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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.
Are you ready to rejoin the workforce? A trial work period allows you to test the waters. During a trial work period, a beneficiary receiving Social Security disability benefits may test his or her ability to work and still be considered disabled. Social Security does not consider services performed during the trial work period as …
When applying for disability insurance benefits, one crucial requirement is having medical evidence to support your claim. Your doctor may need to complete specific paperwork to support your claim, such as an Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) or Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form. These forms detail your diagnoses, treatment, and any restrictions or limitations. However, some …
Not being able to earn an income can be scary. If you or a loved one cannot work due to an injury or medical condition, you have likely filed, or will soon be filing, an application for long-term disability insurance benefits. It is essential to know that your disability insurance company has certain obligations when …
According to the CDC, about 61 million adults in the United States have a disability. That means 1 in 4 adults have some disability, whether back problems, autoimmune disorders, heart diseases, vision impairment, or one of many other disabling medical conditions. Living with a disabling condition is tough enough on its own, but one of …
Filing a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits can be long and complicated. You must avoid the common mistakes that most claimants make to improve your chances of being approved for Social Security Disability.
The top 4 reasons Social Security Disability Claims for Mental Illness get denied are: Social Security disability attorney Nick Ortiz provides more detail on these issues below. Common Reasons the SSA Denies Claims for Mental Health Your Medical Records Are Illegible or Don’t Provide Enough Information One of the biggest problems we face in a …
When applying for long-term disability (LTD) insurance benefits, you must know that disability insurance companies deny many claims. Even if your disability insurance claim is initially approved, you need to know that your insurance company can terminate or cut off your benefits. If the insurance company decides you are no longer disabled, they can terminate …
If you are a school board employee, you are likely covered by your county’s short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance plan. Disability insurance coverage is available to most individuals employed by public schools, such as teachers and janitorial staff, although certain requirements (such as working a certain number of hours each week) must …
Social Security disability, survivor, and retirement benefits are paid in the month after they are payable. The benefit payment day is determined by the day of the month the payment recipient was born. Schedule For Social Security Disability Payments For beneficiaries born between the 1st of the month and the 10th of the month, benefits …
Archer received long-term disability (LTD) and life insurance waiver-of-premium benefits from Hartford for several years before Hartford terminated both, relying on a functionality questionnaire from her treating physicians that indicated she could perform sedentary work — even after one of those physicians later walked the assessment back. The court upheld Hartford’s decision as reasonable, finding …
If you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or preparing for a disability hearing, don’t go in blind. One of the biggest reasons claims are denied is because claimants simply don’t know how to present their case effectively. That’s why Social Security disability attorney Nick Ortiz is offering a FREE webinar that will teach …
The gut-wrenching sound of a knee injury is a familiar sound for athletes. You may have witnessed a knee injury watching a professional basketball game. Knee injuries account for 50% of all injuries in athletes. But knee injuries don’t just happen under the lights in a large stadium. Knee injuries and pain are common in …
Your functional limitations are the most critical evidence for your long-term disability claim. Your insurance company is interested in how your disability affects your ability to work. The insurance claim examiner (and a judge if your claim goes to court) will look for you to provide detailed doctor’s notes on activity limitations. This information is …
You can still have a life that involves traveling when you have a long-term disability. The disability insurance companies may not like it, but being on long-term disability doesn’t mean you are on house arrest. Traveling can be a little more complicated when receiving disability payments, but it is doable with additional planning. The Do’s of …
Yes, insurance companies may use drones to gather information and decrease the costs of claim investigations. Why Do Insurance Companies Use Drones to Spy? Insurance companies have the duty of investigating disability insurance claims. Most insurance claims are legitimate claims filed by truly disabled individuals. But the disability insurance company doesn’t want to pay out …
After you have exhausted your short-term disability benefits (usually a requirement), you can apply for long-term disability (LTD) benefits. Knowing how the process will work before you apply is helpful. In this article, we walk you through the long-term disability process from application to award. Applying for Long-Term Disability Benefits Step 1: Request a Copy …
Facing a Long-Term Disability Denial? Here’s How to Fight Back If your long-term disability (LTD) benefits have been denied, you’re not alone and you don’t have to face the appeal process by yourself. Insurance companies deny legitimate claims all the time, but you have the right to appeal and fight for the benefits you deserve. …
After being accused of denying rides to people with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the popular ride-sharing service Lyft has agreed to update its policies and procedures to prevent further discrimination against people using foldable or collapsible wheelchairs and walkers and ensure equal access to rides. As part of a …
Question: “My job is saying I must resign since I am filing for long-term disability and do not plan to return to work. Should I consider resigning due to a disability?” The simple answer is most likely “no.” In fact, if you resign, you will lose your long-term disability benefits altogether. Except for very few …
After being approved for short-term disability, Cassidy applied for long-term disability benefits, citing chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia among several other diagnoses. Aetna denied the claim for lack of objective evidence that these conditions actually limited her ability to work, and the court agreed — holding that proving a diagnosis exists is not the same …
Calkin’s treating physicians found him severely limited by a combination of shoulder, back, knee, and elbow conditions, restricting him to well below even sedentary work. USLIC’s own file-reviewing physician disagreed, concluding Calkin could still perform his regular occupation, and the court sided with USLIC — finding that a reasonable basis to deny the long-term disability …
Harrison argued that her recently diagnosed Right Hemisphere Deficit Syndrome — a congenital brain injury — shouldn’t trigger LINA’s pre-existing condition exclusion merely because she’d only just been diagnosed with it, but LINA denied her long-term disability (LTD) claim by pointing instead to her pre-existing depression and anxiety. The appellate court affirmed the denial, finding …
When you file a long-term disability claim, it is common for the insurance investigator to call you and ask casual questions about your health and daily life. Next, they will say, "We want to send someone to your home to meet with you to discuss your claim." This is called a field interview.
Note: This form is also known as an Attending Physician Statement (APS) or a Medical Source Statement (MSS). We will use these terms interchangeably throughout the rest of this article. What Is A Residual Functional Capacity Assessment? A residual functional capacity assessment evaluates your impairment(s) and any related symptoms, such as pain, that may cause …