What is long-term disability insurance? The benefits, gestation period, and everything else you need to know.

Most of you probably know about the benefits, time period, and eligibility for the benefits of long-term disability insurance, but for those of us who are not well-versed in this area, here is a brief discussion. Long-term disability benefits are drafted in such a way that they cover all types of health conditions which may prevent you from performing the day-to-day duties of your job. It not only covers the physical health conditions, but also the mental health conditions as long as your doctor certifies that the symptoms are grave enough to prevent you from doing your job efficiently. Until the age of 65, an employee will obtain long-term disability coverage for 5-10 years, though the duration of coverage depends on the employee’s policy. The coverage typically begins 10-53 weeks after the employee becomes unfit to perform his job. Some examples of illnesses that are covered in long- term disability are cancer, nervous system disorders, and injury from an accident. Pre-existent health conditions, injuries, or illnesses that are found before the long-term disability coverage begins are not covered under it.

What is the procedure for applying for long-term disability claims?

The procedure for applying for long-term disability is quite complex. For the normal procedures for disability claims to take place, one must first apply for short-term disability benefits, as only after this will you be able to apply for long-term claims if your symptoms linger beyond the short-term disability period.

• The first step is to identify which disability plan you will be eligible for. You may be eligible for more than one disability benefit.
• The second step involves making sure that the doctor approves of your disability claim. Without this, there is no chance that your application will be approved by the disability benefits program.
• The third step involves getting things in order with your employer and collecting an application form.  You also have to gather the supporting documents.
• The fourth and the last step involves waiting for a decision on your claim which either gets approved or denied. Generally, it takes up to 30 days to make a decision.

Will the COVID-19 situation have any impact on my long- term disability claim, and if yes, how?

The COVID-19 pandemic is a historical moment that is shedding its effects all over the globe and in all kinds of industries. The world has come to a partial standstill, which has forced many businesses to shut down. There is a global recession and more and more people are losing their jobs because of the economic and social chaos. This is making the already bad conditions, even worse as the stress of losing their jobs is making people mentally and physically burdened. So, in these tough times, it is essential to know what schemes or measures (including disability benefits) are accessible to you if you become sick during the pandemic. Economic instability and an uncertain future will lead to an increase in the long-term and short-term disability claims.

The pre-COVID-19 statistics were that one in five people in Canada experience mental health illness every year. It is obvious that the mental health issues are only going to increase during this pandemic, thus it is not shocking that around 30 percent of short- and long-term disability claims are associated with mental health illnesses. Even during COVID-19, you would be eligible for advantages if the virus (or problems from the virus) stop you from working for a significant period of time. However, the normal procedure to apply for the long-term disability claim will remain the same as explained above. 

A positive COVID-19 claim will not clash with a pre-existing disability claim. The illness would further worsen your condition by taking a toll on your health and ability to work, both of which would guarantee the continuation of your benefits. As people would spend more time in isolation and socialization would decrease, stress and anxiety levels will also surge, thus increasing mental health illnesses. The sources of the condition do not matter since both mental and physical illnesses are covered under the benefits. If you get infected with COVID-19, that could link with other health conditions in unanticipated ways, and in that case, you would have to consult a doctor. The disease is considerably new; therefore, it would take months or years to fully understand its consequences.

What should I do to demand the benefits of the long- term disability claim if my application has been denied?

Getting a disability claim to be recognized even before the COVID-19 pandemic was a taxing and difficult task; therefore, during this pandemic, it has unmistakably become even more taxing and difficult. It would only add more to your stress and anxiety if you were to legally and single-handedly deal with it. This is where we come in and help you in claiming your benefits as peacefully for you as we can. We will handle all the legal documentations and relieve you of all the burdens. We have had an amazing track record and have been in this business for many years. We have an excellent team of experienced long term disability lawyers who are always motivated to work for the betterment of our clients. Our clients are our priority and we always work towards providing our clients with maximum satisfaction.  Even during these tough times, we are all set and ready to provide you with the benefits that you deserve. We are just a call away and our team of Brampton long term disability lawyers is completely prepared to make these difficult times a bit easier for you by freeing you of the legal burdens. You can feel free to contact us for any queries regarding your case and our experts will provide you with a free consultation.