How Short-Term Disability Affects Florida Long-Term Disability Claims

If you stopped working due to an illness or injury, the first line of defense in protecting yourself financially is often short-term disability (STD) benefits available through your employer. These benefits are intended to help cover lost income for a limited time, but what happens if you are still unable to return to work once your STD runs out?

That’s where Florida long-term disability (LTD) benefits come in. However, transitioning from STD to LTD is rarely a smooth process, and insurers often look for ways to deny legitimate claims. Our Jacksonville long-term disability lawyer explains how short-term disability affects your rights to long-term benefits and issues insurers use to challenge or reject your application.

Your STD Claim Sets the Stage for Approval Of Long-Term Disability Benefits In Florida

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics advises that close to 40 percent of all workers in the U.S. have access to short and long-term disability benefits through their employer. If you have been receiving short-term benefits and your payments are nearly out, you may be able to receive long-term disability if your condition keeps you from working for a year or longer.

You can count on insurers to scrutinize documentation from your STD claim to determine eligibility for long-term benefits. Any inconsistencies or gaps can give them an excuse to deny or dispute benefits. Among the most common issues include:

• Incomplete documentation and lack of detailed medical records while collecting short-term disability;
• Gaps in getting medical care and failure to follow up with specialists;
• Return-to-work efforts that contradict the need for long-term disability benefits
• Significant improvement in your reported symptoms toward the end of your STD claim;
• Discrepancies between your doctor’s opinions and your activities.

Insurers Use Tactics to Deny or Delay Florida LTD Benefits

Long-term disability insurers are for-profit companies that benefit financially by denying claims. Even if your medical condition hasn’t changed since you began receiving STD benefits, they may still require extensive additional documentation and may even question the opinions of your treating providers. The following are common tactics to deny people transitioning from short-term to long-term disability benefits in Florida:

• Delaying decisions by constantly requesting more documentation;
• Hiring private investigators to monitor your activities;
• Arguing that your symptoms don’t meet the policy’s definition of disability
• Changing eligibility requirements, the terms of your policy, or the types of conditions covered.

Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, you have the right to request copies of all policy-related documents, to have your claim reviewed within a reasonable time frame, and to file an appeal if benefits are denied.

Consult Our Experienced Florida LTD Lawyer Today

When people receive short-term disability and try to transition to long-term benefits, their application is often denied or delayed. Farrell Disability Law defends your rights and fights to get the maximum amount you are entitled to in your disability claim. For trusted legal help, call or contact us online. Request a consultation today with our Florida long-term disability lawyer in our Orlando or Jacksonville office.

Sources:

bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/short-term-and-long-term-disability-insurance-for-civilian-workers-in-2020.htm

dol.gov/general/topic/retirement/erisa