News & Resources

If you’re unable to work due to an injury, illness, or chronic medical condition, you may be eligible for short-term disability benefits. However, applying for disability insurance benefits isn’t as simple a process as you might imagine; it takes precision and a comprehensive legal strategy. Our ERISA lawyers at Bryant Legal Group are here to help. In this article, our attorneys outline five ways you can improve your chances of getting your short-term disability approved. How Does Short-Term Disability Work? Short-term disability insurance is supposed to cover some of your lost income when you’re unable to work due to an […]

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No one wants to get a letter from the insurance company that contains a denial of short-term disability benefits. Unfortunately, it’s not a rare occurrence. Many people with legitimate disability insurance claims receive a denial and then have to appeal their insurer’s decision. If you’re thinking about filing an appeal with your short-term disability carrier, you need to have a plan — otherwise, you may make mistakes that reduce or eliminate your benefits. If your short-term disability benefits are employer-funded, a federal law called ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) applies to your claim. This law sets out […]

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Before an insurance adjuster approves your disability insurance claim, they will investigate and look for reasons to deny or limit your benefits. You need to anticipate this investigation, which is why a successful long-term or short-term disability application includes more than your completed forms. A strong LTD claim also contains detailed evidence that documents your medical conditions, identifies your limitations, and shows that you meet the policy’s definition of disability. Building this evidentiary record isn’t a simple process. In this article, we explain how you can “stack the record” and prove to the insurance company or the courts that you’re […]

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As of April 12, 2020, there have been more than 20,800 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Illinois, with over 8,500 of those cases occurring in Chicago. Thankfully, in our state, only 3% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died from the disease or complications. However, many survivors continue to face ongoing health issues related to the disease.  We’re learning more about the novel coronavirus every day. It’s becoming clear that the virus can damage many of our body’s organs, not just the lungs, and the effects may be permanent. This naturally leads to the question: Can I get long-term disability benefits for coronavirus complications? In this […]

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Over the past decade, obesity rates have risen dramatically. Unfortunately, being overweight or obese can increase your risk for or worsen many other health conditions, including arthritis and heart disease. This has many disability insurance companies worried: how do they manage their costs as more and more claimants are filing obesity-related short-term and long-term disability claims? Obesity Is Increasingly Common and Can Lead to Disability According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), more than one-third of American adults have a BMI (body mass index) of at least 30, which classifies them as obese. Doctors calculate your BMI based on […]

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When you’re unable to work, due to an injury, illness, or chronic medical condition, you may be eligible for short-term disability benefits. Many people think that getting short-term disability is a simple process and are surprised when issues come up that lead to a denial or termination of benefits. If you’re considering applying for short-term disability, you need to be prepared. To give yourself the best chance at getting benefits without an appeal, you need to provide detailed information and substantial evidence. In this article, we’ll outline the essentials of a short-term disability claim. What Is Short-Term Disability Insurance? Short-term […]

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Many people are surprised to discover that the definition of “disability” can vary drastically depending on the terms and conditions of their long-term disability (LTD) plan. Almost every Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plan defines “disability” as a medically-documented inability to work. Unfortunately, it gets a lot more complex from there. Depending on your LTD plan’s precise definition, you might have to prove that you cannot perform your own occupation, your “regular” occupation, or any occupation. While it’s easy to understand the difference between “own” and “any,” it’s not always clear what the difference is between your “own occupation” […]

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If you’ve researched disability insurance claims, you’ve probably noticed that the process varies depending on whether federal or Illinois law applies to your case. For example, under Illinois law, you can request a jury trial in a short-term or long-term disability lawsuit. However, this is not an option in federal court. While you may prefer Illinois’ appeal process to the federal version, you can’t pick and choose your court. Instead, you’ll need to determine whether ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) applies to your case and preempts (overrides) our state’s laws. At Bryant Legal Group, we guide disabled […]

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During a long-term disability (LTD) claim, it’s common to feel like you’re under intense scrutiny. The insurance company may ask you the same questions a dozen different ways. It may send you to a medical exam. The adjuster may even ask to visit you at home. However, the insurer may be going even further: you may also be under surveillance. Insurance company surveillance is intended to capture your daily activities, helping the adjuster make a determination about your physical limitations. However, surveillance not does not always fully and correctly reach this goal. In this article, the team at Bryant Law […]

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Living with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is challenging. However, many people with these conditions can live independently, although they sometimes need support from loved ones and others. If you or a loved one can no longer work due to psychosis or schizophrenia, then the person affected may be eligible for short-term or long-term disability insurance benefits. In this article, our experienced disability insurance lawyers discuss common issues that people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder face, both in their everyday life and during their LTD claims. What Is the Difference Between Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder? Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are closely […]

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