Yes, you can apply for long-term disability (LTD) benefits even if you are denied short term disability (STD) benefits. Your insurance company may state otherwise – but they are wrong.
Your claim for STD benefits is governed by a short-term disability policy. The STD policy sets forth the requirements for you to be approved for such benefits. Likewise, your claim for LTD benefits is governed by a long-term disability policy. The LTD policy sets the requirements for you to be approved for such benefits.
Each claim is handled by its own department, or in some cases by an entirely different company.
Receipt of STD benefits is not a requirement to be approved for LTD benefits
Generally, your LTD policy will not require approval of STD benefits. Instead, it will require that you are disabled through the elimination period—a period of time between your date of disability and when benefits will be paid. During this time you must be found continuously disabled. The elimination period is typically the same period of time you would receive STD benefits.
An insurance company is wrong if they tell you that you cannot apply for LTD benefits because your claim for STD benefits has not been approved. The truth is that the LTD department is required to conduct its own review of the medical records to determine whether you meet the definition of disability through the elimination period.
This law firm has assisted many people to get long-term disability benefits approved even though their STD benefits had been previously denied.
You should initiate your claim for long-term disability benefits a few months before the LTD start date. This is because the insurance company can potentially take several months to decide your claim. You want to initiate your claim as soon as you can so that there is as little delay in your payment as possible. This is the case whether your STD benefits were denied or approved.
Our Lawyers Specialize in Disability Insurance Claims
Because our law firm has always focused only on disability insurance, our lawyers are experts in legal representation for disability insurance benefits.
That means our disability lawyers have:
- Won several major disability lawsuits that help make better laws for disability claimants;
- Experience fighting every major disability insurance company, such as UNUM, Hartford, MetLife, CIGNA, Prudential, and more.
- Successfully represented hundreds of clients and won millions of dollars in disability benefits.
Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, we can help clients across the country.
Disability insurance companies have lawyers. You should too. Call Dabdoub Law Firm to get experienced disability lawyers on your side.
We can help with:
- Submitting your disability insurance claim,
- Appealing a long-term disability denial,
- Negotiating your lump-sum settlement, or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Call (800) 969-0488 for a free consultation with a disability attorney. No fees or costs until you get paid.
