Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for Albertans to work while receiving long-term disability (LTD) benefits.
However, it’s not uncommon for claimants who work on LTD—even those simply volunteering—to be suddenly cut off by their insurance company.
If this happens to you, all hope isn’t lost. Here are three things you need to do.
1. Request a denial letter
In the event that you didn’t receive one, denial letters force insurance companies to “lock in” their rationale for cutting off an individual’s access to LTD benefits.
If your insurer did so without a legitimate reason, this document will make it very difficult for them to pivot to a different explanation at a later date.
READ MORE: 4 common reasons long-term disability claims are rejected in Canada
Once you have the denial letter in your possession, seek legal advice. Even if you haven’t received this document yet, it’s still in your best interest to schedule a consultation with a disability lawyer.
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2. Discuss the decision with your treatment team
Another important step after you’ve been cut off LTD is to bring the denial letter to the doctor providing primary care for your disability.
Request a meeting with them at their earliest convenience. During the appointment, ask your doctor if they agree with the insurance company’s decision. In the event that they disagree, have them explain in writing why you still require access to disability benefits.
READ MORE: Long-term disability benefits: What happens after 2 years?
If other medical professionals are involved in your care, gather their opinions as well. The more supporting documentation you can provide, the better.
3. Contact a disability lawyer
Being cut off LTD can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. It’s always heartbreaking when clients in Alberta tell me they don’t know how they’re going to support themselves or loved ones financially without access to disability benefits.
That’s why it’s crucial to get the right legal advice before appealing your insurer’s decision. The Alberta disability lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP have a proven track record of successfully resolving issues involving LTD, short-term disability, life insurance, critical illness and mortgage insurance claims.
We provide free consultations for these types of matters and don’t get paid unless we get results. Over the years, we’ve helped thousands of Canadians, including Julie Austin and Sandra Bullock, secure the compensation they’re legally entitled to.
READ MORE: Insurer being difficult? 3 reasons you should hire a long-term disability lawyer
A case that my team and I will never forget involved a mechanic in Calgary who was cut off LTD because he occasionally volunteered at his local food bank.
The individual, struggling with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), completely broke down when he received a denial letter from his insurance company via email—claiming that his ability to participate in volunteer work proved he was capable of “competitive employment.”
Not sure what to do next, the mechanic turned to his spouse for guidance. He was encouraged to contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP for a free LTD consultation.
After a thorough review of the mechanic’s insurance policy, we found nothing in the document that prevented him from participating in volunteer work occasionally.
Confident that he had a strong case, we told the mechanic to get the denial letter reviewed by his treatment team. Stunned by the insurer’s decision, his treating doctors clearly outlined in writing why he still required access to disability benefits.
READ MORE: The insurer cut off his benefits. Then his lawyer reviewed his medical assessment
With full support from the medical professionals involved in his RA care, the mechanic contacted us again.
In the end, all it took was a brief phone call with his insurance company—no legal battle—to provide our client and his family with financial peace of mind.
Denied or cut off long-term disability in Alberta? Asked if you want to appeal your insurer’s decision?
Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP or call 1-855-821-5900 for a FREE consultation with a disability lawyer. We’ve helped thousands of Albertans secure the compensation they deserve.
Sivan Tumarkin is a disability lawyer and co-founding partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, Canada’s most positively reviewed law firm specializing in long-term disability claims and employment law. The firm provides legal insight on Canada’s only Disability Law Show on TV and radio.
