How to Claim Disability Insurance
Private disability insurance will compensate you if you become disabled as a result of an accident or illness and cannot work. Many disability claims require a blackout of 90 days after you first file for disability benefits which means you cannot receive a disability check for those 90 days. Filing a claim for disability benefits requires a very specific process. If you do not follow this process, your claim could be delayed or declined altogether.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide the date that you would like your disability benefits to begin. Your start date will determine future benefit payments.
-
2
Obtain a "claim statement" from your place of employment or directly from the insurance company. The claim statement is the application for disability benefits. Every insurance company's claim statement may be different, but the general format will be the same. Be prepared to provide your basic information, in addition to information about your workplace and your date of hire. You will need to provide your disability insurance policy number, the date of your disability, the last date that you worked, how you became disabled as well as whether the accident happened at work.
You will also be asked about the nature of your disability (i.e., illness or accident) and the details of your accident or illness (i.e., how you became ill or how the accident happened) as well as an explanation of why you cannot work because of your disability. You will also need to provide your primary care physician's contact information.
-
-
3
Fill out the claim statement completely. Use as much detail and be as specific as possible. If you cannot complete your disability forms because of a disability, you can have a friend or family member help you. Some insurance companies will have a separate form which will allow you to authorize someone else to fill out your claim on your behalf. In either case, the insurance company will verify that you are making a claim for disability benefits.
-
4
Have your doctor fill out the "doctor's certificate" portion of your claim form. This will most likely involve you getting a physical examination by your doctor to certify that you are unable to work because of your disability. The insurance company may also request an attending physician's statement, which will provide details about your medical history to the insurance company.
-
5
Mail in your forms to your insurance carrier. Make sure that you mail your forms within the proper time frame. For example, if you must mail your forms in after 9 days, but before 49 days of when you first became disabled, make sure that you mail in your forms within this time frame. Depending on your specific disability policy, you may also have to wait up to 90 days before you will receive any benefits. You will also need to wait for the insurance company to process your claim. The time it takes for this to happen will depend on a variety of factors, such as how well you've explained your disability, and how well you've explained why you cannot work because of your disability. You may also receive ongoing phone calls from your insurance provider if they require clarification about anything on your disability claim form.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
This process discusses private disability insurance only. While filing for Social Security Disability benefits may be similar, you will want to coordinate with your local SSA office for more information about public disability benefits for your specific situation.
References
- Photo Credit disabled sign image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
