Over the next few days, weeks, and months, we will provide you the information learned from our practice and research that may help you navigate the difficult process of long-term disability benefits. From time to time, we will provide you updates on relevant and important developments in the legal system that may affect how your long-term disability benefits (ssdi, ERISA based, or long-term disability insurance) determination is made or reviewed. This will be a process in and of itself.
Our first set of posts will focus on issues that you should know about BEFORE you even file your first piece of paper for long-term disability benefits under your employer’s benefit policy. We will go through our list of 9 critical things you must know and understand prior to filing your claim.
These nine steps (in no particular order) are: 1) know your policy; 2) make sure your doctor supports your claim and you know what’s in your medical records; 3) know what you are disabled from doing (understanding your job description); 4) get your finances in order; 5) start a diary or journal; 6) enlist support from friends, family, and (maybe) co-workers; 7) understand why long-term disability benefits are difficult to get; 8 ) don’t quit work too soon; and 9) choose the correct date for disability onset.
We look forward to the conversations we are about to have on this very important topic. Thanks for dropping by and we look forward to seeing you again.