If you have an illness or injury expected to keep you away from work for a long period, you may be eligible for long-term disability benefits.
When a severe injury or illness keeps you away from work for an extended period, long-term disability insurance can provide much-needed money to make up for the paychecks you are not receiving. Because of long-term disability insurance, many injured workers in Ontario have been able to focus on recovering from their injuries without getting behind on bills, losing their homes, or doing without necessities. A long-term disability lawyer serving Guelph from Preszler Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim and collect benefits.
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we are a client-first law firm, believing that honesty, transparency, communication, and exceptional client service should be paramount in the legal profession. We will fight for the benefits you deserve, and we handle disability claims on a no-win-no-fee basis, meaning we do not get paid until you do. To set up a free, no-obligation initial case evaluation with a member of our staff today, call us at 1-800-JUSTICE.
Our long-term disability lawyers can meet with you in Guelph for a free initial consultation. Call (416) 364-2000
1. Long-Term Disability Insurance
Long-term disability insurance is a type of policy designed to pay out when the policyholder suffers an injury or illness that keeps them away from work for a long time. Unlike workers’ compensation and other work-specific benefits, your long-term disability policy should pay out regardless of how your injury or illness occurred—whether it happened at work, at home, or somewhere else.
The challenge with long-term disability is the same as with any insurance policy: it is not always easy to convince the insurance company to pay you what you deserve. Like any business, insurance companies are driven by profit. They have a strong financial incentive to keep their payouts as low as possible. They have been known to deny valid claims and to offer lowball settlements that pay far less than what the policyholder is entitled to receive.
How It Works
Disability insurance works similarly to car insurance or health insurance. You buy a policy and make premium payments to keep it active. Your policy defines what a qualified disability eligible for benefits is, and it does not always comport with the average person’s idea of a disability. Usually, the insurance company’s definition is much narrower and more exclusionary. If you suffer a disability that meets the policy’s requirements, you can then file a claim—not unlike how you might file a car insurance claim after an accident—and collect benefits.
What It Covers
Every long-term disability policy is different in terms of what it covers, but a typical policy will pay you a percentage of what you were making at your job, It will do so for up to a maximum number of weeks or months. Some long-term disability policies also cover medical benefits and other injury-related expenses.
Guelph Long-Term Disability Lawyer Near Me (416) 364-2000
2. Why You Need a Lawyer to File a Claim
A long-term disability lawyer serving Guelph from Preszler Injury Lawyers can file a claim and take on the insurance company on your behalf, minimizing the chances of a denial or a lowball settlement offer. We understand how insurance companies work and how to file claims in a way that preempts their ability to come back with a denial or insufficient offer. If you have already been denied, we can file a lawsuit to get you your benefits..
Call 1-800-JUSTICE for a free initial case consultation with a long-term disability lawyer serving Guelph from Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
Click to contact our Personal Injury Lawyers near Guelph today
3. Why Claims Get Denied
When long-term disability insurance companies deny claims, they usually provide one of three reasons for doing so:
Condition Does Not Meet Disability Criteria
Most often, the insurance company will claim that your injury or illness does not meet the definition of a long-term disability as outlined in your policy.
Lack of Evidence
Another common reason for claim denials is the insurance company claims the policyholder did not present enough evidence in support of their disability.
Deadline Expired
Many long-term disability claims get denied because the insurance company takes the stance that the claim was filed after the stated deadline.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
4. Other Options for Long-Term Disability Compensation
In addition to private long-term disability insurance, injured workers have a couple of options for collecting benefits while they are away from work.
Workers’ Compensation
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board administers workers’ compensation. If you qualify for benefits, you can receive compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages. Preszler Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim.
Ontario Disability Support Program
The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is overseen by the Disability Adjudication Unit of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. It helps injured workers pay for necessities such as housing and food while they are away from their jobs. The program has a few very specific qualifying criteria. You must be an adult who has a demonstrated financial need and be unable to work for at least one consecutive year due to an injury or illness.
5. Canada Pension Plan – Disability Benefits
Provided you have a severe and prolonged disability or a terminal condition, you can qualify for CPP-D benefits.
6. How Much Does a Long-Term Disability Lawyer Cost in Guelph
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we do not charge an out-of-pocket fee for help with a long-term disability claim. That means there is no financial risk in working with us. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you in compensation, meaning we do not get paid until you do.
7. Call 1-800-JUSTICE to Schedule a Free Initial Long-Term Disability Case Evaluation with Preszler Injury Lawyers Today
If you are facing an extended period away from work due to an injury or illness, you deserve long-term disability compensation. A long-term disability lawyer serving Guelph from Preszler Injury Lawyers will fight for you and help you recover the compensation you deserve. We offer a free initial consultation and case evaluation. We never collect a fee until you recover benefits. To get started today by speaking with a member of our friendly, dedicated legal staff, call us at 1-800-JUSTICE.
Call or text (416) 364-2000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Related Blog Posts:
My Long-Term Disability Claim was Denied: What Now?
This informational page was created for Canadian long term disability insurance policyholders who have submitted a claim that has been denied. It explains what to do once you have received a denial letter from your long term disability (LTD) insurance carrier. By providing a no-nonsense description of how the appeal process works, the kinds of...Will I be Taxed on Personal Injury Damages or Disability Benefits?
If you have been injured in an accident and are set to receive a personal injury settlement or disability benefits, one of the important questions that always comes to mind is how the benefits will be taxed. Understanding how such payments impact an individual’s tax liability is critical to determining whether a settlement and/or disability...
