After you have filed your initial disability claim with the insurance company, you will likely be required to complete their reimbursement form. This form generally states that you promise to pay back the insurance company when you receive other income related to your disability that reduces your benefit payment.
Typically, the most common types of other income that will reduce your disability benefit amount include, but are not limited to:
- Your social security disability income and those of your dependents;
- Your social security retirement income;
- State disability benefits;
- Workers’ compensation Benefits; and
- Third party settlements.
It is not unusual to be uncomfortable signing this form. In fact, many disability insurance companies try to use this signed document against you at a later time. Whether or not you have to sign this document, however, depends on the insurance policy. Sometimes disability insurance policies have clauses that state you have to sign a reimbursement agreement. If that is the case, then you do have to sign this document. But often disability insurance policies do not contain that language. In short, you need to look closely at the disability insurance policy.
If your disability insurance company is asking your sign a reimbursement form, contact an experienced long-term disability attorney right away. He or she will explain your rights and obligations under the insurance contract.
Overpayments in Disability Claims
The disability insurance company will likely encourage you to file for other benefits you may be entitled to due to your disability. If you are being paid your full disability benefit every month, you will end up owing the insurance company money. This is because when you receive back pay from a source that is considered other income you will end up with an overpayment on your disability claim. In other words, you will owe the disability insurance company the amount they “overpaid” you. It is common for the disability insurance company to handle the overpayment in one of the following ways:
- Make you pay them immediately, as soon as you receive the other income;
- Agree to reduce your monthly disability benefit until the overpayment is settled;
- Withhold your entire monthly benefits, until the overpayment is paid off.
If your disability insurance company is saying there is an overpayment on your claim, contact a long-term disability attorney right away so that he or she may ensure the amount, if any, is correct.
Our Disability Attorneys Can Help You
Dabdoub Law Firm was built to be a disability insurance law firm. The firm has significant experience handling claims for disability insurance benefits with every major disability insurance company.
The firm can help at any stage of your long-term disability claim, including:
- submitting a disability insurance claim;
- appealing a long-term disability denial; or
- filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Hiring an experienced disability attorney is important. Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, our lawyers do not have to be located in your state.
Call for a free consultation with an experienced disability attorney.