Success Story: Lily Chin
At the company summer picnic, Lily, an administrative assistant with a small Ontario manufacturer, got a surprise. Her tenth anniversary with the company was announced and applauded. Everybody knew that Lily loved macaroni salad, so she was presented with a platter of her favourite picnic food. Obese and diabetic, she enjoyed it anyway, happily sharing in the celebration. That’s when it all started.
Small Cut On The Hand
Feeling a little nervous from all of the attention, plus a touch of heat stroke, Lily cut her right hand. Fortunately, she managed to keep that secret at the picnic. Unfortunately, the cut did not heal properly. Within a few days, her hand, cool and numb, had developed gangrene.
Devastating Diagnosis
On a visit to her doctor a few weeks later, Lily learned that gangrene is treatable when diagnosed early enough, before flesh begins to die. After flesh dies, amputation is the standard treatment. Before the gangrene spread too far, Lily’s forearm would be amputated.
Disability Benefits Paid
While recovering in hospital from the amputation, Lily had the kind help of a co-worker to fi ll out the papers for her disability insurance claim. The hospital staff helped, also, and the claim was accepted. Clearly unable to work at her own occupation, Lily soon began to receive disability insurance benefits of $3,600 per month.
Warning: “Change of Definition”
About two years after the payments began, still unemployed and having psychological troubles, Lily received a letter from her insurance company. It stated that she had been receiving benefits because her disability kept her from working at her own job. This did not mean that she could not work at any job. Without proof that she could not work at all, a change of definition would result in her benefits being terminated.
Hope-Restoring Referral
Lily’s family doctor referred her to Share Lawyers. Share Lawyers accepted her case.
Future Benefits Affirmed
After review and investigation, Share Lawyers argued that, while Lily could possibly earn some income – despite her missing right forearm, diabetes, and psychological troubles – she would not be able to find work equivalent in pay, equivalent to her level of experience, or equivalent to her overall needs for a livelihood. The insurer resisted this argument right up to the courtroom steps. However, after pre-trial discussions, they relented and agreed to reinstate Lily’s benefi ts. This allowed her to continue receiving the money she would need to maintain a decent life.
*Names have been fictionalized to protect the privacy of our clients.
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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.
