Hartford approves long-term disability benefits for teaching assistant with multiple sclerosis

Our client, a teaching assistant with Multiple Sclerosis, was denied benefits under her long-term disability policy from Hartford provided by her employer, the Broward County Florida School Board. Following her denial of benefits, our client retained Dell & Schaefer to appeal the denial of her benefits. Her policy stated that she would qualify for long-term disability benefits if she was “continuously unable to perform the material and substantial duties” of her regular occupation.

Our client’s job duties, as part of working with grade school-age special education children, required that she be able to, among other duties:

• Lift up to 40 lbs.
• Bend, stretch, and stoop repeatedly
• Climb up and down stairs
• Push emergency evacuation buckets with up to 150 lbs. of weight
• Have the mobility to ensure the safety of the children
• Work with the children on the floor
• Perform light cleaning
• Supervise the classroom in the absence of the lead teacher
• Change diapers
• Assist with toilet training
• Help children establish good habits of personal hygiene

Given our client’s condition and her need to use a walker to move about, Attorneys Dell & Schaefer submitted an extensive appeal and requested that Hartford reverse its decision to deny her long-term disability benefits. Following the submission of our appeal and the threat of a lawsuit being filed, Hartford reversed their denial and agreed to pay our client nearly two and a half years’ worth of back benefits and place her on claim moving forward. Dell & Schaefer will continue to manage her claim and ensure that her benefits continue uninterrupted.

Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer, established in 1979, have represented thousands of clients with their claims against disability insurance companies. The firm’s disability income division, managed by Gregory Michael Dell, is comprised of eight attorneys who represent claimants nationwide, throughout all stages (i.e. applications, denials, appeals, litigation, & lump-sum policy buyouts) of a claim for individual or group (ERISA) long-term disability benefits. For a free consultation, please call 800-828-7583 or use our contact page.

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