the day, most of the work is paper-driven, involves a lot of brief writing, and a lot of correspondence by mail. It is very rare that a court appearance is required, and as a result, we can handle a federal court case anywhere in the state.
There are some cases where we may not be able to represent a claimant due to their location, but we still evaluate each case on a case-by-case basis. Nick Ortiz can either be admitted to your local federal court by what we would call a pro hac vice admission, or he can file a lawsuit here in the state of Florida. If we cannot assist you, we will attempt to refer you to another law firm that can.
Chicago Courts, Government, and Department of Insurance Information
Northern District of Illinois | United States District Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Official government website for the State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Insurance
Northern District of Illinois Case Summaries
A Claimant Friendly ERISA Federal Court Decision
Court Rules Claimant Meets the Definition of Disability
Court Rules Plaintiff Has Established That He Was Disabled
Chicago Social Security Disability Claims
Nick Ortiz is a Board Certified Social Security Disability lawyer ready to fight for the benefits you deserve. Although our office is based in Pensacola, Florida, we do represent Social Security Disability claimants in Chicago, Illinois. The Social Security Administration will soon be conducting hearings using the Microsoft Teams platform, so it will be easier than ever to represent claimants across the country. We represent Social Security Disability claimants at the following stages:
- Initial Application
- Request for Reconsideration
- Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
Chicago SSA Locations and Resources
Directions to the local Social Security Administration Office
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Chicago Disability Lawyer
We offer a free consultation for long term disability claimants whose claims have been wrongfully denied or terminated, and for Social Security Disability claimants who are at the initial, reconsideration, or hearing stage of the process. As for attorney’s fees, we offer a No Recovery, Zero Fee Guarantee – meaning we only get paid if you get paid! So there is no risk if you decide to hire an attorney to assist you through the disability claim process. Don’t struggle on your own. Call the Ortiz Law Firm at (866) 853-4512 to schedule your free consultation.