Disability benefits: getting help when you can't work

Author: Shelby Warden
Published: May 6 2013

Individuals unable to work due to a disability have a number of resources available where they can go to replace their lost income. Whether your injury is due to a work related incident, accident at home, illness or other type of hazard, there are a number of disability plans in place. Disabilities can also be short stints such as a few weeks, while others can be permanent.

What is Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance is income paid to an individual when they can't work due to an injury or illness. The payout is dependent on the policy and can come as a particular dollar amount or percentage of the lost income. The policy also dictates how soon you can expect to receive the checks and when you’ve reached your financial limit.

The benefit periods are also dependent on the cause of the sickness or accident. You’ll also find a variety of disability plans such as through your employer, public sector contracts and federally sponsored programs geared toward veterans, individuals in the coal industry and federal civil associates.

How to Apply for Disability Benefits

In order to apply for disability benefits, you need to have the appropriate information on-hand and ready. This includes your work history, job description, date of the injury or illness, supervisor’s name, and the last date that you were able to work. There are a number of ways you can apply for benefits such as online and in person.

As you’re going through the process of physician appointments, medications and other medical visits, you need to keep accurate records of any costs that you incur throughout the process, and the names of the physician's that you are dealing with. This will help your case and can show actual proof of your injury or illness. If you are disabled and unable to return to work, you need to have a physician letter stating such.

What Happens if Your Claim is Denied?

Injured or sick individuals that are unable to work depend on their disability coverage, so they can pay their household expenses, medical bills and put food on the table for their family. Unfortunately, an insurance company, Social Security Administration or Veterans Affairs center can deny your claim, leaving many unsure of where to turn. It can make an individual feel despondent and frustrated with the system. Here you contribute all this money for coverage, and you find yourself unable to receive compensation for your disability.

Fortunately, disability denial isn’t the end, and you can appeal your claim with proper legal representation. As stated on www.disabilitydenials.com, “If your claim for disability benefits was wrongly denied, that same claim - with proper legal representation - can be appealed and won.” The knowledge and expertise of a skilled disability denial attorney can help you reap the cash benefits that you deserve and get an insurance company to rightfully pay for what they are supposed to.

Disability insurance is supposed to pay your benefits if you’re unable to work due to an injury or illness. Many times this disability will hinder an individual for a couple of weeks or for longer periods of time. It can also be a permanent affliction. Knowing how to apply for your benefits and having someone in your corner in case your claim is denied is important. Not only does it help take some of the monetary hardship away, it also allows you to be able to concentrate on your recovery.

Legal researcher Shelby Warden shares this information to help those who are disabled and in need of assistance. The national disability claims law firm of Marc Whitehead & Associates offers more information on disability benefits at www.disabilitydenials.com. Their attorneys successfully challenge insurance and federal benefit programs to prove that their clients are justified in their disability claims.

This article is published on the basis that the supplied content is the original work of the author / provider. If you feel that copyright has been infringed, please contact the site administrator.