A disability that prevents you from working may be partial or total. With a partial disability, you are expected to perform some of your job functions, but at a limited capacity. A total disability prevents you from performing any of your regular employment duties and responsibilities.
This distinction is critical if you are applying for payments from a long-term disability insurance policy because a total disability will qualify you for greater benefits.
Insurance companies often erect roadblocks that limit or prevent workers from receiving the disability payments they deserve. We help clients overcome those roadblocks and recover benefits they can use to pay their daily living expenses and medical bills.
What is the difference between total vs. partial disability?
- Total Disability:
- Means you can’t work at all due to a severe health issue.
- You’re unable to do your usual job or any other work.
- Partial Disability:
- You can still work, but not as much as before.
- There’s a significant drop in your ability to do your job or earn money.
It’s important to review your policy for details specific to your insurance company.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-562-9830
What is a partial disability?
Most disability insurers define a partial disability as a physical or psychological illness or injury that prevents you from performing one or more of the important duties of your regular job.
Examples of partial disabilities include:
- A back injury that keeps you from standing for extended periods
- Mental trauma that reduces your ability to concentrate or to perform cognitive tasks
- Arm or shoulder injuries that limit your upper body motions
- Chronic illnesses that leave you fatigued and unable to complete a full 8-hour workday
What is a total disability?
An individual who is suffering from a total disability will no longer be able to perform any of the regular job tasks of his or her regular occupation or, in some cases, any occupation.
A total disability may be the result of a serious accident or illness, such as:
- A spinal cord injury that leaves a worker paralyzed
- A traumatic brain injury that results in permanent cognitive impairment
- Loss of one or more limbs
- A debilitating illness, such as cancer or advanced ALS
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What evidence do you need to prove a partial or total disability?
The foundation of every long-term disability application will be a physician’s report and other medical documentation that describes a disabled patient’s symptoms and limitations. Without a valid and objective assessment from a qualified medical practitioner, a disability application has no chance of approval.
Other evidence of a disability might include testimony from employers and co-workers, personal diaries that record details of a disabled person’s limitations, and direct observations from a claims examiner that an insurance company assigns to your case.
A disability application will be more likely to have a favorable outcome if all of this evidence is consistent and free from exaggerations or extreme claims.
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What information should you include in an application for total or partial disability?
The medical and other evidence of your total or partial disability is a critical component of your application for benefits, but you will need to include other information in your application, including:
- When your disability began
- When you determined that you were unable to work or to perform certain duties and tasks associated with your job
- The conditions that catalyzed your disability
- A narrative explanation of how your disability limits or precludes your employment activities
- The qualifications of the medical personnel who are certifying your disability.
Contact the Law Offices of Marc Whitehead & Associates
We help disabled workers throughout the United States to prepare and submit applications for long term total or partial disability benefits and to qualify for and receive the highest disability payments.
Our attorneys for long term disability have experience with VA, Social Security, and private disability insurance company claims. We provide free, confidential, no-obligation consultations. For more information, please review our complimentary disability claim eBooks.
As your legal representative, we will assign a dedicated case manager to your claim and you will pay no fees for our services unless and until we recover disability benefits payments for you.
Call or text 800-562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
