Oct 19, 2012

The Promise of Long-term Disability Insurance



Everybody works hard for the money and saves it for the so-called rainy days. More than making both ends meet, people also save money that they can use in times of sickness and other problems. In the workplace, especially for high-risk jobs, employees can get hurt, injured, or disabled for a period of time.

Usually, benefits are extended to workers who can’t report for work because of their disability. However, there are times when the injuries that they have incurred are really serious that they experience long-term disability. This is a very difficult time for the injured worker given that he or she got it while at work.

The good thing is that insurance companies offer long-term disability insurance. As mandated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), companies are asked to give their employees the choice of having a long-term disability insurance coverage. This is such a great help for workers in cases where they get disabled for a long period of time and are unable to work.

Life is what you make it.
The difference between short-term and long-term disability coverage is just as what the package’s name implies. Short-term disability coverage gives the insured a percentage of its pay rate for up to two years in cases when the individual suffers from temporary disability.

On the other hand, the long-term disability coverage kicks in following the expiration of the short-term disability coverage. For the long-term disability coverage, the insurance company gives a reduced rate of the insured’s pay rate for an extended period. This is perfect for people with high-risk jobs since they are assured of assistance to tide them over while they are incapacitated. By availing of the insurance and completing a service wait, an individual becomes eligible for the benefits of a long-term disability insurance coverage.

While claims for long-term disability are generally problem-free, there might be instances where you could have problems with your claims. You should never worry, though, for all that you have to do is hire the services of a Los Angeles long term disability lawyer to represent you. A lawyer specializing in long-term disability can help you make successful claims for your insurance policy coverage minus the stress.

Just prepare all necessary requirements for your claim and soon enough, you will start accepting long-term disability benefits to take your worries away.

Oct 7, 2012

Disability Hearing: The Second Level of the Appeals Process



The second level of the appeals process is the disability hearing. This happens after the Social Security Administration rejects your claim at the first stage of the appeal (reconsideration stage). Once you received the federal agency’s letter containing the decision to deny your appeal at the reconsideration stage, you have 60 days to ask for a disability hearing.

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Once you sent your appeal, the SSA will send your case to the Administrative Law Judge’s office. Oftentimes this is called the ALJ.  The Administrative Law Judge is the one responsible for overseeing the proceedings of the disability hearing and decides whether you can be granted benefits or not.

It is worth noting, however, that because of backlogs at the office, the sending of the schedule may come with some delay. However, you must be aware that the sending of the notice containing the date, time and place of the hearing means that the hearing itself is just 20 days away.

The ALJ hearing is usually held within 75 miles from your home. At this point, you may have to retain the services of a Los Angeles disability attorney to help you in your appeal. Your chosen legal representative would greatly increase your chances of reversing the SSA’s previous decision. In the hearing proper, your representative may provide medical evidence acquired from your treating doctor to show that you are eligible for disability benefits.

The ALJ only has three possible answers coming out of the hearing. First, the ALJ may reverse the SSA’s decision, or maintain that the federal agency’s decision is correct. These two answers may result after the ALJ reviews the witnesses’ testimonies and the submitted evidence. However, the ALJ may also dismiss the case if there is no sufficient evidence to back up your appeal or there is no need to change in the SSA’s decision.