Someone in the United States experiences a stroke every 40 seconds. During a stroke, survivors can suffer permanent brain damage that negatively impacts their ability to think, move, communicate, and perform their daily routine. In many cases, survivors can no longer work, so they turn to short-term and long-term disability policies for financial support. If you or a loved one is a stroke survivor considering a disability insurance claim, you may have a lot of questions. Below, the disability professionals at Bryant Legal Group discuss the essentials of a stroke-related disability claim. What Is a Stroke? Strokes occur when something […]
COPD and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
Jun 11, 2019 | Blog | ShareCOPD can make even simple activities like walking to your mailbox difficult. While you may be painfully aware of how COPD and other breathing conditions impact your life, many people don’t realize how they impact long-term disability claims. Below, the disability insurance lawyers at Bryant Legal Group discuss how COPD affects your body, how it’s diagnosed, and how you can strengthen your long-term disability claim. How Do Lungs Work? Your pulmonary system delivers oxygen to your body and removes carbon dioxide. While your lungs play a vital role in this process, they are only a part of your complex pulmonary […]
What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation?
Jun 4, 2019 | Blog | ShareYour inability to work is the key issue in a long-term disability claim. If you have physical limitations, a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) may help the insurance company gauge your ability to do your job or any type of employment. While these tests are not necessary in every disability claim, they can be a powerful, fact-based tool. However, functional capacity evaluations are not as ironclad as some would like you to believe, and a negative report can seriously harm your disability insurance claim. Before you attend an exam, you should know what to expect. Below, we’ll explain the realities of […]
Autoimmune Disease and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
May 28, 2019 | Blog | ShareDealing with autoimmune disease can feel like you’re fighting a battle no one can see. Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and others can silently cause life-changing symptoms that go unnoticed by the people around you. At Bryant Legal Group, we help clients get short-term and long-term disability benefits for these misunderstood conditions.To learn more about autoimmune disease and disability insurance, keep reading. Autoimmune Disease Is More Common Than You Think More than 23.5 million people have autoimmune disease diagnoses. An autoimmune disease occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and structures in your body. This […]
Cancer and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
May 21, 2019 | Blog | ShareGetting a cancer diagnosis is an incredibly stressful and difficult experience. While doctors are learning more about cancer and mortality for most forms of cancer is dropping, you may have a hard time understanding your outlook and options while you fight the disease. On top of that, the process of getting disability for cancer is much more complicated than you would expect. The best way to ease the stress of trying to receive disability for cancer is to get informed. In this article, we’ll explain how cancer diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment can impact your disability insurance claim. What Is Cancer? […]
Chronic back pain can make it difficult to do everyday things like walking, lifting, or even focusing on a task. If you’re unable to work because of degenerative disc disease and your doctor supports your decision, you may be eligible for short-term or long-term disability insurance benefits. Unfortunately, back-related disability claims are often disputed by the insurance company. Confusion about the severity of your symptoms, conflicting medical opinions, and other factors can all affect your ability to obtain benefits. To learn more about degenerative disc disease and disability claims, keep reading. What Is Degenerative Disc Disease? Over time, your joints, including those in your spine, start to […]
Filing a disability insurance claim is a complex process that can have life-changing results, and hiring the right lawyer is crucial to your claim. However, not all disability lawyers share the same priorities or approaches. If you are filing a disability insurance claim, you’ll want to make sure that you hire a lawyer who is qualified, communicative, and considerate. We’ve compiled five essential questions to ask a disability insurance lawyer to help you decide whether they are right for you. 1. Where Is Your Office Located? While this may seem like a basic question, it’s essential to ensure that your lawyer has a local office. If you can’t tell from the firm’s website whether or not they […]
When Should I Speak with a Disability Insurance Lawyer?
Apr 23, 2019 | Blog | ShareAs you prepare to file a disability insurance claim, you might hear a lot of conflicting opinions about whether you need a lawyer. While you may be tempted to postpone hiring an attorney, it’s typically in your best interest to consult with one before you file a disability claim — rather than at the end of the process. Below, Bryant Legal Group explains why hiring a disability lawyer early on in the process can strengthen and streamline your claim. Your Administrative Record Can Make or Break Your Disability Claim If you’re filing for employer-sponsored disability benefits, your claim is controlled […]
Depression, Anxiety, and Disability Insurance: A Claimant’s Guide
Apr 16, 2019 | Blog | ShareGlobally, depression is the number one cause of disability. While mental health conditions are finally getting the attention they deserve, long-term disability (LTD) insurance companies are still reluctant to approve and pay claims related to depression and anxiety. If you’re considering an LTD claim for depression or anxiety, you need to review your plan documents carefully and prepare your evidence. Keep reading to learn more about the essentials of a successful mental health LTD claim. What Is Depression? Depression is much more than just feelings of sadness. You may suffer from major depressive disorder if you experience: Persistent sadness or […]
ERISA: When do “Lifetime” Healthcare Benefits Last a Lifetime?
Apr 10, 2019 | Blog | ShareDistrict Court Rules that Pension’s Healthcare Benefits Last a Lifetime By: Andrew B. Bryant The Northern District of Illinois recently addressed the question of whether healthcare insurance benefits under an ERISA pension plan lasted for a lifetime for two plaintiff retirees, despite the termination of the collecting bargaining agreement that established those benefits. In Its analysis, the Court noted that unlike pension benefits, insurance benefits (such as healthcare benefits) do not automatically vest by contract to plan members. Such benefits can be terminated by an employer. However, a plan agreement may by its terms vest such insurance benefits to plan […]
