Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
View Disability Cases With Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
Post or View Comments About Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (22 comments)
Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance Standard) is an insurance carrier that sells disability income and group term life insurance, a suite of voluntary (employee paid) coverage options and fully integrated absence management. Almost all of the disability policies sold by Reliance are governed by ERISA since the disability plans are offered as employee benefits. Reliance Standard markets these insurance products through independent brokers and agents to employers of all sizes. Rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best*, Reliance Standard is an established company and began its first year of business in 1906. Reliance has over $150 billion of insurance in force and assets of over $4 billion.
Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company provides insurance products and services in all states (except New York), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In New York, insurance products and services are provided through First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, home office: New York, N.Y. Product availability and features may vary by state. It distributes its products through independent agents and brokers.
Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delphi Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:DFG). Delphi Financial Group, Inc. is an integrated employee benefit services company. Delphi provides group insurance coverages: long-term and short-term disability, life, excess workers’ compensation for self-insured employers, large deductible workers’ compensation, travel accident, dental and limited benefit health insurance. Delphi’s asset accumulation business emphasizes individual annuity products. Delphi’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DFG.
As disability insurance attorneys, Dell & Schaefer have represented numerous clients with their long-term disability claims against Reliance Standard and its affiliated companies. Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer have provided and offer the following legal services for disability claimants that have a long-term disability insurance policy or disability income policy purchased from Reliance Standard:
- Application for long-term disability benefits with Reliance Standard
- Application for short-term disability benefits with Reliance Standard
- Monthly claim handling of Reliance Standard long-term disability insurance claims
- Appeal of a Reliance Standard denial of long-term disability benefits
- ERISA appeal of an Reliance Standard denial of long-term disability benefits
- Lawsuit against Reliance Standard for denial of long-term disability benefits
- Lump-sum buyout of a Reliance Standard long-term disability insurance policy
- Department of Insurance complaints against Reliance Standard for wrongful delay and denial of long-term disability benefits
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- Texas claimant takes Reliastar to task for denied disability benefits
- City University Of Medicine & Bioscience former employee disabled by back disorder sues Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company for denial of disability benefits
- Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company sued by occupational therapist for denial of disability insurance benefits
- Reliance Standard Insurance Company and Lincoln National Life Insurance Company attempt to avoid payment of disability benefits by ignoring claimant’s application
- Reliance Standard terminates long-term disability benefits after receiving the results of an IME and FCE
- ERISA disability claimants can receive attorney fees with “some degree of success”
- Are attorney fees payable in long term disability insurance cases governed by ERISA?
- Reliance Standard long-term disability benefits decision affirmed by Circuit Court
- Reliance Standard makes disability claimant take them to court twice in 5 years
- Reliance Standard is ordered by Arizona Court to pay long-term disability benefits to technology consultant with fibromyalgia
- Reliance Standard denies Diversified’s Director of National Account Sales long-term disability benefits despite long history or cardiac problems
My brother in law was made completely disabled in May 2010 by his doctors. He was a police officer for twenty three years and was unable to continue working due to a back injury. He injured his back several years ago. Two bulging slipped disc and also vertebraes laying on nerves. He is in constant pain. Some days he can’t even stand up straight. Many doctors have seen him and told him the same thing. “Your back will get no better, it will get worse”. He can’t get his long term disability checks from Reliance. Sometimes he will go two months or more before he gets a check. My sister and him have spent countless hours on the phone with Reliance trying to get his checks to them on a regular basis. They always get a different answer. They need more information etc. Several specialist have sent results from MRI’s, sent nine page documents from Specialist stating he will not get any better. He is permanently disabled and will never be able to work. He has applied for his Social Security Disability but that takes months and months to be approved.This has took a toll on my brother in law and sister. This has affected their livelihood. Family members have had to pay bills and buy them groceries so they could survive. My brother in law is a proud man and would love no more than to be able to work and provide for his family like he did for over twenty years but he can’t. Being forced to leave your job due to health reasons was enough to depress my brother in law but the utter hell that Reliance Insurance has put them through should be againist the law. He paid on this insurance policy for many years. I have listened to my sister cry many days worrying how they were going to make it. Things like this should not go on in America. I’m sorry Reliance Insurance should be held accountable for what they have put my brother in law and his family through. They have suffered pain and anguish for months due to this. I hope the President of Reliance Insurance reads this!!! If this were you I bet you would get your disablilty checks like clock work. I bet you wouldn’t have to worry how you were going to pay your mortgage and buy groceries for your family. My sister’s family have suffered enough with this.
I agree with you in all aspects. We are going through the “professional delay tactics” of Reliance right now. They need these docs and those and on and on, it never ends. One of their representatives actually told my wife today that our doctor was at fault because they didn’t interpret the company’s terminology and our doctor didn’t get them everything they needed because of a technicality. They can put you off better than anyone I have encountered, but I am going to put a stop to that. I am calling the attorney general, the board of insurance, the local television stations, radio, newspapers and everyone I can contact to get the word out. It may even be time for a nationwide class action lawsuit to open the president of the company’s eyes or at least to let the country know what is happening with this PUBLICLY traded company. How well will the company like that for their stock prices?
My fiance’ is dealing with Reliance right now. He was in a motorcycle accident in April. It takes them weeks to approve the claim. That is ridiculous. If you don’t pay the premium, they cancel your coverage, but yet it takes them weeks to go over the paperwork and approve the claim? I think the attorney generals office needs to be notified of this companies practices, because they are not ethical.
Amy, I am sorry to hear about your experience. It is essential to continue paying premiums. If it is an ERISA policy you can file a complaint with the department of labor and department of insurance in your state.
Hi all,
My name is Mark Ozimek, I was employed at Lehigh Heavy Forge which is the old Bethlehem Steel plant in Bethlehem PA. I was out for a shoulder operation for a rotator cuff tear. The workman’s comp. insurance turned it down as I tried to fight it, so STD wouldn’t pay (Reliance).
Now the judge in the case had turned me down agreeing with the insurance company, so in this case Reliance is supposeed to pick up the payment for my STD claim that I had filed with them and this case worker Donna won’t even pick up the phone to call me back.
Please help, what do I do?
Mark, you should immediately communicate in writing with Reliance Standard about the current situation.
I have first Reliance in NY State. Here is my question. Can hey cut my monthly benefits they are paying me while I am waiting to see if I can even get SSD? The insurance company calls it Estimated SSD. What they do is estimate how much they think I would get from SSD and they take that much away from my monthly check each month and if I am awarded SSD they want all of that money that I would be getting from thm also. I have to plead Hardship in order to get my money… What I don’t understand is, I paid a premium so why would I have to pay them anything? If I had life insurance and died would my kids have to give them back the money I paid for my Insurance? Doesn’t make sense to me… I can understand them taking the money from SSD award but not to take it from me before I even got approved or not… Please help me before I send back any papers to them.
I paid for long term disability for three years and now I am disabled. I cannot get Reliance to pay my benefits on time. They go for months at a time wanting this or that, and twice my claim has been “cancelled” only to be reopened when I start yelling “lawyer”. They stall, won’t return my calls, and I am behind in all my bills and turned over to collections agencies because they wont pay me regularly. I lost my COBRA medical insurance because I haven’t had a check in four months from Reliance, so I couldn’t pay my premiums. I’ve had enough. I have an appointment to see an attorney in the morning. I’m suing the bastards.
Kate,
We welcome the opportunity to discuss your claim with Reliance Standard. Before you can sue them you must file an appeal and exhaust all administrative remedies. The delay you are experiencing from Reliance of greater than four months is beyond the norm. If your claim is denied you will receive an explanation in writing. Call us if you would like to discuss your options.
JoJo,
I have not seen your Reliance Standard policy, but group policies must allow the disability company to offset for social security disability. Please see the FAQ section of our site for a lot of information related to SSDI deductions. The estimated offset is unreasonable. If you ask the company to wait until you receive SSDI, then most will not do an estimated offset.
Reliance Standard is the biggest scam ripoff company in the business. They say they will pay 60% of your salary upon proof of disability . They don’t tell you that upon approval of social security disability or benefits that they will deduct this amount from their payment. That leaves you with a monthly check of around $100. After paying $30.00 a month premiums for the past 11 years I feel that I have been had. Thank you Reliance Standard for adding more stress to my life and that of my family.
Robert,
At the time you bought your policy, your employer should have provided you with a copy of your disability policy with Reliance Standard. If your disability policy does not provide language allowing Reliance Standard to seek an overpayment for SSDI, then they are not allowed to. Your employer negotiated the terms of your disability policy with Reliance Standard. Most claimants don’t realize that ERISA disability insurance policies include language that allows for an SSDI setoff.
My employer has a auxiliary group policy with Reliance Standard for disabilities. Our primary health insurance is through our Union with our Employer paying the premiums per our contract.
Recently I was off from work due to several medical problems and I have just returned to this month. During my recovery period Reliance Standard after it’s usual excruciating processing time sent me a disability check. Even though I had filed no Social Security claim, Reliance had deducted an offset for Social Security. I called Reliance to no avail. The offset stood. Then I received a call from Reliance informing me that when I returned to work if I supplied the release documents from my Doctors then possibly I might receive part of the offset money if approved by them. Then, unexpectedly, the other day I received a second call from Reliance informing me that if I could supply additionally a statement from the SSA that I had no Social Security claim that I would receive the offset money in return. All this information was sent to them last Friday.
Today, Saturday, I received a lengthy letter from Reliance informing me that I was receiving a “pension” in addition to Social Security and that the disability check they sent me should have been a considerably smaller amount. I am receiving no “pension” from anyone and am not receiving anything from the SSA. I did receive disability checks from the Union and SURS Disability Insurance, but from no other entities.
Now, Reliance says it over-payed me $2,200 and wants reimbursement in 15 days. My Union Disability money ran out at about the time Reliance sent me their check, so the money from Reliance went to pay bills, living expenses and and co-pays from medical expenses.
In this situation do I have any recourse or should I seek legal counsel?
Thomas,
If you did not receive a pension, then it’s is unclear how Reliance Standard claims you were overpaid. Since they are only claiming $2,200 overpayment it is unlikely they will aggresively prusue you. Also, it could cost you more to get an attorney since the amount in controversy is so low. In this situation you should do the best you can on your own.
My husband has partial disability due to his stroke. He can work, thankfully, but now has limitations that he didn’t have before. We started receiving benefits on time and, at the beginning, we thought they we rather large for a partial disability. We and the human resources manager at my husband’s employer questioned the claims examiner several times about the amount. She recalculated it and assured us it was correct. About a year and half later we get a letter saying they had overpaid us by a lot and we needed to send this amount back to them in 15 days. With the help of the same HR manager we told them no. They withheld payments for over a year until they considered us “even”. Now we are starting to get payments again and, as always, they are very irregular. The thing that galls us the most is that the claims examiner, DB, never admitted her calculations had been wrong all along. She blamed the whole thing on error made at my husband’s employers. One time we didn’t get payments for several months and we called and DB said she was waiting for medical records to come from our insurer. We had no notification of this and she never called the insurer to expedite and follow up on anything. I called and got the ball rolling or I don’t think we ever would have been notified about what the delay was. They have terrible customer service and you have to be on them all the time to get anything done or explained. They put a terrible burden on people who don’t have another source of income and should be held accountable.
I live in Maryland. I am a cancer patient and what they are putting me through is unbearable. They are trying to force me back to work while I am battling cancer and cannot even get out of bed.
Put out of my job as a police Lieutenant after a fit for duty evaluation in 6-2010. Tried to go back on duty, but was kept out by the doctor for the employer. Finally gave in and filled out my paperwork and was told that although I was still not working because of their doctor, my doctor at first, said I was physically OK to do the job. Long story short, my OPERS should be ruled in my favor at the Jan. meeting of the board. At this point, I need Reliance to pay their share and need to appeal their first decision. I was waiting on the report from PERS’s doctor before I sent in my appeal, but any help would be great.
I am receiving LTD benefits from Reliance as I’m disabled due to Intractable Migraines. I’ve also suffered several small strokes from my migraines and have documented damage to my brain. I’ve had to work with Reliance for almost 4 years now and the constant strain of providing them with this/that is getting to the point of absurdity. A few months back they started making me complete a monthly “headache log”. Looks like a totally made up word document in that it has no official insurance company form number at the bottom which most insurance company forms always have. Social Security and/or my Neurologist don’t even require this type of documentation as my condition has never improved.
I am wondering if there is anyone else out there being required to complete headache logs for Reliance? I suspect that I’m being forced to complete these logs for reasons that I can’t discuss publicly at this time. Has anyone else heard of headache logs for persons receiving LTD benefits from Reliance Standard?
Reliance Standard writes worthless disability policies. I’ve been fighting them for 5 years now, turned them into the Insurance Commissioner of Kansas two times now. Even though the first time they found wrong doing by Reliance several times, it is now time for me to give up. They lose paper work, to terminate, they make your life miserable in hopes you give up and after thousands of dollars I’ve spent for a lawyer just to make sure I get a check, they now say I owe them 37,000 dollars for their lies. I sent them and my lawyer repeatedly sent them my estimated SSI income, if I would be approved for SSI. Now, I finally got my SSI and they say their records show I’ve had it since 2007. Lie after Lie after Lie. I hope the Insurance Commissioner of Kansas finds more wrong doing on their part again but with my failing health just too much stress to even put up with Reliance anymore but will fight if they push me one more time.They owe Me, not the other way around.
I shout it to the world how crooked their policies are… read the fine print. If you become disabled, but can do even one thing of your old job, they don’t have to pay. Like one lawyer said, if you’re an actor and become disabled Reliance does not have to pay even if you’re a quad. Because part of your job was to read, well in a wheel chair unable to use arms or legs, you can still do part of your job: “read”! How messed up is that?
Oh, and the SSI office has called me several times saying Reliance was trying to obtain my information. SSI says Reliance can send you the forms over and over and it doesn’t matter, even if I sign them SSI will not give out my information to anyone.
BEWARE of this company, they will harass you, haunt you and, as what’s happening to me, come back to bite you in the butt saying I owe them 37,000 dollars.
My experience with Reliance Standard has been a nightmare! Like others previously stated, their way of doing business does nothing but create hardship, pain, and grief for those depending on their services. Is there anything an Average Joe like me can do to get results? I feel like I am backed up into a corner, completely at the mercy of Reliance and their feet dragging. It cannot be legal the way they do business. Can I write my Congressman? Go to my FOX Phoenix News and hope to be heard? Any suggestions for a young 8 year military Veteran, father with full custody of 3 children (one of whom has Autism and Waardenburg’s Syndrome)?
Mrs. Sharon Fair, your comment pretty much summed up my predicament exactly. I was wondering if you and your sister/brother in law had any luck getting any results? These people should not be able to operate and run their business this way. We lost our house, have had to depend on our family (who is struggling enough on their own as is) for everything, still enduring a long drawn out process waiting for a check to get here that seems like it will never come. I’d like to know if I have any rights or course of action that can be taken…
J,
I am not sure what your claim status is, but if you contact us we will offer you a free consultation to discuss your claim. It may help your claim to contact the department of insurance in your state and the local news. Sometimes these large insurance companies forget that they only exist because of customers like you that bought insurance from them. Reliance Standard can be difficult to deal with.