My disability benefits have run out, but I’m not ready to return to work

Q: My long-term disability benefits have been terminated, but my counsellor says I’m not ready to return to work. What do I do now?

A: The stressors of the last few years have burdened many of us with mental health challenges, including a significant increase in reported rates of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, for some this has resulted in the need for time off work to seek treatment and attempt to recover.

Recovery for a person suffering these challenges can be lengthy, complex and fluctuate significantly over time. A person may feel improvement one day, with a significant worsening the next. This complex process, and difficulty measuring the severity of symptoms, means that many insurance companies struggle to adjudicate these cases. All too often this results in people being denied benefits, or having them terminated, at the time in their life that they most need support.

If your insurer has denied or terminated your disability benefits before you’re able to return to work, delay is your worst enemy. The longer your benefits remain denied, the greater the financial stressors and burdens, risking your recovery. No doubt your condition makes it seem difficult to fight back. So don’t do it alone. You should immediately reach out to a lawyer who specializes in disability and insurance law to assist you.

Even better, contact me before your benefits are denied or terminated or if you simply have concerns about how your case is being handled. Being prepared up front helps set you up for success, and there’s no charge for these initial consultations.

This article was originally published by The Hamilton Spectator.