During a Long Term Disability interview, it is important to avoid saying things that downplay the severity of your injury or suggest you can work if only you were given the opportunity. Use factual descriptions of your limitations, and do not exaggerate.
Our Long Term Disability lawyers can help you prepare for your interview and understand how to answer important questions. Our team has 120 years of combined experience helping injured people get the disability benefits they deserve. Call today for a free consultation.
The Long Term Disability Interview Process
When you file a Long Term Disability claim, your insurance company will likely schedule a recorded interview as part of their review process. The interview is conducted by an examiner whose job is to assess whether your condition genuinely prevents you from working.
The interviewer will ask about your medical history, current symptoms, daily activities, treatment plan, and work background. They may also ask about your education and any skills that could transfer to other types of work.
Before your interview, review your medical records and understand the limits of your policy. Many people choose to have a lawyer with them to protect their rights.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 562-9830
Do Not Overplay the Extent of Your Disability
Explain your limitations without exaggeration. While it might seem like making your condition appear as challenging as possible, this approach can easily backfire.
If the examiner later finds medical records or surveillance footage that contradicts what you said, your entire claim becomes suspect. Describe only what you actually experience on your worst days and your average days.
If your symptoms fluctuate, say so honestly. Accurate, consistent descriptions of your medical condition are far more persuasive than dramatic accounts that your medical documentation cannot support.
Do Not Suggest You Could Work Despite Your Disability
It is natural to want to appear capable or optimistic during a Long Term Disability interview. Many claimants downplay their limitations out of habit or pride, not realizing the damage it causes. Never say you could return to work.
The LTD insurance company is looking for any reason to reduce or deny your disability claim, and a single comment suggesting you could manage some work gives them exactly what they need.
Your claim is built on the premise that your condition prevents you from performing your own occupation or any occupation. Undermining that premise, even unintentionally, can cost you the disability benefits you are entitled to. Describe your limitations honestly and completely every time you are asked.
Never Suggest that You Are No Longer Receiving Medical Care
You should not stop your appointments with doctors and physical therapy, even if you see little or no progress as a result of their treatments. The interviewer will want to see that you are getting professional help to improve your condition.
A gap in your treatment history signals to the insurer that your medical issues may not be as serious as you claim, or that you are not following prescribed treatment. Consistent records build the medical file your claim depends on.
If cost or access is a barrier to continued care, discuss that with your attorney before the LTD insurance company disability interview.
Do Not Use Vague Terms to Describe Your Disability
Even if your disability causes pain throughout your body, describe specifically how your condition limits you. Explain, for example, how it restricts movement, prevents you from walking or standing for extended periods, or stops you from concentrating on your regular job tasks.
Vague statements about your condition or treatment history give the examiner nothing concrete to work with. Specific descriptions tied to daily activities, such as how long you can sit, how much you can lift, how often you need to rest, give your disability claim real substance.
Do Not Volunteer Irrelevant Information
Listen carefully to questions and take as much time as you need to formulate a response before you begin speaking. Answer what was asked, nothing more. If you are unsure what a question is asking, request clarification rather than guessing.
Do not refer to problems with your family, drug or alcohol dependence, or interactions with law enforcement authorities unless those matters are directly relevant to the question. For example, Alcohol Use Disorder may be considered a disability.
Volunteering unrelated information introduces complications that can shift the focus of the interview away from your medical condition. A short, direct answer is always stronger than a long one that wanders off topic.
Avoid Appearing Dishonest or Cagey
LTD insurance company examiners and investigators are well-versed in drawing out the truth during interviews. If you try to hide something, your credibility will be questioned, and your LTD insurance claim will likely be denied.
Long Term Disability insurers routinely cross-reference interview statements against medical records and employment history. A single contradiction can unravel months of documentation.
If there are facts in your history that concern you, discuss them with your attorney before the interview so you can address them honestly and in context. Attempting to conceal unfavorable information almost always causes damage.
Get Help With Your Long Term Disability Benefits
Some of the things you should not say in a Long Term Disability interview include adding unneeded information to your answers and giving replies that appear dishonest. One more mistake people often make is trying to handle the process alone.
Our team at Marc Whitehead & Associates has been helping people get the benefits they need since 1992. Disability is all we do. Call today for your free consultation and find out how we can help.
Call or text (800) 562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
