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Ortiz Law Firm | National Disability Law Firm
Ortiz Law Firm is dedicated to helping people recover the disability benefits they deserve. We handle group Long Term Disability (LTD) claims, individual disability insurance policy claims, ERISA disability claims, and Social Security Disability claims.
If you have applied for long-term disability benefits, you may experience a denial. When you receive notice from the insurance company that your claim has been denied, the clock starts ticking down for you to file an appeal. If you miss a deadline, you could forfeit your right to appeal the decision and not be …
If you’re denied long-term disability insurance benefits by the insurance company, you may be eligible to appeal your long-term disability case to federal court. Litigation involves taking legal action or filing a lawsuit to protect your legal rights. Unlike an individual disability policy that is governed by state law, federal courts have jurisdiction over all ERISA long-term disability cases. Policyholders whose benefits have …
Long-term disability (LTD) claims are very different than most other types of cases, including personal injury cases and Social Security Disability Insurance cases (although a Social Security Disability claim will impact your long-term disability claim – more on that later). Disability insurance companies understand the disability rules and regulations and will use those rules against …
If your long-term disability (LTD) claim is denied, it’s natural to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. However, a denial isn’t the end of the road. You can appeal a long-term disability denial, and many claimants successfully reverse denials through the appeals process. Appealing a denial of a long-term disability claim for benefits under the Employee Retirement …
If your claim for long-term disability benefits has been denied or terminated, the next step is to submit an administrative appeal. These advanced strategies for long-term disability appeals can be expensive and are not used in every case, but they can be highly effective in select cases. First of all, you might order your own …
If you have a long-term disability policy, either provided by your employer or through a policy you’ve acquired independently, you may qualify to receive disability benefits if you cannot work. The first step in determining your eligibility for benefits is to read your long-term disability (LTD) policy thoroughly. You can obtain a copy of your LTD plan from …
Why does the insurance company want your statement? The insurance company likely seeks your statement to find any inconsistencies between your account and the evidence in your file. Before the recorded statement, the insurance company may already have some information about you. The adjuster will have reviewed your benefits application, some of your medical records, …
If your long-term disability (LTD) insurance claim was denied due to a “pre-existing condition,” know that you’re not alone. Many claimants are in the same situation, often without a clear understanding of what the term means or how it applies to their case. This article will explain the concept of pre-existing condition exclusions in LTD …
Filing a long-term disability (LTD) claim involves more than just filling out forms. It requires comprehensive medical documentation that meets your insurance company’s standards. To qualify for benefits, you must provide clear, convincing evidence that your physical or mental condition prevents you from working. This guide breaks down the medical requirements insurers look for, including …
Age is a factor in most long-term disability claims as most long-term disability policies have an age limit. Reaching the Maximum Age For Benefits Most disability insurance policies end either at age 65 or at the claimant’s Social Security Normal Retirement Age – which currently ranges between 65 and 67 years old. There are some …
Are you curious about how your job and education impact long-term disability claims? The type of work you do and your level of education can drastically affect your claim’s outcome. We’ll explore these factors and offer insights to help you navigate the process more effectively. Own Occupation vs Any Occupation The differences between own occupation and …
Wondering if you can apply for both long-term disability and unemployment benefits at the same time? It’s a common question many face when dealing with sudden health issues and job loss. It’s possible, but it comes with specific rules and limitations. In this post, we will discuss how it works when you file for long-term …
One of the most common questions we receive is, “Can I be fired while I am out of work for disability?” When it comes to qualifying for long-term disability (LTD) insurance benefits, the key factor is whether your disability began before your employment was terminated. As long as your disability started before you were terminated, …
Some long-term disability claims go to the US Circuit Courts of Appeals. The United States Courts of Appeals (or circuit courts) are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system. That means they are the level between federal district courts and the United States Supreme Court. A court of appeals decides appeals …
Long-term disability insurance companies are well-known for hiring third-party investigators to put claimants under surveillance. They spend millions of dollars on surveillance to save billions in long-term disability claims. They want to “catch” you doing something you “shouldn’t,” like taking out the trash or enjoying your grandchild’s birthday party. The goal is to get footage that they …
Social media has become how we share our lives with the world. Long gone are the days of printing and mailing pictures to family and friends. Now, with the click of a button, you can share photos or even live stream videos on social media, which creates a way for families to stay connected even …
In the context of this article, it’s important to distinguish between long-term disability buyout and settlement offers. A buyout offer is extended by the insurance company while you are actively receiving long-term disability benefits. A settlement offer, on the other hand, arises when you have been fully denied these benefits and are in the process of negotiating a …
Are you suffering from multiple disabling conditions? You may think that if you are suffering from a set of combined ailments, your long-term disability claim should get approved even faster than if you only suffered from one ailment. But in fact, the opposite is true. When claimants file for long-term disability for multiple disabilities, the insurance company …
So you are eager to rush in and file your claim for individual disability insurance benefits. That’s good. You do not want to wait too long to file your claim as you only have a limited time to file the claim, but STOP FOR JUST A MINUTE. There is one thing you must absolutely do …
Some long-term disability claims are appealed to a United States District Court. If the court upholds the LTD denial, the next step is to appeal the claim to the United States Court of Appeals. For claimants in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, these appeals go to the Eleventh Circuit. In this article, we discuss the Eleventh Circuit Court’s …
Many claimants ask why the insurance company uses a vocational consultant when reviewing a claim. Isn’t the main issue whether you have a medical disability and you’re medically disabled under the policy? This is a very legitimate question. In this article, we discuss why a vocational assessment from a vocational consultant is a significant part …
When a person files a claim for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration, they will be asked, “What is the Alleged Onset Date of your disability?” I like to explain to my clients that it is more of a legal term than a medical one. What Social Security is really asking is, “When did …
We are often asked, “Can a Social Security disability attorney speed up my case?” The answer is yes. There are many advantages to having an attorney represent you in the Social Security Disability process, from the initial application to appeals. Below we will discuss several ways that having a disability attorney represent you might help …
Frequently Asked Question: I have a college education. I’ve heard one’s education level impacts a claim for Social Security disability benefits. Does my education keep me from being eligible for disability benefits? Answer: The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates applications for SSDI and SSI disability in two ways: The Listing of Impairments Meeting a listing means …
