Navigating Pitfalls: Common Mistakes to Avoid in Long-Term Disability Applications 

Most people who have long-term disability insurance (LTD) hope they will never need to file a claim. For those who do end up needing to submit a long-term disability application for benefits, navigating LTD application pitfalls can prove to be a frustrating experience. Recognizing some of the most common mistakes in long-term disability claims can often make avoiding errors in LTD applications a bit easier. By identifying these mistakes early on and planning the long-term disability application process to eliminate common errors, disabled workers can set themselves up for success in filing their long-term disability claims.

What Do You Need To Apply for Long-Term Disability?

Some of the most common mistakes in long-term disability claims arise from misunderstandings of what the insurance provider requires to process and approve a long-term disability application. Starting from a detailed understanding of policy requirements is therefore an important strategy for avoiding errors in LTD applications.

The specifics will vary from one policy to another. However, reviewing your policy’s terms in a few key areas can often set you up for successfully navigating LTD application pitfalls.

Exclusions

Going through the process to submit a long-term disability application can be expensive as well as time-consuming. Before you begin, check carefully to make sure that your condition is not automatically excluded from coverage under the terms of your policy. Consider reviewing the policy’s provisions for exclusions and limitations of coverage with an attorney if you are unsure of whether your condition qualifies for long-term disability benefits.

Medical Documentation

Any LTD claim will likely require substantial medical evidence. However, the kinds of documentation that may be accepted can vary not just by policy, but by condition and type of disability. Make sure you know the full range of test results, formal diagnoses, and other forms of medical documentation your policy will consider acceptable as evidence in support of your claim.

Definition of Disability

The approval or denial of a long-term disability application for benefits will usually be based in large part on how well the submitted evidence shows that the claimant’s condition meets the definition of disability under the terms of their policy. Many of the mistakes people make in navigating LTD application pitfalls are rooted in failures to understand and address a policy’s criteria for a determination of individual disability. Understanding your own policy’s definition will not change the medical evidence available in your case, but it can inform how you organize and present that evidence in submitting your claim.

What Not To Say When Applying for Long-Term Disability

Avoiding errors in LTD applications may mean not just making sure to include all of the required information, but also considering carefully what kinds of information are not needed and might unnecessarily prejudice your claim. The point is not that you should withhold important, relevant information, or that you should decline to answer appropriate questions honestly. However, some of the most common mistakes in long-term disability claims involve various forms of “oversharing” – that is, volunteering information that the disabled person may feel is relevant because it is important to their experience, but that insurance adjusters may interpret in a way that casts doubt on the legitimacy of the claim.

This type of unnecessary sharing can come in a few distinct forms. Each of these entails its own concerns and challenges.

Social Media Activity

Avoid sharing information about your claim process, the symptoms of your disability, and especially what you are doing now that you are not at work, in online spaces. Even when the only intention is to share a struggle others may find relatable, or to pass along updates to family and friends, any material posted online can easily be taken out of context and used to undermine a long-term disability application.

Insurance adjusters can often use entirely innocent remarks, or photographs of small personal moments, as evidence that the individual filing a claim is less disabled than their application materials suggest. They may even try to make an argument that the person is attempting insurance fraud. Keeping your personal experiences offline when so many others are able to share freely can feel frustrating and isolating, but so can the consequences of a denied LTD claim.

Independent Medical Examination

Most people applying for long-term disability benefits can expect to undergo an independent medical examination (IME) at some point in the long-term disability application process. During this examination, a physician chosen by the insurance company will usually perform a physical assessment of your condition, but he or she may ask you some questions about your symptoms and activities as well. Answer these questions honestly, but do not volunteer additional information.

Many people are tempted to offer unsolicited examples of their curtailed activities or recent experiences in an attempt to show the examining physician “how bad” their situation is. Resist this impulse to elaborate. Communication is never perfect, and the more you say, the more opportunities you provide for your words to be misconstrued. Short, honest answers to direct questions are often clearer than lengthy explanations.

Application Forms

Procedures and required documents differ widely between insurance providers, but many long-term disability applications call for descriptions of the insured person’s day-to-day symptoms and explanations of how these symptoms impact the individual’s ability to work. As in the IME, keep the information you provide in application forms accurate but brief.

Most people are unaccustomed to writing this type of document and it may not always be obvious what type of information you should include, so consider reviewing your application with an attorney experienced in navigating LTD application pitfalls before you submit. The same basic principles apply to avoiding errors in LTD applications that require a personal interview with an insurance company representative.

How Can Errors Be Prevented When Submitting Claims for Long-Term Disability Benefits?

There are unfortunately a number of common mistakes in long-term disability claims. For the most part, though, avoiding errors in LTD applications is a matter of anticipating these errors and planning the application process accordingly. Errors in long-term disability applications tend to cluster in the following key areas:

• Failure to submit required documentation
• Incomplete medical evidence
• Missed deadlines

The first step to navigating LTD application pitfalls is usually to closely review the terms of the policy. Identify the deadlines you will need to meet to preserve your eligibility for disability benefits. Make sure you understand both the documentation that is required under the terms of the policy and the types of medical evidence the insurance provider will accept in support of a long-term disability application. Consider getting an attorney’s assistance in reviewing the policy’s definition of disability, and build your plan for what will constitute sufficient medical evidence around meeting that standard. Organize your collection and submission of medical evidence and other documentation so that you are able to file your claim within the policy deadlines. There is no sure method to guarantee a painless long-term disability application process, but following these steps can help you avoid some of the most common missteps that lead to denied long-term disability claims.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Your LTD Application

Navigating the long-term disability application process can be overwhelming, but many of the most damaging pitfalls are avoidable with careful preparation and attention to detail. From overlooking policy exclusions to submitting incomplete or excessive information, common mistakes in long-term disability claims often stem from misunderstandings of what insurers are truly looking for. By thoroughly reviewing the terms of your policy, understanding the definition of disability it uses, gathering clear and consistent medical documentation, and avoiding unnecessary disclosures, especially on social media or during independent medical examinations, you can significantly improve your chances of approval. If your LTD benefits are reduced, reasons and actions will likely be tied directly to how your application was prepared and supported. Taking the time to plan carefully, seek qualified advice, and avoid common errors is not just about protecting your benefits, it’s about protecting your financial stability and peace of mind during a difficult time.