Long Term Disability Insurance – The Definition of Disability
Long Term Disability (LTD) insurance companies are notorious for denying legitimate claims based on obscure disability definitions contained in the policy. There is no one legal definition of disability. Every insurance company, the Social Security Administration and the Veterans Administration all have different definitions. Disability is Defined by the Insurance Contract The definition of disability is explained in the...
Social Security Disability Retroactive Benefits
If you’re suffering from a disability but haven’t taken action to receive benefits yet, you’re likely wondering, “Can you be entitled to benefits retroactively?” If you’re seeking financial support due to disabilities, understanding the complexities of Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits is essential. Social Security Disability benefits can be paid retroactively for up to 12...
Social Security Disability & SSI Eligibility Requirements
Social Security Disability Insurance Eligibility Requirements - Quarters of Coverage The social security program for workers functions like an insurance plan. There are requirements that a claimant for disability insurance must have: 1) Contributed to the program (paid social security taxes) over a sufficiently long period to be fully insured and 2) Contributed to the program recently enough to have...
Agent Orange Exposure Of Sailors in Vietnam
Proving You Are a Brown Water Naval Veteran Vietnam naval veterans, who operated in brown (shallow) waters, may qualify for service connection due to herbicide exposure. In order to prove exposure as a naval veteran, you must: Provide documentation of your location during relevant military service; Identify your ship; and Obtain evidence of the ship’s location in Vietnam waters To...
Disability Policies-Mental Health & Subjective Symptom Limitations
Most long term disability insurance companies try to limit benefits to the disabled by writing policies that have a mental health limitation. Usually mental health disability benefits are limited to only a short period of time, typically only 12 to 24 months. This means that benefits for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder will only be...
Long Term Disability Insurance – Preexisting Condition Exclusions
Most Long Term Disability Insurance Policies Have Preexisting Condition Exclusions This exclusion effectively means that the insurance company is excused from paying claims they believe may be related even remotely to any prior complaints made by the claimant within a specified period of time. These exclusions usually kick in when a claimant has been eligible for benefits for less than...
Disability Insurance Policies – What type Do You Have?
The long term disability policy is the contract between a claimant’s employer and the insurance company. The language and provisions in the contract varies from policy to policy, so it is essential that a claimant get a copy of the policy from Human Resources. Short Term Disability benefits (“STD”) are paid for a limited amount of time, anywhere from one...
Veterans Outside of Vietnam Eligible for VA Benefits Based on Herbicide Exposure
Did you know that you or a loved one may be eligible for VA benefits due to exposure to herbicides even if you served in areas other than Vietnam? Serving Outside of Vietnam Herbicides were used to provide perimeter base control on bases in Vietnam and Thailand, along the Ho Chi Min Trail and near the Demilitarized Zone in Korea...
New Diseases Added to VA Agent Orange Presumptive Illness List
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has added Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease to the list of “presumptive illnesses” related to Agent Orange exposure. In addition, VA expanded the presumption for chronic lymphocytic leukemia to include all chronic B-cell leukemias, such as hairy cell leukemia. These conditions are presumed to be service-connected to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Vietnam Veterans...
VA Benefits Available to Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
If you are a veteran with disabilities associated with herbicide exposure, including veterans exposed to Agent Orange, you may qualify for health care, vocational rehabilitation and payment of monetary compensation benefits. These exposures have been associated with a variety of cancers and other diseases. If you are a surviving spouse or surviving child of a veteran exposed to herbicides, you...