Resources

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

Disability insurance is an important part of any personal financial plan. It ensures that if you are injured or become too ill to work, your income will be at least partially replaced. Policy options vary, including the length of elimination period or the time you wait to collect. But what is an "own occupation disability" policy? If you're a high-income earner — such as a doctor, lawyer, or engineer — true own occupation disability insurance allows you to collect monthly disability benefits if you are unable to work at your chosen profession and allows you to work in a different occupation without losing disability benefits. Learn more about the types of policies below. Types of Own Occupation Disability Insurance There… Read More

When you purchase disability insurance, you expect coverage in the event an accident or an illness prevents you from working. Unfortunately, insurance companies like MassMutual employ a variety of tactics to collect premiums and avoid paying disability benefits. Unfair practices to delay payments or avoid paying claims are all too common. If you received a MassMutual long-term disability denial, you have the right to appeal the decision.  How Do MassMutual Policies Work? MassMutual is a Fortune 500 company that sells a variety of insurance products. including life insurance, long-term care, and disability insurance. Like most disability insurance companies, MassMutual's disability policies are designed to pay a portion of your salary if you are disabled, usually between 45 and 60 percent. The length of time benefits are paid, or the benefit… Read More

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels and organs such as the heart and kidneys. And the consequences of HBP may be more severe than you realize. But is high blood pressure a disability? Learn more about HBP and disability benefits below. What Is High Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is the pressure created by blood flowing through the circulatory system. BPH is measured using two readings: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure measures whether the heart is contracting and diastolic pressures show if the heart relaxes between beats. The normal range for blood pressure is systolic pressure of 100-140 and a diastolic pressure of 60-90 and is read with the systolic number followed by the diastolic number such as "100 over 60" and written… Read More

Many people who find themselves unable to work due to an injury or long-term illness are unsure what types of benefits they can receive. Can you collect long-term disability and Social Security benefits at the same time? For most people, the answer is yes. But each case is different. Some of the factors that determine your eligibility for both types of benefits include income, terms of your long-term disability policy, and how Social Security categorizes your disability. What Is the Difference Between the Two Programs? You purchase long-term disability insurance from your employer or from a private insurance company. In the event you are disabled, the insurance company pays your benefit. Conversely, Social Security benefits are paid by the federal Social Security… Read More