Marie Brace
If you have sustained a disability and want to file a long-term disability (LTD) claim, you can expect to fill out different LTD forms. The insurance company will usually request a Claimant Statement from you that contains questions about what you can and cannot do. With this form, you can inform the insurance company about your disabling condition. You must describe your condition and how it affects your daily life. It is important to fill out all forms with accuracy and honesty to increase the chances of your claim succeeding. To make sure you don’t miss any field on those forms, you should have them reviewed by an experienced LTD attorney. Your attorney will your case in the first place to make sure you suffer one of the conditions that qualify for long term disability in the U.S. And after they review the forms you filled out, they will ensure you submit them on time. To make sure you fill out the forms correctly, here are tips you can keep in mind:
Give Thorough Answers
If an item in a form asks you a question regarding your disability, do not just answer YES or NO. Instead, try to be as thorough as possible to inform the insurance company about your condition. Also, you should be specific in your statement.
Describe Your Disability by Giving Examples of Situations
You should provide examples of how your disability has limited your activities. For instance, write that you cannot shower alone because you are afraid of losing consciousness and fall and nobody is there is to help you. The more thorough you are in your response and descriptions of your disability, the more you can emphasize your condition and the need to get LTD benefits.
Use General Language to Describe Your Situation
When you describe your situation, use general language such as typically, generally, in most cases, more often than not, usually, and others unless you are describing a situation that is always true. Often, insurance companies get surveillance footage of those who have filed claims. If they get footage of you driving for thirty minutes without interruption and they possess your written statement saying you can’t sit for more than twenty minutes, they may deny your claim as they assume you are lying. So, instead of saying you cannot sit for more than twenty minutes, just say it often hurts when you sit for more than twenty minutes.
