Ask a Lawyer About Chronic Pain

In this blog post, Share Lawyers’ lawyers answer questions from potential clients with chronic pain. Read on to learn more about particular issues surrounding chronic pain disability.

Q: I suffer from chronic pain that stops me from working. My specialist suspects Lyme disease, but we don’t have a firm diagnosis yet. Should I wait for my diagnosis before I apply for long-term disability benefits?

A: If you have symptoms that prevent you from working, and you have doctors that support your disability, you should not wait for a diagnosis. Submit your claim as soon as possible.

Q: After taking six weeks off work due to chronic pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, I was informed that my employer has terminated my position. I did not have a chance to apply for my long-term disability through my group insurance benefits. Is there anything I can do at this point?

A: You can insist on being provided with these forms so that you can submit a claim to your disability insurance carrier even though your employment has been terminated. If the disability arose during a period in which you were actively working as an employee, you should still have coverage, as long-term disability coverage is usually based on the initial date of total disability. If you are not getting co-operation from your employer, or they refuse to provide this information to you, you could try to receive the forms directly from the insurance company. If that still doesn't get any results, you should consider contacting us to further discuss your legal options in such circumstances.

Q: I underwent an independent medical exam at the request of my insurance company. Their doctor reported that I had no symptoms of chronic pain and was fit to work. It just so happens that on that particular day, I was feeling better than usual. Now my benefits have been cut off. Do I have any hope of overturning this decision?

A: Entitlement to disability benefits is not frozen in time. If you were having a better than usual day on the day of an assessment, that doesn’t mean you have no chance trying to recover further benefits. If your own doctors support your ongoing inability to work and your condition generally waxes and wanes, ie., you have some good days and some bad days, this one-time snapshot of your health does not mean your case is over. The particular circumstances of your claim need to be thoroughly discussed with a disability lawyer to assess your chances of success.

Has your long-term disability claim been denied? Contact Share Lawyers and put our experience to work for you. We offer free consultations and there are no fees unless we win your case. Find out if you have a disability case.

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Denied your long term disability claim?

Contact Share Lawyers today and put our experience to work for you. Our 35+ years of experience can help you win your case against Canada Life, Desjardins, Manulife, RBC Insurance, Sun Life, and other insurance companies. We offer free consultations and there are no fees unless you win your case. Join us on Facebook and become a Top Fan for a chance to win each month.

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A note from our long term disability lawyers

Taking a medical leave from work is not an easy decision to make. Concerns about providing for yourself and your family and keeping your job may cause you to want to push through your pain, but this won’t make your problems go away. Stopping work is often the smartest decision for your long term health and well-being, and your disability benefits are there to provide you with financial support until you can return to work.

If you have made the tough decision to stop working and apply for your short term disability or long term disability benefits, you may feel overwhelmed by the process and have questions that your employer and your insurance company are not able or willing to answer. Share is There to see you through and answer your questions.

Our Disability law firm knows what you have been going through

We understand that things have not been easy for you over the last little while. Your health has been suffering, you are unable to work, and now your insurance company, who was supposed to be there in your time of need, has decided they will not pay your disability benefits or respect your disability claim. These benefits exist to provide you with the financial support you need so that you can focus on your health and rebuilding your life. It is unfortunate that your insurance company has not lived up to its promise. If your disability claim has been denied, we will fight to get you the benefits you are entitled to. Our disability lawyers have helped thousands of Canadians get their long term disability benefits over the past 35 years, and we can help you too.

Our experienced disability lawyers can fight back on your behalf

Share Lawyers believes that every client who is dealing with a disability claim deserves superior personal service. To achieve that goal, we have developed our team of experienced, compassionate, and caring long term disability lawyers, law clerks, and administrative staff to meet all of your needs. Our team of experienced long term disability, life insurance, employment, and critical illness insurance lawyers have made successful claims against many insurance companies, third-party administrators and employers.

If you are unable to work, your disability benefits should be there to provide you with the financial support you need. While your insurance company may be focused on finding ways to avoid paying your claim, our focus is on what is in your best interest. When Share Lawyers gets involved, you have an entire team of lawyers that are there to support you and to fight for what is yours.

Our disability claim lawyers fight for your disability insurance claim by relying on our many years of experience to apply the best strategic planning and approach in each case, using the latest technology available. Experience matters, and with Share Lawyers, you are in the best hands with 35 years of success on your side.

In this video, we explain the role of a long term disability lawyer and how we can support you when you have been denied your long term disability benefits.