LONG TERM DISABILITY
Those who have suffered long-term disability injuries have several possible sources of compensation, which will provide them with benefits while they are unable to work and support themselves and dependents. The State of North Carolina has created disability benefits for those who were injured during work. These rules can be found under North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act and eligible workers can receive a percentage of their pre-disability weekly wages; however.
Additionally, individual companies and workers can pay for Long-Term Disability Insurance, which provides various rates and restrictions that are tailored for each insurance plan.
Outside of these, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which provides compensation for disabled workers. However, to qualify, a worker must suffer a disability that prevents him or her from performing his or her previous job or adjusting to a new job and the disability must last at least one year or be expected to result in death.
Your insurance company’s goal is not to help you receive long-term disability benefits because your valid disability claim reduces that business’s bottom line.
When you file a valid claim for long-term disability benefits, your disability insurance carrier may require you to attend “independent” medical examinations, often with doctors who lack the proper training or specialization to accurately diagnose and determine your disability. Your long-term disability insurance company may also require you to show that you are receiving appropriate medical treatments for your conditions causing disability, and have a doctor certify you as disabled on a regular basis. If you don’t have great health insurance benefits, these requirements may eat into your already reduced income.
Sometimes, if your disability appears permanent, your long-term disability insurance company may offer you a “lump sum” settlement. While the large amount of a lump sum payment may tempt you if you and your family struggle financially, you should not accept a settlement until a long-term disability lawyer at Phillips and McCrea, PLLC reviews it. You do not want the money from a lump-sum settlement to run out, while bills from your disability continue to mount up.
Understanding Disabilities and Possible Benefits
There are various forms of disabilities and each affect workers in different ways. However, long-term disabilities are generally seen as those that last longer than one year; anything less is commonly referred to as a short-term disability. Additionally, disabilities are categorized into partial and total disabilities. Partial disabilities affect only some of a worker's abilities, but he or she may be able to continue to work or work in a different field. A total disability prevents the victim from performing any sort of work. Either of these can be short-term or long-term, depending on how long they last.
SSDI benefits are only given to those suffering a long-term total disability. However, Long-Term Disability Insurance in North Carolina can be provided for both total and partial disabilities. This type of insurance will typically provide benefits totaling 50 to 60 percent of pre-disability monthly earnings for a total disability, but benefits for partial disabilities vary, depending on how a worker has been affected.