Long Term Disability
Balancing SSDI and Long Term Disability Insurance
Many of the people who come to Clawson & Clawson, LLP for help in filing a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance are also covered by a private long term disability insurance policy. If you have such a policy through your employer or one which you pay for out of pocket, the disability insurance carrier may require you to file a claim for Social Security before your claim for coverage through the private insurer will be approved. For many people, this comes as a shock. After paying for long term disability insurance through your payroll deductions our out of your own bank account, you were probably expecting that you would be able to receive benefits as soon as you were eligible.
The Insurance Company Is Not on Your Side
What you must remember, though, is that the insurance company is in business to make money, and that they achieve that goal by collecting premiums, not by paying on claims such as yours. Insurance companies will typically use any possible excuse they can find to minimize, delay or deny a claim for coverage. If you are eligible for SSD, therefore, they are likely to require you to obtain those benefits as a prerequisite to claiming benefits through your private insurance.
The reason why a private disability insurance company would require you to file a claim for Social Security before paying you benefits is that they will often use the amount you receive through SSD as a credit against the amount they have to pay you. Instead of being liable to pay the full amount, they would be able to reduce their payment to you according to the value of your SSD benefits.
The positive aspect of this situation is that if the Social Security Disability Determination Services staff decides to approve your claim, you can use this fact as evidence to support your claim for long term disability.
We can help you navigate the complexities of the situation to ensure that you receive the maximum amount possible-we are on your side and want to safeguard your best interests. Call today at (719) 602-5888!
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At Clawson & Clawson, LLP, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
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Mr. Clawson at Clawson & Clawson was professional, helpful, kind, and considerate. He helped me understand the legalities of this lengthy process and helped me through it every step of the way.
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Steven and Andrea always made me feel like their number one priority, always professional, and explained everything to me so I knew exactly what was going on and what the cost upfront would entail.
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Brenda and Mike kept me informed every step of the way, patiently answered all my questions, and made sure I truly understood the process. Every person I interacted with was kind and genuinely caring.
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They successfully negotiated with the insurance company for me. I highly recommend this professional firm. I am very pleased with their work.
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I worked with Clawson & Clawson during my divorce, and I’m genuinely thankful for the way they handled my case during one of the most stressful seasons of my life.
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They were beyond patient, answered every question, followed up with all requests, and listened to our needs and wants. Brenda and Mike were both professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
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