There is no way to know if and when you will need long-term disability insurance. However, when you need it, there is no room for error. A small mistake or lack of evidence can jeopardize your claim and leave you with nothing.
If you are suffering an injury due to another individual’s negligence, it is pertinent that you consult with a Pickering long-term disability lawyer as soon as possible. A knowledgeable injury lawyer can assist in building a case to help maximize your potential compensation.
Our long-term disability lawyers can meet with you in Pickering for a free initial consultation. Call (416) 364-2000
Qualifying for Benefits
Qualifying for long-term disability benefits is not easy. You must be able to prove that you have an impairment, either mental or physical, that will last at least 12 months and prevents you from working.
You must have medical records that show a diagnosis, regular treatment or check-ups, and a prognosis for your impairment. A Pickering long-term disability lawyer works with medical experts to review your medical history and establish the severity of your impairment.
Certain conditions are more obvious than others are. For example, liver cancer is a tangible illness that will likely have large amounts of paperwork and a detailed prognosis. However, proving anxiety, because it is more subjective, might require a more in-depth analysis of your records. A lawyer will need to provide more extensive evidence to establish severity.
Pickering Long-Term Disability Lawyer Near Me (416) 364-2000
Proving the Length of Impairment
The insurance company will reject your claim for long-term disability benefits if your impairment will not last at least 12 consecutive months.
Pickering long-term disability attorneys have long-standing relationships with medical experts in the area who will be able to give a prognosis of your disability. This will allow a lawyer to determine whether you are eligible for long-term disability benefits or if you need to find other benefits for which you might qualify.
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Preventing Continued Employment
If the impairment prevents you from continuing in your current line of work, you will qualify for long-term disability benefits. A Pickering long-term disability lawyer will work with vocational experts to determine whether you can adjust to other work even with your limitations. Their testimony will go a long way in establishing your limitations.
However, be aware that your ability to work at any other jobs will affect your benefit payments.
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Calculating Benefits
Once you have established your impairment will last long-term, and you cannot continue working because of it, the insurance company will calculate your benefit pay period and amount. Most long-term disability policies determine your payments based on two elements, your ability to work and the amount of wages you can receive.
Ability to Work at All
To qualify for disability benefits, you must prove that you cannot work at your current job. Proving you cannot work at your current job will grant you benefits for up to two years. However, if a Pickering long-term disability attorney believes your impairment prevents you from working at any other job, they can likely claim complete disability. If you are unable to work at all, your benefits will last much longer.
Proving you are unable to work at your current job or any job will not be easy. A lawyer will likely need to obtain extra evidence, such as letters from your doctors regarding your limitations and testimony from vocational experts who can testify that you are not suited for any other jobs in the Pickering area.
Receiving Wages
It is important to note that you will not receive the entirety of your paycheque from your insurer. The terms of your policy will stipulate what percentage of your wages the insurance company pays to you as your disability benefit. This calculation is easy for someone who gets regular paycheques, but difficult for someone with irregular income. Proving your regular income is also difficult for people who are self-employed.
A lawyer will have vocational experts assess your financial records to develop a fair estimate of your average pay. With this amount, a lawyer can negotiate a disability benefits payment that is fair to your typical earnings.
Benefit of a Lawyer
Disability benefits will pay for a long period, and each approved claim costs the insurance company thousands of dollars over time. This means the insurance company will do everything in its power to prove you are not eligible for benefits.
Over time, an experienced Pickering long-term disability lawyer has learned how the insurance companies try to manipulate claims into denials. Lawyers have seen everything from observing your online conduct to pressuring you into seeing certain doctors. They do not stand for this, and will help you avoid unfair tactics and get the money you deserve.
Call or text (416) 364-2000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
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