Resources
If you are receiving LTD payments, you may be eligible for a lump sum settlement that can help you financially or simply relieve you of ongoing LTD requirements. Whether your insurance company has approached you or not, you may be eligible for settlement. But is an LTD lump sum settlement right for you? What Is An LTD Lump Sum Settlement? A long-term disability lump sum settlement or buyout occurs when the insurance company make one large payment to you that settles any future claims against the policy. In exchange for that payment, you release the company from future liability for the current claim. If you accept a lump sum settlement, the insurance policy terminates and the company will not continue to…Read More
Alzheimer’s disease can seriously disrupt a person's life, causing progressive memory loss and mental impairments. If you are unable to work because of the disease or its complications, you may be able to receive long-term disability benefits. What Is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's is a degenerative neurological condition. Usually the first symptoms include short-term memory loss, which worsens as the disease progresses. Changes in the brain eventually severely impact all aspects of a person's life — speech, behavior, problem solving ability, and even the ability to recognize family members or feed oneself. While Alzheimer's typically affects people who are already over the age of 65 and retired, it can appear in younger patients. This is known as early-onset Alzheimer's. While the disease can't be cured,… Read More
Epilepsy is a serious condition that affects your brain and can seriously impact your ability to work or perform daily activities. But is epilepsy a disability? What do you need to prove in order to qualify for long-term disability benefits? What Is Epilepsy? Epilepsy is a common neurological condition affecting nearly one in 26 people. It is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. You may have epilepsy if you experienced more than one seizure that was caused by an unknown and/or irreversible medical condition. New cases of epilepsy are often diagnosed in children and people over age 55. Conditions such as strokes, brain tumors, and Alzheimer’s Disease can cause epilepsy, as well as traumatic brain injury. How Does Epilepsy Affect Your…Read More
You may have Colonial Life disability insurance through an employer plan, or an individual plan purchased to supplement employer-provided disability insurance. In either event, you likely rely on it to provide protection in the event that you become disabled and are unable to work. Unfortunately, many Colonial Life claims are denied or delayed in bad faith. If you've tried to collect benefits but have been denied, a disability appeals attorney can help. Who Is Colonial Life? While Colonial Life became a subsidiary of Unum in 1993, it continues to operate independently. It offers offers group disability insurance plans, which are covered by ERISA, as well as supplemental individual disability insurance policies. Employers are able to select terms for employee plans. Individual policies are…Read More
Substance abuse disorder can be severely disabling, affecting your daily life in serious ways. But many aren't aware that addiction can be a disease, and that if you are unable to perform the basic duties of your job because of it, you may be eligible for long-term disability benefits. Substance Abuse vs. Addiction vs. Illegal Drug Use A person who struggles with drug and/or alcohol addiction doesn’t become an addict overnight. Addiction may begin with a back injury or auto accident for which you were prescribed legal pain medication. The pain medication may consist of strong opioids — especially for injuries involving nerve damage, spinal injuries, or severe fractures. And in many cases, doctors may over-prescribe these medications instead of treating the injury with… Read More
Is sleep apnea a disability? For many people, it can be a serious and disabling medical condition that severely impacts their ability to work. Below, we discuss sleep apnea, how to file a disability claim, and what to do if your claim is denied. Types of Sleep Apnea If you are living with sleep apnea, you may experience interruptions in breathing during sleep. Sometimes these interruptions can last up to two minutes, or occur multiple times every night. Because of reduced oxygen to the brain and body, you may have fatigue during waking hours and wake up feeling tired. There are three primary types of sleep apnea. Obstructive: This is the most common type of sleep apnea and occurs when the back of the…Read More
If you have a private disability insurance policy or receive benefits through your employer, you may be used to dealing directly with the insurance company. But Sedgwick Claims Management Services is a third-party claims administrator. That means that while they do not actually pay out benefits, other companies will use them to review, approve, or deny disability insurance claims. And many Sedgwick disability claims are denied. Sedgwick Manages Both Short and Long-Term Insurance Claims Disability insurance pays a portion of your regular income while you are unable to work. Short-term disability insurance typically provides benefits for a period of months before long-term disability benefits begin. Long-term disability benefits can last for years, in some cases, until retirement. The duration of your benefits will depend on the… Read More
A stroke can cause severe brain damage, negatively impacting a person's ability to think, move or communicate. And in many cases, these cognitive deficits can lead to a permanent disability. If you or a loved one suffered a stroke, here's what you need to know about filing a stroke long-term disability claim. How Can You Tell If Someone Is Having a Stroke? Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blood clot, an aneurysm bursts, or if blood from a blood vessel leaks into the brain. A stroke can come on suddenly, and the best chance of survival and reducing the severity of disability is to react quickly. Symptoms of stroke include numbness, dizziness or balance… Read More
If you are living with heart disease and struggling to maintain stable employment, you may be eligible for long-term disability benefits. But what heart conditions qualify for disability? Types of Heart Disease According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart attacks are the number one cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Most heart conditions involve the slowing or blockage of blood flow to the heart. Below are common types of heart disease: Heart Attack Atherosclerosis is caused by plaque building up on the walls of your arteries. As the plaque continues to build up, your arteries get narrower and cannot deliver blood to the heart. The result is a heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction or… Read More
While Chiari malformation is a rare condition it is being diagnosed more frequently due to the increased use of imaging tests. But is Chiari malformation a disability? If you suffer from this condition and it keeps you from being able to fully function at work, you may be eligible for disability benefits. What Is Chiari Malformation? Chiari malformation is caused by brain tissue that extends into the spinal canal because of a small or malformed skull. The skull presses on the brain, forcing the two tonsils on the underside of the cerebellum into the upper spinal canal. This condition restricts the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord, which may lead to spinal fluid building up. There are two primary types of this…Read More