Living with a disability is not easy. It can affect the way you sit, stand, walk, think, and ultimately your ability to work and earn an income. Fortunately, there are disability benefits available to people with disabilities so severe that they are unable to work. Some disability benefits are provided by the Social Security Administration …
Medical Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
How Do I Ask My Doctor for Disability?
According to the CDC, there are about 61 million adults in the United States that are living with some type of disability. That means 1 in 4 adults have some kind of disability, whether it be back problems, autoimmune disorders, heart diseases, vision impairment, or one of many other disabling medical conditions. Living with a …
Residual Functional Capacity Forms: Download an RFC Form
In order to know whether you can perform your occupation (or any other work in the economy), the disability claims handler deciding your long-term disability claim or Social Security Disability claim needs to determine your residual functional capacity (RFC). This is accomplished by having a doctor perform a residual functional capacity assessment and complete an …
Residual Functional Capacity Forms: Download an RFC FormRead More
Your Credibility and Applying for Disability: How the Insurance Company Assesses Your Complaints
Obviously, not all medical disorders are diagnosed with “objective” test results, which can make establishing a claim for long term disability with such conditions challenging. Take fibromyalgia, for example. You cannot take an x-ray of fibromyalgia and prove it with objective medical testing. Yes, the “pressure point test” is a traditional method of testing for fibromyalgia, but this …
The Treating Physician Rule In Long Term Disability Claims
What – or who – is a treating physician? A treating physician is a medical doctor who provides medical treatment for you and has, or has had in the past, an ongoing relationship with you. There needs to be a history of treatment between the medical provider and the patient for the medical provider to be considered …
The Treating Physician Rule In Long Term Disability ClaimsRead More
Ten Traps That May Disable Your LTD Insurance Claim
The long term disability claim process can be long and frustrating. Having to speak to doctors, lawyers, and insurance representatives can be tiresome, especially if you are dealing with the daily frustrations of your disability. Developing and building a complete administrative file will help you build your long term disability case. We have some tips …
Ten Traps That May Disable Your LTD Insurance ClaimRead More
If I Refuse Surgery, Can I Be Denied Long Term Disability Insurance Payments?
If you avoid following your doctor’s treatment plan as prescribed (like refusing to have surgery), the insurance company may claim that you are refusing to do what you need to do to get better so you can work and will deny your long term disability claim for that. However, you should not be denied for …
If I Refuse Surgery, Can I Be Denied Long Term Disability Insurance Payments?Read More
How Long Term Disability Insurance Companies Evaluate Chronic Pain in Disability Claims
Proving total disability and being approved for long term disability benefits because of a diagnosis of chronic pain or a pain disorder can be difficult because there are no specific criteria for approval. The insurance company must take your pain into account as long as you’ve been diagnosed with a physical or mental impairment, including subjective conditions such …
How Long Term Disability Insurance Companies Evaluate Chronic Pain in Disability ClaimsRead More
How Long Do You Have to Be Disabled Before You Can Qualify for Disability Insurance Benefits?
Everything You Need to Know While Waiting for Long Term Disability Benefits You don’t have to be disabled for any specific length of time before you apply for long term disability benefits, but there is typically a 90 to 180 day waiting period to receive long term disability payments. Becoming disabled before retirement can be a scary thing. Most …
How Failing to Seek Medical Treatment or Comply With Your Doctor’s Recommendations Affects Your Disability Case
When the insurance company is reviewing your long term disability claim, they will be evaluating your credibility. They will be looking to see if the evidence you provided proves that you have been truthful about your symptoms, pain levels, and inability to work. The most common way the insurance company checks this is to see whether you …