Has
Your Disability Claim Been Denied? A Disability Claim Lawyer in Toronto Can
Help
Disability insurance is a form of income
replacement. It protects your income if you have the misfortune of becoming too
injured or ill to work. Disability insurance policy holders assume that the
insurance company will accept and pay valid claims for disability insurance
benefits. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. A significant number of
disability claims are denied when they should not be. If your disability claim
has been denied, a disability
claim lawyer in Toronto can hold disability insurance companies accountable
when they deny legitimate claims.
Employers may provide disability insurance
as a benefit, or people can purchase disability insurance
themselves.
Short Term Disability (STD)
STD disability insurance covers a short
period of time, usually between 4 months to 1 year. You are paid a disability
benefit if you become disabled and are not able to work at your job. STD
benefits are often payable by an employer instead of an insurance company.
However, the insurance company is often hired to adjudicate the claim and
advise the employer whether the benefit should be payable.
Long Term Disability (LTD)
LTD benefits are intended for longer
periods of time and give employees peace of mind that they will have income
replacement if they become disabled and are unable to work. Plans vary in terms
of how much of your income is replaced, how long you need to be off work to
qualify and what kinds of health conditions are covered. Most LTD policies have
an "own-occupation” period and an "any-occupation” period. Most plans will
cover you for two years if you are unable to work your own job and then only
continue coverage if you are unable to do any job. It is important to
understand what is and is not covered by your LTD policy.
Individual Disability Policies
Individual disability policies are
purchased privately by individuals who want protection should they suffer a
disability. These policies often pay a monthly benefit and commonly extend to
the age of 65 if the individual remains disabled. The policy could include a
critical illness benefit that pays if you suffer some type of serious illness.
Unfortunately, insurers do not always hold
up their end of the contracts and deny claims based on allegations such as:
- Failure to meet the current
definition of disability
- Committing fraud or
misrepresentation while filling out the insurance application
- Insufficient information
provided
- Clerical or procedural errors:
if all documentation required to make a claim is not sent to the insurance
company in a timely manner
- Treatment and assessment
compliance: You must comply with treatment and medical care for your condition
- Contradictory surveillance of
evidence of whether or not you are fit to work
- Contradictory online evidence
through social media and networking sites
If you need to file a disability claim or
you have questions about an existing disability claim or dispute, you will need
the help of a disability claim lawyer in Toronto. A disability claim lawyer
will advocate for your best interests. When you are facing barriers in continuing
with your employment, a disability claim lawyer will be on your side the entire
time, fighting for your rights.