San Francisco, CA Individual Disability Claims

If you or a loved one are struggling with filing disability claims with your insurance company, then it is imperative that you reach out to our San Francisco, CA individual disability claims lawyer today. Insurance companies often deny disability claims due to supposed lack of medical evidence or by exclusionary language in their policies. A lawyer will fight back against the tactics used by the insurance company and strive to win you the benefits that you deserve.

If you have had a disability claim denied in San Francisco or the state of California, contact The Law Office of Bennett M. Cohen today to find out how we can help you with your claim.

Short-Term Vs Long-Term Disability Insurance

In California, employees that are unable to work due to an injury or illness are eligible for state short-term disability insurance, or SDI. SDI typically covers 55-70% of your income from 5 to 18 months before your claim start date (the date that your disability begins). SDI lasts no longer than 52 weeks.

If you are facing a disability that lasts longer than 52 weeks, you can opt to purchase long-term disability insurance, or LTD. LTD policies represent private disability insurance, and they may be purchased through your employment. In this case, they will likely be covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. If you purchase an LTD policy on your own outside of work, it will likely not be covered by ERISA. You may also apply for Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income. 

The unfortunate reality is that insurance companies are apt to deny benefits under an LTD policy. If this is the case for your claim, it is imperative that you reach out to a San Francisco individual disability claims lawyer today.

How A Lawyer Can Help

The best course of action is to contact a lawyer when filing a disability claim in order to ensure that you have compiled all possible medical evidence and presented the best case possible to the insurance company. Regardless of if a lawyer was involved in filing the claim or not, if a claim is denied, you should contact a lawyer immediately so that they can begin working on your claim right away.

A good lawyer will help you appeal your denial. A San Francisco individual disability claims lawyer has experience with and knowledge of all possible avenues of appeal in a denied disability policy case. First, they will help you request reconsideration with someone other than the person that denied your claim. If necessary, the next step is to request a hearing with the judge. From there, there are other steps such as requesting a review of the hearing or even filing a lawsuit, though lawsuits in these cases can be particularly complicated. A lawyer will consult with you and advise you on which steps are best for your specific claim, and they will do everything in their power to help you receive the benefits that you deserve.

If you are ready to contact a lawyer, reach out to The Law Office of Bennett M. Cohen and let us start fighting for you and your rights.