If you file a claim for long-term disability (LTD) and it gets denied, you should at least know why. The decision-maker should provide you with a detailed explanation so that you understand exactly why your claim didn’t work out as you hoped. You may disagree with this explanation, of course, as many applicants do. You will still believe your disability is valid and renders you deserving of benefits. But understanding the reason for the denial is the first step in the process of what comes next.
Why would you be denied? There are many different reasons and every situation is going to be unique. That being said, here are a few examples of reasons why claims are commonly denied.
Disagreements over disability
In some cases, an individual will believe that they have a disability and the officials considering their claim will state that they do not meet the definition. This can be very frustrating, and there are potential options you can use to appeal that decision. But an initial denial may still be made on these grounds.
Lack of medical evidence
One of the major things that you have to do when claiming disability benefits is to demonstrate why they are necessary for your circumstances. You can do this with medical evidence of your disability. In many cases, it will be determined that someone isn’t disabled or that they don’t qualify, but the real issue is simply that they haven’t provided enough evidence to show that they do qualify. They had a valid claim the entire time. They just needed to know exactly what paperwork to submit as evidence of that claim.
Paperwork errors
Unfortunately, claims can sometimes be denied on technical grounds. Maybe the paperwork was incomplete or maybe mistakes were made. Perhaps some forms weren’t filled out at all or maybe they weren’t submitted on time. You can sometimes rectify these paperwork mistakes to get the claim to go through based on the actual facts of the case. Don’t let a technicality keep you from benefiting from proper results.
Exploring your options
A claim denial certainly can create a confusing and potentially contentious situation. Be sure you are well aware of all of your legal options. It may be necessary to seek legal guidance and explore various tactics to determine how best to fight for the benefits that you deserve.