Disability is more common than you might think and affects those of all ages. According to the United States Census Bureau, 11.3% of the Springfield, Illinois, population under the age of 65 suffers from a disability. If your condition is severe enough to prevent you from working, you may be wondering how you will manage your living expenses and medical bills.
Fortunately, you may be eligible to receive short-term or long-term disability benefits from a disability insurance policy and/or Social Security Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration while you are unable to work. Our primary practice areas are long-term disability insurance and Social Security Disability benefits claims, and a Springfield Illinois disability lawyer at our firm would welcome the opportunity to help you with your case.
Springfield, IL Long Term Disability, ERISA, and Disability Insurance Claims
We’re familiar with the tricks and tactics that the insurance company will use to deny or terminate your claim, and we are ready to fight for your disability benefits. We assist claimants in the administrative appeal process in hopes of getting the claim approved or reinstated, and, if necessary, we will file a lawsuit against the insurer on your behalf.
Although we do not typically handle short-term disability claims, we may be able to help if you also have a long-term disability policy as well. If the insurance company has offered you a lump sum to buy out your claim, we can help you evaluate the fairness of the offer and possibly negotiate a better offer.
We offer a Zero Recovery, No Fee Guarantee. We do not charge an attorney fee or any costs unless we win your case, so there is no risk in hiring a lawyer to fight for the benefits you deserve.
We Represent Claimants in Springfield, IL, and Nationwide
We handle disability claims in cities throughout the state of Illinois, including Aurora, Chicago, and Springfield, IL. Ortiz Law Firm is based primarily in Pensacola, Florida, but because most disability insurance plans are governed by ERISA, Nick Ortiz can handle a case anywhere in the United States. In the past few years, we’ve represented claimants across the country, and even internationally!
There may be some situations 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.
Medical Requirements in a Long Term Disability Claim
The most time-consuming part of a long-term disability claim is obtaining the medical evidence to support your claim. The burden of proof falls on the claimant, which means it is your responsibility to provide supporting evidence to the insurer. Most policies require objective evidence, which is evidence that the insurer cannot deny exists, such as:
- Electrocardiograms
- X-rays
- MRIs
- CT Scans
- Blood tests
- Psychological tests
A disability lawyer will carry this burden for you so that you can focus on your health, and can even help you obtain additional evidence, such as a residual functional capacity form.
Springfield, IL Courts, Government, and Department of Insurance Information
Central 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
Springfield Social Security Disability Lawyers
Nick Ortiz is a Board Certified Social Security Disability lawyer ready to fight the Social Security Administration to obtain the benefits you deserve. Although our office is based in Pensacola, Florida, our Social Security Disability lawyers do represent Social Security Disability claimants in Springfield, Illinois. The Social Security Administration is now conducting hearings by phone and using the Microsoft Teams platform, so it is easier than ever to represent Social Security Disability claimants across the country.
We represent Springfield Social Security Disability claimants at the following stages:
If you’re thinking about filing an application for Social Security Disability benefits, or if your claim has been denied and you need help with an appeal, then contact our office today for a free consultation.
Springfield, IL Social Security Administration Offices and Resources
Directions to the Springfield, IL Social Security Administration Office
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Springfield Illinois 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 us at (888) 321-8131 to schedule your free consultation with an LTD and Social Security Disability attorney at our firm.