Disability Insurance
Disability Insurance FAQs
Disability insurance can raise questions just when you need a straightforward answer about your income. Our disability insurance lawyers at Stansberry Kinsley help people across Alabama understand their coverage and the decisions made on their claims.
Start with your policy or plan and the latest letter you received. You do not need every record before asking for a case review.
Your situation
What to understand first.
Most questions come back to two documents: your policy or plan, which sets the rules, and the most recent letter from the insurer or plan, which tells you where your claim stands and what is due. Start with those, note any date in the letter, and keep copies of everything you send.
Disability insurance is separate from Social Security disability. If your paperwork names the Social Security Administration, start with Social Security Disability.
Related guides: Understanding ERISA: Your Guide to Private Retirement and Health Plans · What’s the Difference Between ERISA and Individual Disability Insurance? · Why Was My ERISA Disability Claim Denied?.
What to keep
Start with the information you have.
Keep available records together. This is a starting list, not a requirement to gather everything before getting in touch.
Ask about timing early.
Insurance and plan letters state the dates that apply to you, and appeal windows can be short. Keep each letter, note when it arrived, and ask for a prompt review of the dates in it.
Common questions
A few answers before you begin.
General information only; the answer for your claim depends on your policy or plan.
Is disability insurance the same as Social Security disability?
They are separate benefits with different requirements. Insurance depends on the policy or plan, while Social Security applies its own program rules. Your policy may also explain how other benefits affect an insurance payment.
How much will my policy pay?
The amount depends on the benefit formula in your coverage and any adjustments it allows. We can compare the policy with the insurer’s calculation and explain which terms affect the payment.
Why does the insurer want to know about my job?
A disability definition often connects your medical limitations with your ability to work. Explaining what the job actually requires helps show why a restriction affects you. The wording of your policy determines which work the insurer is considering.
Can I challenge a denial?
An appeal may be available. The process and deadline depend on the coverage and the decision. ERISA governs many employer plans; an individual policy or another arrangement may follow different rules. We can review the letter and explain the available next step.
What if I don’t understand the letter?
You can bring the letter and your questions to us. We can explain the terms, compare them with your coverage and discuss what the insurer is asking you to do.
What will it cost?
A Free Case Review costs nothing. Many disability insurance cases use a contingency fee, which means the attorney’s fee is a percentage of any recovery. Before you decide whether to hire us, we’ll explain the proposed fee, any payment due upfront and how case expenses would be handled. Depending on the agreement, you may be responsible for some expenses even if no attorney’s fee is owed.
The next step
What happens next.
A case review is a place to begin understanding the questions your claim raises.
Tell us where your claim stands.
Start with your policy or plan, the stage your claim has reached, and the questions you want answered.
Review the available information.
Discuss the letters, forms and medical information already supplied, and anything the insurer or plan has asked for.
Understand the next step.
Ask what further information may be needed and which next steps may be appropriate for your circumstances.
Talk with us
Tell us what happened and what you need help with. You can request a Free Case Review or call 844-327-5529.
Related reading: Short-Term Disability · Long-Term Disability · Denied or Ended Benefits.
You can start with the questions you have.