Long-term disability is an issue commonly-faced in Canada. Up to 22% of Canadians (around 6.2 million people) report having at least one disability. Many complications may arise when living with a disability, including loss of income. In fact, only 39% of Canadians with disabilities claimed to have work options available in 2017.
Ideally, Canadians in this situation would receive compensation, but that’s not always the case. Insurance providers and some employers go out of their way to stop worker’s compensation payments early or deny claims altogether. If you or a loved one is suffering from one or more long-term disabilities, seeking legal representation may be the right step for you.
Starting a Long-Term Disability Lawsuit
Whether from an employer or private insurance, specific policies can be challenging to understand for those not working in the area. Therefore, persons living with a long-term disability may want to seek representation from a lawyer to assist in filing their claim with an employer or insurance company.
When filing a claim, it’s common to worry about the cost to you or your loved ones. Diamond & Diamond Law arranges long-term disability lawsuits under a contingency fee. Therefore, a percentage of the total amount obtained on your behalf is used as the fee, and you are guaranteed a free consultation.
Contingency fees are beneficial if you’re unsure whether or not you’re entitled to compensation. It’s normal for workers not to understand their rights when facing a long-term disability. We know that nobody plans to be in this situation and recommend reaching out to a professional who will work tirelessly to ensure you receive fair compensation.
What is Long-Term Disability?
If you’re uncertain whether or not you’re entitled to long-term disability compensation, the first step is to learn what technically qualifies as a “long-term disability.”
Statistics Canada defines persons with disabilities as those who have experienced being “sometimes,” “often” or “always” limited in their daily activities. Canada defines ‘short-term’ as the six-month-period following an illness or injury in the context of disability insurance. Long-term disability benefits will be accessible after six months of dealing with sickness or injury.
Many people in Canada and around the world face various health concerns throughout their life. Lingering debilitating problems, however, are not. That’s why it’s important to understand when you qualify for compensation.
“The world is changing, with or without the pandemic, with client requirements also evolving,” says Diamond & Diamond Senior Partner Jeremy Diamond. “There is never a better time to start learning about your rights than right now.”
Seek help from Long-Term Disability Lawyers when filing for claims. Here at Diamond & Diamond, we make sure that we always take the approach that benefits you the most.
I’m Experiencing Long-Term Disability, Now What?
Identifying your own disability is a challenging yet crucial first step to receiving any entitled compensation. Once you’ve done so, the next step is seeking representation from a lawyer or law firm. Diamond & Diamond Law has many lawyers practicing personal injury and long-term disability in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
In Ontario, long-term disability falls under the jurisdiction of Canada’s federal policies. How to apply for long-term disability in Ontario is the same as it is across the country and requires identifying the problem and knowing when to seek representation.
Many Canadians have short-term and long-term group insurance policies through employers. Some workers opt for private insurance policies for extended coverage instead. Do your research. Make sure you know what kinds of coverage are available to you.
It is necessary to keep any insurance paperwork received during your employee onboarding process as it will likely contain all the information you need. If you have misplaced your copy, asking your employer for a new one sooner rather than later will make the process of exercising long-term disability compensation easy, if ever needed.
Lawyers specializing in long-term disability are an invaluable support system for those who may not fully understand their benefits or require further assistance. For complex cases, lawyers can be sought to fully exert an individual’s rights when claiming long-term disability.
