So, I'm 53 years old and I need a job.....
 

The long term disability insurance company won't honor my claim, my agency won't give me my job back, Social Security is out because my agnecy dropped it when they replaced it with the LTD insurance company that won't honor my claim.

I feel like Yosarian in Catch 22. Anyone know a good lawyer that can help me out with the Standard Insurance up north? My MRI shows 2-3 displaced discs. A lot of pain.....I can stand up and walk....can't lift much....

It looks like I'm going to have to find a light duty job, soon.....willing to relocate, anyplace but CA.

Damn Mike that sucks, I feel for yah. It's difficult enough getting hired in this job market without physical limitations. Wish you the best man, good luck. Maybe one of the guys here can help you rally some options!

Sorry about your situ Mike. Hopefully you can lawyer through the LTD problem. Good luck wth everythng.

Sorry to hear that, Mike. I went through it a few years back with my neck- ended up having two fusions because of a work-related incident. What areas have you traditionally worked in?

22 years as an Environmental Investigator for two different regional agencies.

I worked with Asbestos and Lead abatements, underground tanks, offshore oil platforms, oil processing plants, did complaint response and HAZMAT first response. I also conducted the safety, H2S, first responder and OSHA seminars at the agency.

Do you need a regular laywer or a scumbag laywer???

J/K hope it works out for ya.

I gotta lotta crap over that line......good memory. :eek:

Hope I didn't bring up any nasty memories.
Or hurt your case right now.
If you want me to delete it, let me know!

Naw,thick skinned.....just don't tell me to use the search function....

I don't understand this line...were you working for a state or federal agency?

Pretty simple, we used to be a County Agency that had SS. Then turned into to a Special District with it's own board, and voted out of SS. Replaced the SS with a private insurance that supposedly provided a "better" long term disability package. It saved the District money and was sold to the employees as a better and cheaper system......yeah, right.

Problem is, the insurance company makes the decision independently as to whether you are disabled or not. My agency sent me home because I wasn't able to do the job anymore. I also had high BP and was unable to pass the OSHA test for the use of an SCBA. Stuff like that happens when ya get older..... lungs go bad, BP goes up, kness go out, backs, etc.....

Since I had not paid into SS for over ten years, SS says I am inelligible to collect SS Disability, even though I had paid into the system for 15 years prior to that. I also can't put a claim in for my wife's contributions until I am 65.

It looks like I have to hire a lawyer to sue the private insurance to get the benefits I should have been getting for the last 8 months. They were supposed to supplement my State Disability up to 60% of my former salary and pay the entire amount when that ran out......

Gotcha...kinda figured that it was an opt out situation with regqard to SS. Are you able to draw state disability and was the LTD plan intended to supplement that? damn private insurance companies will starve you out denying claims until you're forced to find some job, any job then they will continue to deny you as you are working...truly a catch 22.

Have you gotten an attorney?

You have to pay them 20%, but if you are legitimately hurt a good attorney WILL get your claim honored.

Strap on the Sig, go back to the office and say "The insurance company says I'm fit to work, so here I am"....let them fight for you. When something come up you can't do, say sorry or file a comp claim.

Sorry to hear this bud :(

Yep.

I starved for 10 months waiting for the insurance company to honor my claim. And i was a victim of a crime with witnesses, an arrest report, and documented proof that the company sent me to that address to repo the vehicle i got ran over with.

Yet they denied my claim for 10 months.

Finally get my claim honored and get MRIs, i "only" have 4 herniated and 4 bulging discs with nerve damage to boot....

It is truly incredible what slime buckets these insurance companies can be.

FWIW, Social Security has a track record of denying disability claims as well.
Mike, should be a lawyer willing to take this on a contingency basis. The problem remains...what to do in the meantime?

Perhaps a consultant's job? To aid companies in complying with the myriad of regs concerning DEQ issues?

Mike

What do you really want to do for a living?

(obviously taking your injuries into account)

I'd get a good lawyer right away and I would not go back to work until your healed up as good as your going to get.
We have the Workmans Compensation Board in Canada and they are just another POS insurance company, they will cut you off benifits and if you appeal then they make the call on it , no independent panel will review your case they do and I have never heard of anyone who ever won an appeal, if you go back to work that just proves to them that you were fit to work and were correct in denying your benifits. Do not work. Get a lawyer and your own Doctor. It will be tough not having an income, hang in there Mike.
Effin insurance companies are not there to help you, they are there to screw you, the less they pay out the more they make at the end of the year, your pain and suffering means nothing to them, call someone in your local gov't , call the newspapers get the story out on how they are F'en you.

I might suggest that your former employer may have some liability as they are the ones who dropped SS for a "cheaper" supplier. Employers have a fiduciary responsibiility to their employees in regard to their benefits.

Have you read the policy? If not, get a copy and read it. Understand it. Then, ask specifically why and what part of the policy you are being denied on. Most states have a bad faith rule. Typically, if a insurance carrier denies coverage that is due, they have to pay 3x the claim. I have no idea if this applies in your situation.

If the above is fruitless, you can consult with a member of the Bar.

I think you have several parties that have an interest. Good luck, don't compromise your self with a short term job that will generate evidence that you are not disabled. They very likely will investigate you. There is a lot of money on the line for this.

Good luck,
Larry

Mikez: Seems to me that you just might have a bad faith situation against the private ins Co. and maybe even the employer.

I used to handle casualty claims ( long time ago - hated that job ) and if in fact you and your Dr. can support the claimed injury, then I'd seek a good attorney.

Find out who the best attorney in your area is, if he or she takes on the case, I think you'll be able to work something out.

Steve

73 911 T