When you buy long-term disability insurance or receive it as a workplace benefit, your policy is supposed to provide benefits for you if you cannot work.
But what does it mean to be unable to work? Does it mean that you cannot do the job you were doing before becoming disabled? Or does it mean you cannot do any job at all? That depends on whether your policy is an own occupation vs. an any occupation policy.
The distinction between these two policy types is very important, and if you are making a claim on your long-term disability policy, it’s critical that you know what type of coverage you have.
Julie A. Rice Law can help you understand your coverage, determine if you are eligible for benefits, and maximize your chances of a successful claim. When you need an Atlanta long-term disability benefits lawyer to fight for your right to get paid after you become too disabled to work, give us a call ASAP.
What is the difference between an own occupation vs. any occupation disability policy?
If you have a long-term disability policy that is any occupation policy, that means you should be covered and entitled to benefits if you develop a disabling condition that prevents you from doing the work you were doing when you became disabled, or substantially similar work.
For example, if you were working as an electrician and you became disabled, the big question would be whether you could continue working as an electrician. If you couldn’t, then you would be entitled to disability benefits — even if you could potentially get some other type of job, such as working as a customer service representative or administrative assistant instead.
If you have an any occupation policy, on the other hand, then you would be entitled to disability benefits only if you couldn’t do any kind of job. If you became disabled as an electrician but could go to work at the McDonald’s drive-thru, your disability policy would not cover you.
It is much more difficult to qualify for benefits under an any-occupation policy, as you will need to show a level of impairment that is much greater.
Proving you are eligible for long-term disability benefits
No matter what type of long-term disability benefits policy you have, Julie A. Rice Law can help you to try to prove that you are entitled to disability benefits. Our firm will work with you to:
- Understand what kinds of conditions are covered under your policy
- Review the extent of your disability
- Gather evidence to show that your condition either prevents you from doing your job or prevents you from doing any job, depending on the kind of policy you have
- Submit a strong application to maximize your chances of getting your claim approved from day one
- Appeal a denial by going through the internal appeals process or submitting a claim in court
- Enforce your rights when your claim is covered under ERISA regulations because your policy is a workplace policy.
It can be difficult to put together a successful long-term disability application in even the best of circumstances, and the appeals process is very complicated if your claim is denied.
Reach out to Julie A. Rice Law as soon as possible so we can advocate for you from day one and get you the benefits you deserve as quickly as possible, so you can maintain your financial stability.