Washington DC Long Term Disability Lawyer

Long-term disability occurs when an employee has been injured or has contracted an illness that leaves him or her unable to carry out his or her responsibilities at work over an extensive period of time. However, various insurance policies define the terms and conditions of long-term disability differently, so it is important to understand the benefits of each particular insurance policy.

To be declared eligible for long-term disability insurance benefits, it is requisite for the claimant to be under the care of a physician. The claimant’s physician must determine that the claimant is unable to perform the basic requirements of his or her job.

Prevalence of Long-Term Disability

The United States Census Bureau estimates that the chance of an American worker facing long-term disability is 30 percent or in other words, three workers out of ten will become long-term disabled. According to the Health Insurance Association of America one out of seven American workers will be classified as long-term disabled for longer than 5 years. The U.S. Census Bureau’s figures show there are 51 million American workers between 21 and 64 years of age who are classified as long-term disabled. In 2008, 2.3 million Americans applied for disability claims through U. S. Social Security. 

Causes of Long-Term Disability

According to the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, stroke is the number one cause of long-term disability. The Council for Disability Awareness states that cancer and pregnancy complications are also major causes. Accidental injuries, arthritis, back pain are also consequential causes of long-term disabilities. 

Receiving Long-Term Disability Benefits

According to the Council for Disability Awareness, the typical long-term disability persists for 2 ½ years. Few workers have the financial savings and resources to survive that time period without an income. Unfortunately, workers’ compensation does not cover 90 percent of the disability cases because the cases are not work-related, according to the 2008 National Safety Council’s injury facts. Consequently, workers facing long-term disability must file claims with the Social Security Administration and any long-term disability insurance policy they have. The Social Security Administration denies more claims than they approve, so most workers must rely on other long-term disability insurance. On the average, long-term disability insurance covers 50 to 70 percent of a worker’s salary.