Need Long Term Care? Acquiring Disability Benefits
For the thousands of Americans who find themselves unable to work due to an injury or illness, long term disability benefits are an answer to prayers. Often, in fact, these benefits are the only things keeping these individuals from financial ruin. However, there are still many people who do not truly understand these benefits and/or do not know how to go about acquiring the help they need. Fortunately, you have come upon one of the Internet's best resources to find all the information for which you may be desperately searching!
In the next several paragraphs, you will receive a crash course on what types of services long term disability benefits provide, as well as information on what to do if your claim is denied and how to find a reputable attorney in your area. Keep reading!
A Crash Course in Long Term Disability Benefits
Deciding to take a crash course in long term disability benefits may well be the best decision you have made since your injury/illness made itself known. Before you do anything else, however, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of long term disability benefits. In general, long term disability benefits pick up where short term benefits leave off. Normally, short term benefits begin once all sick/personal/family time has been used and last anywhere from three to six months. Long term disability benefits replace a portion of the individual's monthly income, usually 70% or less. However, if an individual is in the high income bracket, he/she may receive substantially less than 70%; there is a cap on how much monetary compensation a person can receive per month.
If your initial insurance claim is denied by your insurance policy, there are two possible options: an appeal or a court case. It is preferable to try an appeal first. Appeals are not only substantially cheaper and faster than court cases, but they frequently show the insurance company that you are serious about obtaining your benefits. If this does not work, a court case may be your only alternative. Remember, however, that court cases can be lengthy and expensive, so it would be wise to weigh the pros and cons before beginning your quest.
If you decide to either appeal your insurance company's decision or take them to court, you need to hire a qualified attorney. Use the same judgment when hiring an attorney as you would when choosing a physician. After all, this person will have frequently have access to your medical, financial, and crimincal history and will be a key factor in the outcome of your case. Be wary of those who want payment upfront! Most reputable law firms offer free, no-obligation consultations, and many do not have any fees unless they win or settle your case. Finally, remember that disability law, just like criminal law and social security disability law, is a specialty, and you want an attorney who practices either solely or mostly in that area.
While dealing with a disability is never fun, getting the long term disability benefits that you deserve can help make your journey easier. Good luck!