What to Expect in a Functional Capacity Evaluation
What is a functional capacity evaluation?
Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs), otherwise known as Functional abilities evaluations (FAEs), are conducted by various healthcare providers. They provide objective information about an individual's ability to perform work tasks and activities of daily living. Insurance companies frequently use FCEs in the evaluation of long term disability claims.
What to expect from a functional capacity evaluation
An FCE may include a wide range of activities to test the limits of the claimant's physical abilities in relation to their occupation. Activities such as lifting, pushing and pulling, repetitive tasks for the upper extremities, precision tasks such as finger dexterity; and postural tolerances such as sitting, standing and walking are just some of the functions that a claimant may be expected to perform.
The duration of an FCE can range from two hours to two days. Once completed, a comprehensive report is produced outlining the claimant's ability to perform the essential duties of their occupation in a safe way on a regular basis. It may include a recommendation of temporary or permanent leave from work. It may also include further rehabilitation or a graduated return to work to their current occupation or another more suitable occupation. The report will also include ergonomic equipment requirements and work modifications that may facilitate a return to work.
Are functional capacity evaluations reliable?
Are FCEs a reliable way to measure a claimant's ability to work? When you consider that there are numerous factors in play that could skew the results of evaluation, such as the Occupational Therapist's experience, the severity of the claimant's symptoms on that particular day, and most importantly, who is paying the bill for the evaluation (i.e. the insurance company), it might be argued that FCEs may not be the most objective way to measure a claimant's ability to perform the essential duties of their occupation on a regular basis.
Nevertheless, insurance companies rely upon FCEs when evaluating claims for long-term disability benefits. As well, so do the disability lawyers who represent the claimants when they have been denied their benefits. In many cases, disability lawyers will send their clients to FCEs to get a second opinion in response to the insurance company's FCE report.
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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 disability 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.
Denied your long term disability claim?
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