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When you are filing a claim for long-term disability benefits, you might think that all you need to submit to the insurance company is proof of your medical conditions. While your medical history and related records certainly are an essential part of your claim, you often will need more than a medical diagnosis to support a successful LTD claim. An assessment of your vocational skills can be crucial in this situation.
In many cases, a medical diagnosis doesn’t necessarily tell the insurance company about your ability to work. Depending on what definition your insurance policy uses, i.e., whether you can work in your “own occupation” or “any occupation,” you are likely to need a full vocational assessment to determine the real impact of your medical diagnoses on your ability to work.
A vocational expert will review your resume and personally interview you about your education, training, background, and abilities. That expert will consider your skills in light of the restrictions that your doctor has placed on you as a result of your medical diagnoses. Through this process, the vocational expert may or may not be able to identify skills that you possess that would allow you to work in a different position while still respecting your medical limitations. The expert also must consider whether, based on your skills and limitations, you can reasonably seek another position in a competitive job market.
Having a credible vocational expert can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case. A written report showing that you do not possess any transferrable skills based on your limitations can be very persuasive in an LTD claim.
It can benefit you greatly to get legal advice about the most effective means of building and maintaining the most successful ERISA long-term disability claim possible. Bonnici Law Group provides skilled, aggressive legal representation regularly for individuals who are seeking long-term disability benefits under insurance policies governed by ERISA. Our priority is to represent your interests and protect your rights to the benefits that you deserve. Call us at 858-261-5454 and schedule an appointment to meet with us about your case today.
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