Long Term
Disability Lawyers in Toronto Can Help You
If you’re one of the
one in
seven Ontarians living with a disability, it’s important that you know
about how long-term disability benefits work in Toronto.
Long Term
Disability Coverage
Long Term Disability (LTD) is usually bundled with Short Term
Disability insurance in your work or private insurance plan. Both types of
coverage are meant to cover your lost wages while you are unable to work due to
illness or physical disability. It’s important to understand your policy
coverage, since an illness that’s included in one plan may not be covered in
another.
A common reason for being denied long-term disability in Toronto is the
vague language used in most policies. The non-uniform terminology is especially
challenging for people who don’t have visible disabilities, such as a person
with a
mood
disorder. You are usually required to be "totally disabled”, but there is
no hard and fast rule about what that means. Insurance companies look at
individual cases and may reject your claim, even if you’re unable to work.
These disputes are where a long-term disability lawyer can help. You lawyer can
help you fight for your rights when you need help the most.
If you’re unable to return to your job, LTD should pay up to two years
of benefits. After that, you’ll normally have to provide evidence to show that
you still can’t return to work. This is another point where people can run into
trouble. The insurance company doesn’t want to be stuck paying LTD to workers
for prolonged periods of time, especially to younger workers. You may be asked
to see the insurer’s doctor or even under surveillance as the company attempts
to cut you off from benefits. An experienced long-term disability lawyer in
Toronto can help you prove that you still need coverage.
Applying
for the Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit
Some insurance plans require you to apply for your Canada Pension Plan
(CPP) disability benefit before they’ll begin payments. That’s because any
amount you receive from CPP can be deducted from the amount the insurance
company owes.
You should apply for the
CPP
Disability Benefit as soon as you are unable to work, since delayed
applications mean a delay in getting your benefit. You’re eligible to apply if
you are under 65, suffer from a severe and prolonged disability and have met
the guidelines for a minimum amount contributed to CPP and minimum number of
years worked.
If you are suffering from a terminal illness, CPP will review your
application within 48 hours. It’s important to ensure that the application is
completely filled out to avoid delays.
How a
Toronto Long Term Disability Lawyer Can Help
Insurance companies have years of experience and a large amount of
capital at their disposal. The company has a vested interest in denying your
claim for LTD, since they may be paying benefits for years. A good long-term
disability Toronto lawyer can use his or her experience to help level the
playing field.
A lawyer can be helpful when your insurance company has surveillance of
you that could hurt your case. A video showing you taking out the garbage after
you’ve claimed that you are unable to do heavy lifting may look bad, but it
doesn’t show the hours you spent on the couch or the pain medication you had to
take afterwards. A long term disability Toronto lawyer can help.