Long-Term Disability Lawyer Serving Chatham, NJ
A medical condition or injury can prevent you from working. If you develop such a condition and find yourself unable to work, you must consider filing for long-term disability (LTD) benefits. These benefits can protect a percentage of your pre-disability income.
However, filing a claim is not always easy as you must deal with the insurance company. Fortunately, this is not a process you must traverse alone. A long-term disability lawyer serving Chatham, New Jersey from the law firm of Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick is ready to help.
Unfortunately, obtaining LTD benefits can be a hassle. It can be challenging to file claim forms and deal with insurance company representatives. The long-term disability attorneys at CCK have over 30 years of combined experience dealing with insurers and know how they operate. We can help you with your claim or appeal. Call us today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation with a member of our team.
A Long-Term Disability Lawyer Is Beneficial for Your Claim or Appeal
The disability rate was 2.1 percent in Chatham, New Jersey between 2016 and 2020. If you are a working professional living in Chatham, you may find yourself needing to file for LTD benefits.
Some claimants may decide to handle these claims on their own. However, when claimants handle their cases on their own, they are more liable to commit common mistakes. These mistakes could lead to a denial of benefits.
The long-term disability process is complex. A long-term disability insurance lawyer is used to this process and knows the laws that govern it. Thus, having an LTD lawyer for your claim or appeal is beneficial. An experienced attorney from CCK can help guide you at any point in the claims and appeals process.
For example, our team can help you understand the terms of your long-term disability policy. Your policy contains a lot of invaluable information, such as filing deadlines, benefit limitations, benefit exclusions, how to appeal, the maximum benefit period, when benefits begin, and more. Despite their importance when filing, these policies are often hard to understand. If you do not understand your coverage, you are more likely to make a mistake. Our team will ensure these mistakes do not happen.
Moreover, if you have an LTD policy through your employer, then you must be aware of ERISA. ERISA is a federal law. It often benefits the insurance company and comes with its own set of strict regulations and deadlines. An ERISA attorney from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick will ensure that your claim and/or appeal is compliant with this complex law.
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick Can Collect Evidence to Reinforce Your Claim
Every long-term disability policy contains a definition of disability. You must prove your condition meets this definition to receive benefits. Medical records are claimants’ primary source of evidence. However, some claims require additional evidence to prove this definition. Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick utilizes various forms of supplemental evidence to help reinforce clients’ claims. We can collect and submit this evidence on your behalf. Such evidence can include:
- Specialized reports from treating physicians: The physicians who treat you for your condition understand how debilitating it is. Medical records often do not highlight every aspect of your condition. Your treating physician(s) can write a specialized report detailing these aspects thereby illustrating your need for LTD benefits.
- Witness statements from family, friends, and coworkers: Others often see how your condition affects you. Family and friends witness how your condition debilitates you at home while coworkers see how it impairs you at work. Obtaining official statements from them can help strengthen your claim and show how far-reaching your condition is.
- Additional evaluations from outside experts: Insurance companies prefer objective evidence. Some claims will require additional medical and vocational evaluations to show why benefits are necessary. CCK works with several outside experts who can provide these evaluations for your claim.
CCK Can Alleviate the Stress of Dealing with the Insurance Company
Insurance companies are difficult. They often prioritize their financial needs, which can lead to many denials of long-term disability claims. Such companies will use several tactics to justify issuing a denial, such as using in-person surveillance tactics, monitoring social media accounts,; and requesting independent medical examinations (IMEs). This can be overwhelming.
When you are managing your condition and filing for LTD benefits at the same time, the last thing you want is to deal with the incessant correspondence from the insurance company. CCK can act as a point of contact. In other words, all correspondence must pass through us first. This frees up your time to focus on your health.
Additionally, we can collect and submit all evidence and documentation on your behalf. We will ensure that your insurer receives everything on time. If you must appeal a denial of your initial claim, our team is prepared to handle your appeal too. We can review your insurer’s denial letter and put together a comprehensive appeal package. If litigation is necessary, we can fight for your benefits in court.
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation
Whether you are filing an initial claim, appealing a denial or termination of your LTD benefits, or litigating in Court, our team has the experience necessary to guide you every step of the way.
Call CCK today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation. We can evaluate your claim and see if we can help.
Chatham Blog Posts
-
Six Reasons You Need a Long-Term Disability LawyerIf you have long-term disability (LTD) insurance, then you know it is a safeguard against losing your income if you find yourself unable to work due to a disabling health condition. You can generally purchase a long-term disability plan through your employer, or you can opt for a private plan purchased directly from an insurance […]
-
How Does Long-Term Disability Work With Social Security Disability?Insurance companies typically aim to pay less out of their own pocket whenever possible. As a result, most long-term disability (LTD) policies will require you to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and, if you are approved for SSDI benefits, the insurance company will then look to offset your long-term disability benefits with […]
-
Going from Short-Term Disability to Long-Term DisabilityShort-term disability (STD) insurance provides financial benefits when you become temporarily disabled and cannot work. This type of insurance typically covers conditions such as temporary injuries, surgery rehabilitation, and pregnancy. On the other hand, long-term disability (LTD) insurance provides financial benefits if you become disabled and are unable to work for a longer period. Typically, […]