Research conducted by the United States Census Bureau indicates that 9.1% of the Columbus, OH population over the age of 65 is living with a disability. If an individual’s disability is so severe that they are unable to work, they may qualify for disability benefits. Our office represents Columbus, Ohio disability claimants.
We handle group Long Term Disability (LTD) claims, individual policy disability claims, ERISA disability claims with insurance companies such as Cigna, Unum, and Lincoln Financial. We also handle Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims for individuals in Columbus, OH, and the surrounding area. We offer a no recovery, zero-fee guarantee, so you can hire an attorney without taking any risk.
Ortiz Law Firm Represents Columbus, OH Long-Term Disability Claimants
We assist long-term disability claimants whose claims have been wrongly denied or terminated. We prepare comprehensive appeals, and, if necessary, we will file a lawsuit against the insurance company. If you receive a lump-sum settlement offer from the insurance company we can help you evaluate the offer and possibly negotiate for a higher amount.
We represent long-term disability claimants nationwide from our office in Pensacola, Florida. In terms of communicating with you, we use an electronic signature service for a lot of the correspondence, and then we e-mail and fax and communicate by phone, so everything can be done by mail, fax, and e-mail.
There may be some circumstances under which we cannot represent a claimant, but we 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. Again, what we do is evaluate each case on a case-by-case basis.
Common Reasons Columbus, OH Long Term Disability Claims are Denied
There are many reasons a long-term disability insurance company could deny your claim. Most policies exclude claims for pre-existing conditions, though the definition of “pre-existing” varies between different policies. Your claim could also be denied if you fail to provide information before a specified deadline. If you need more time, be sure to communicate that to the insurance company as soon as possible.
Claims are also denied when the claimant does not meet “actively at work” status. Let’s look at Cheney v. Standard Insurance. Cheney, a 20-year attorney at Kirkland & Ellis, had C-5 neck surgery in 2012. She last worked December 9, 2011, and claimed disability starting December 20, 2011, onward. When she went out on disability she first used two weeks of accrued vacation through to January 3, 2012. Then, she was granted six months of leave to last until July 2012.
She submitted a claim for Long Term Disability benefits under the firm’s ERISA plan in 2012. Under the policy, coverage ended when the employee ceased to be a “Member.” To be a “Member” the claimant has to be “Actively at Work.” This definition required the claimant to be capable of Active Work even during vacations. Standard argued she was not eligible for disability benefits because she could not meet the “Actively at Work” definition. Eventually, the seventh circuit held that the claimant was NOT eligible for benefits.
Appealing a Long Term Disability Denial with a Columbus Ohio Disability Lawyer
Regardless of the reason cited by the insurance company, you should contact an experienced long-term disability lawyer to determine what options you have moving forward. It is important to know how many opportunities you will have to submit additional information so that you can stack the record with supportive evidence. Some policies will only permit a claimant to file one appeal, whereas other policies require multiple appeals.
Columbus, OH Courts, Government, and Department of Insurance Information
United States District Court | Southern District of Ohio
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Official government website for the State of Ohio
Columbus Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Claims
Filing for Social Security Disability benefits can be a stressful process, but the Social Security Disability lawyers at Ortiz Law Firm are here to fight for the benefits you deserve so you don’t have to. Nick Ortiz is a Board Certified Social Security Disability attorney. Although we are located in Pensacola, Florida, we represent claimants in Columbus, OH., and the surrounding area during the following stages of a Social Security Disability claim:
At Ortiz Law Firm, we believe in building better Social Security Disability claims through shared knowledge, wisdom, and personal experiences. When you hire our firm to represent you in a Social Security Disability claim you also receive a free membership to the Disability Academy – our online training program to assist those seeking Social Security Disability benefits through the process from the initial application phase to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
Columbus, Ohio Social Security Administration (SSA) Locations and Resources
Here are links to several resources which may assist you during the Social Security Disability Insurance claim process. These resources apply to either SSDI or SSI claims:
Directions to the local Social Security Administration Offices
Call Ortiz Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation with a Columbus Ohio Disability Insurance and Social Security Disability Lawyer
In summary, you should not allow our geographic location to limit your contacting a disability lawyer at our firm to see what we can do to help you. Ortiz Law Firm offers a free case evaluation for long-term disability claims that have been denied or terminated and for Social Security claims between the initial application and hearing stages.
Please give us a call right away at (888) 321-8131 to discuss your legal rights with a Columbus, OH disability lawyer. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss your legal rights and how a disability lawyer at our firm can help you obtain the disability benefits you deserve.