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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 16.5% of the population in Cleveland, OH under the age of 65 have a disability. Those who are unable to work may need financial assistance. If you have an illness or injury that prevents you from working you should file a claim for disability benefits. You must prove that you are disabled in order to receive benefits, and the burden of proof is on the claimant, so you should speak with a Cleveland disability lawyer to discuss your options.
Our primary areas of practice are long-term disability claims with an insurance company such as New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, Unum, or Lincoln, or Social Security Disability Insurance claims with the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you are struggling to get the benefits you deserve, our national disability law firm is here to help. We offer a free consultation, as well as a No Recovery, Zero-Fee Guarantee, so you can hire an attorney to help with your case with no risk.
Our Cleveland Long-Term Disability Lawyer Will Fight for the Benefits You Deserve
Employer-funded disability insurance policies (as well as those paid for by the employee as part of a group plan benefit with the employer) can provide short-term disability benefits and long-term disability benefits. The requirements for receiving disability benefits are outlined in the disability policy. Like most insurance policies, disability insurance policies typically have limitations and exclusions that allow the insurance company to deny or terminate claims under certain circumstances.
For example, most policies will only pay benefits for a mental illness claim for 24 months. We also see a pre-existing condition exclusion in most policies – meaning the insurance company will not pay a claim for a condition if the claimant has already received treatment for the condition within a certain time frame. The insurance company may focus on a single excluded condition while ignoring the combined effect of the claimant’s other conditions.
Let’s say a claimant is out of work primarily due to a herniated disc, but the claimant also suffers from anxiety and depression. The insurance company may review the claim and determine that the claimant’s spinal problems are not severe enough to prevent the claimant from working, and since mental health claims are only payable for a limited period of time, the insurance company could then terminate the claim even if the claimant’s mental health problems are disabling enough to prevent work activity.
We offer a free consultation to long-term disability insurance claimants whose claims have been wrongfully denied or terminated.
We Represent Claimants in Cleveland, OH, and Nationwide
You may be wondering why you should hire a Florida attorney to help with your Cleveland long-term disability claim. Most long-term disability claims (not all, but most) are governed by a federal regulation called ERISA, which makes it very easy for attorneys to help claimants across the country.
During the LTD administrative appeal process, everything that we will need to do can be done by mail, fax, and e-mail. Most of the work in a long-term disability claim is paper-based, so you are free to seek out an attorney outside of your local area.
Even if we have to file a lawsuit, our location will not be a problem. Under ERISA, claimants do not have the right to a jury trial, and – in most cases – do not have the right to engage in extensive discovery. This means that it is highly unlikely that a court appearance will be required. As a result, we can handle a federal court case anywhere in the state.
Cleveland, Ohio Court, Government, and Insurance Department Information
- Northern District of Ohio | United States District Court
- The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Government of the State of Ohio
- Ohio Department of Insurance
Cleveland Social Security Disability Lawyers
The Social Security Administration has the federal Social Security Disability Insurance program that you have probably paid into over the years. Your medical condition must prevent you from working in order to qualify for disability benefits. In addition, your condition must have lasted or be expected to last for a period of 12 months or more.
Although we are based in Florida, we also handle Social Security disability claims for people in Cleveland and in the surrounding areas of Ohio. Whether you are just beginning to research how to file an application for benefits or you have a hearing scheduled with an Administrative Law Judge, a disability lawyer at the Ortiz Law Firm will fight for the benefits you deserve.
How a Social Security Disability Lawyer at the Ortiz Law Firm Can Help
A Social Security disability lawyer can help you every step of the way, from the initial application process to the federal court level. The disability attorneys at the Ortiz Law Firm focus primarily on the administrative level of a claim, which includes the initial application, the request for reconsideration, and the request for a hearing before an administrative law judge. Claimants at any of these stages of the process are entitled to receive a free consultation with the firm’s intake specialist.
Cleveland, Ohio SSA Locations and Resources
- Directions to the local Social Security Administration offices
- Social Security Website
- Cleveland Office of Hearing Operations Information
- Top 10 Mistakes Social Security Disability Claimants Make
Call Today for a Free Case Evaluation with a Cleveland Disability Lawyer
We help claimants nationwide with claims for both disability insurance companies and the Social Security Administration. If the insurance company has denied or terminated your claim, or if you are fighting to receive Social Security disability benefits, we can help. Our experienced team is ready to fight for the benefits you deserve.
You only have a limited amount of time to appeal a wrongful denial or termination, so don’t wait too long to request a free consultation. Contact us online or call our office at (888) 321-8131 to schedule your free case evaluation today.
