Servicing St. Catharines and all of Ontario
A cane. Bandages. A wheelchair. A brace. Certain critical illnesses and injuries provide visible reminders of a person’s disability. Other conditions may leave no visible scars and there may be little about a person’s outward appearance that suggests they are experiencing debilitating pain or disability. But that doesn’t make them any less real.
‘Invisible disabilities,’ such as depression, anxiety and mood disorders, post-traumatic stress from workplace sexual harassment or assault, and fibromyalgia (chronic pain), can make day-to-day life challenging for people experiencing symptoms. During periods of acute illness or while they seek treatment and recover, it may be difficult or impossible for a person to fulfill the normal requirements of their job.
Fortunately, if you’re unable to work in St. Catharines and have a group insurance plan (where you or your employer pays premiums), you may qualify for disability benefits to assist you during this difficult time.
Short-term and long-term disability benefits
Once regular sick days are exhausted, an employee can take a short-term leave from their job for periods of up to 15 weeks to a year depending on the insurance plan. Short-term disability benefits usual require a person’s medical practitioner to submitting reports outlining the nature of the illness. In addition to receiving some (or occasionally all) of their normal income, additional health benefits can also be used to assist with treatment options.
If there appears to be little chance an employee will be able to return to work at the conclusion of a short-term leave, insurance providers will begin the application and assessment process for long-term disability benefits. Typically, independent medical evaluations and additional testing are conducted, and an applicant may even be put under surveillance to determine if their behaviour and activity level suggests they are disabled, sufficiently disabled to qualify for benefits, or if they have been truthful about the nature of their illness.
You Can Appeal A Disability Claim Denial
Sadly, insurance providers do reject valid claims for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the treatment prescribed by a doctor to improve a person’s mental health (exercise, socializing with friends, other activities) may be cited in surveillance reports to dismiss the extent of a person’s ‘invisible disability.’ Learning that your claim has been denied because you’ve taken your medical practitioner’s advice to help you heal can be especially difficult to understand.
The disability and critical illness lawyers at Howie, Sacks and Henry can help with your appeal in St. Catharines. Our trusted team has the knowledge and expertise to fight disability benefits denials involving complex medical conditions.
HSH disability and critical illness lawyers are pleased to meet with you in your own home in St. Catharines and the Niagara area or at a nearby consultation office to ensure distance and travel time are not barriers to accessing high quality legal advocacy. We work with you, step-by-step, to compile evidence and expert assessments to support your claim. Recognized as one of Canada’s top personal injury firms, HSH has also developed a well-earned reputation among insurers for our determination to take them to court if we believe their settlement offers do not meet our clients’ needs.
The HSH team understands the legal process can feel overwhelming at the best of times – let alone when you’re ill and/or stressed about your financial needs. As your trusted advocates and supporters, we bring compassion, care and empathy to every meeting or call with clients. We want you to know that we are here for you and concerned about your well-being during and after the legal process. Rest assured, we never think of you as just a case.
If you have a debilitating medical condition in St. Catharines and have been denied the disability benefits you need and deserve, talk to the skilled disability and critical illness lawyers at HSH to learn how we can help you fight back.
News You Can Use
“Scars You Can’t See Are The Deepest.” Read More on the St. Catharine Standard Website.
Looking to work with a disability lawyer in St. Catharines? Contact Us.
We service the St. Catharines and surrounding area, including Welland, Niagara, Grimsby and Pelham. When you think Disability Lawyer St. Catharines, Think Howie, Sacks & Henry.
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