Collecting Chronic Pain Disability Benefits Is A Reality

Chronic pain is caused by hundreds of different disabling medical conditions. There is no medical device in the world that measures pain. Pain is subjective, which means that a disability insurance company will often argue that there is insufficient information to support the claim. It is not uncommon for a person to be suffering with chronic pain, yet the medical doctor cannot establish the cause of the pain. People suffering from chronic pain cannot perform their jobs as they used to. It physically prevents workers from performing certain tasks, and the pain can be so distracting that they cannot complete jobs that require focus and care. We recommend that all of our clients maintain a daily pain journal in order to properly document their medical conditions. We also advise claimants to seek treatment with pain management specialists such as physiatrist or anesthesiologist. It is important to obtain as much medical documentation as possible in support of your claim for either short or long term disability benefits. Disability insurance carriers will often rely upon video surveillance in order to challenge a claimant’s complaints of chronic disabling pain.

Our disability insurance attorneys have fought for claimants like you since 1979. We know this industry well, and we can give you your best shot of receiving benefits if you legitimately qualify for them. Contact us if you are considering applying for disability benefits, appealing a denied claim, or filing a disability lawsuit anywhere in the USA.

What Types Chronic Pain Are Most Common In Long Term Disability Claims?

Common forms of chronic pain include:

  • Back pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Severe headaches
  • Joint pain
  • Arthritis
  • Chest pain
  • Abdominal pain

Understandably, insurance companies need to see some evidence that your pain is so severe that you cannot do your job. Since pain is subjective, insurance companies require an extraordinary amount of evidence on the claimant’s part. Unfortunately, they will find any excuse they can to deny or limit your benefits. Many use in-house physicians to discredit your claims, even though they have never met you or physically diagnosed your symptoms.

It is very important to consult an attorney early in the process. If you fill out the application incorrectly or forget to include certain medical information, it could delay your benefits for months, possibly years. We can tell you all the information you need to know, including state regulations or specific industry guidelines, that could affect your benefits.

Our Experience with Chronic Pain

Disability Attorney Stephen Jessup wins benefits for 60 year old client with fibromyalgia
Disability lawyers win ERISA long term disability appeal against Hartford
Unum Provident pays total disability benefits to a chiropractor with breast cancer

We handle cases across the nation and we encourage you to review hundreds of our resolved cases and client testimonials. To find out how we can help with your disability claim, you can contact our disability insurance attorneys to set up a free consultation in person, over the phone or via a video chat.

Resources

To learn more about chronic pain, consult:

We frequently update this page with news about chronic pain disability benefits and new laws that could affect your disability. Check back for new information.

Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits

Disability Benefit Denial Options
Submit a Strong Appeal Package

We work with you, your doctors, and other experts to submit a very strong appeal.

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Sue Your Disability Insurance Company

We have filed thousands of disability denial lawsuits in federal Courts nationwide.

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Protect Your Benefits
Get Your Disability Application Approved
We help claimants throughout the entire application process.

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Prevent a Disability Benefit Denial
We manage every aspect of your disability claim following claim approval.

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Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Our goal is to negotiate the highest possible buyout of your long-term disability policy.

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Disability Company Reviews
(650)
Showing 8 of 650 Reviews
MetLife

MetLife for disability? Avoid the surgery unless it's life-threatening

Reviewed by Jeff on August 22nd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
The worst company I ever dealt with, never received a call from my claim manager.
Reliance Standard

Short Term Disability Claim/Inconsistent to NO Communication

Reviewed by GaKRN on August 22nd 2024   Verified Policyholder | June 2024 date of disability
When I did call & reach a live person they were kind & helpful. The person assigned to my claim left one phone message & I have not spoken to her since. Information she re... read more >
Unum

Unum Closed My Case Today

Reviewed by Scott C. on July 5th 2024   Verified Policyholder | March 2023 date of disability
Unum will keep you around, if they pay you 100 a month. But as soon as have to pay more than 2700 a month, they will drop you. We will be going to the attorneys office fir... read more >
Hartford

Ran me Around for Months

Reviewed by David on July 5th 2024   Verified Policyholder | January 2024 date of disability
Scammers. Immoral horrible people.
Reply
Sent on July 5th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

David:

It’s horrible that Hartford did that to you.

Prudential

Denied but Not Denied but I am Denied

Reviewed by KDDK on July 5th 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2022 date of disability
I went out in Aug. 2022 for neck pain. After seeing a neurologist I had to get an ACDF C5-7, it was also determined I had carpal tunnel in my right hand and bulging disk i... read more >
New York Life

Claiming They Are Not Receiving Paperwork

Reviewed by Macey on June 26th 2024   Verified Policyholder | February 2024 date of disability
After suffering from medical issues from my delivery in February, I had to have a colostomy bag placed. Now New York Life is trying to claim my condition was pre-existing ... read more >
Hartford

Truly Horrible and Immoral Company with No Customer Service

Reviewed by William M. on June 26th 2024   Verified Policyholder | June 2020 date of disability
My experiences with Hartford have been nothing short of cruel. They started off by claiming that having Glioblastoma, which has an expected life span of about fifteen mont... read more >
Hartford

Sent my Direct Deposit to a Strangers Bank Acct

Reviewed by Brad on May 2nd 2024   Verified Policyholder | February 2024 date of disability
I went on short term disability and The Hartford put my direct deposit into someone else’s bank account. Somehow they messed up a number or two and they are refusing to ... read more >
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
(4)
Showing 4 of 4 Answered Questions

Q: Do I have a case for permanent disability?

Answered on July 21st 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: I am sorry to hear about everything you have been through. If you had a disability insurance policy when you s... Read More >

Q: MetLife: Mental Health and Physical Disabilities

Answered on May 31st 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: If you have physical disabilities that prevent you from working then you have options to get around the mental... Read More >

Q: How can I find out how much overpayment Reliance Standard will be able to recover from me?

Answered on December 8th 2012 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Regina, Reliance Standard will be able to recover an overpayment for any period of time that Reliance paid whi... Read More >

Q: Can I hold Unum accountable for terminating my benefits after 24 months if I was physically disabled – not mentally – first and foremost?

Answered on December 1st 2011 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Lisa, We have handled numerous cases against UNUM dealing with the 2 year mental nervous limitation. If you ha... Read More >
Helpful Videos
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Showing 12 of 902 Videos
Disability Benefit Tips
(331)
Showing 8 of 331 Benefit Tips

Does a disability insurance company need to consider the side effects of my medications?

Disability insurance companies are notorious for ignoring the cognitive side effects that most disability claimants experience from their medications. Disability companies are aware of the side effects of narcotics; yet they often fail to consider how working under the influence of these prescribed drugs limits a person's ability to work. Disability benefit comp... Read More >

Is a Claimant's Complaints of Pain Enough to Qualify for Short or Long Term Disability Insurance Benefits?

The answer to this question applies to the vast majority of long term disability insurance claims that we handle on a daily basis. Pain is subjective. This means that there is no medical device or verifiable method for confirming pain. A claimant's ability to collect disability benefits based upon pain will depend upon the level of documentation and treatment received from treating physicians. In a recent case... Read More >

Can The Hartford Characterize Cognitive Impairment Due to Chronic Pain a Mental Condition?

Disability insurance attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup discuss a Northern Illinois federal court case in which Hartford attempted to deny benefits to a nurse after 24 month. Hartford claimed that the Nurse's cognitive impairment was a mental condition subject to the disability policy's 24 month mental health limitation. The court disagreed and reinstated... Read More >

Can my insurance carrier deny my benefits even if there is no change in my medical condition?

Insurance companies frequently terminate long term disability benefits after paying a claim for several years, even when the claimant's condition remains the same. It would seem unfair that one's benefits can be cut off when their disabling condition has not improved or changed in any way. However, it is quite common that a person who has been on disability for several years, who has been approved for "any occ... Read More >

Why Must Your Disability Insurance Lawyer Understand Your Disabling Condition?

When it comes to securing your disability insurance benefits, it's vitally important that your disability insurance lawyer thoroughly understands the symptoms and impact of your disabling condition. Doctors can help you create strong medical records, but they're not accustomed to dealing with the rigorous documentation disability insurance companies require. Lea... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #5 – Your Medical Evidence is Weak

If you're seeking long term disability benefits from an insurance company, you may be concerned that you're facing an uphill battle. Fortunately, the stronger your medical evidence, the greater the odds that your claim will be approved. On the other side of the coin, one of the most common reasons for denial of long term disability benefits involves too-weak med... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #4 - Your Doctor Is Misled By the Disability Company

When you're seeking disability insurance benefits, your medical records and treating physician's statement are two of the most important components of your claim. But because the insurance company has a vested interest in denying your disability insurance claim, it often will rely on tactics like ambushing your doctor with a phone call in an attempt to get them ... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #3 - Video & Social Media Surveillance

One thing many disability insurance claimants don't know about (or expect) from the claims review process involves video and social media surveillance. Disability insurance carriers often hire people to follow claimants around with a telephoto lens - or even send social media friend requests from fake accounts - to glean whatever information they can about the c... Read More >
Dell Disability Cases
(375)
Showing 8 of 375 Dell Disability Cases

NY Life Disability Benefits Reinstated on Appeal Despite Independent Medical Examination

Our client, a former high level medical sales representative, suffered from chronic pain stemming from his neck, back and hip that would eventually result in multiple surgeries to include lumbar fusion, cervical fusion and sacroiliac joint fusion. He initially filed his claim for disability benefits at age 62 due to the increasing pain he was experiencing, which... Read More >

After Principal Denies Continued Disability Benefits, Attorney Alexander Palamara Gets Claim Reinstated for a Vienna Beef Employee

Our new client was a dedicate employee of Vienna Beef who worked as a Customer Service Representative (a sedentary occupation) since August 2013. He was a dedicated employee as she enjoyed the job and loved her employer. Unfortunately for our now client, medical issues seemed to be piling up and they began to affect her ability to perform the duties of her own occupation.The Former Customer Service Re... Read More >

After Two Appeals The Standard Insurance Approves Short & Long Term Disability Benefits for Nurse

Prior to filing for disability, our client was a Registered Nurse employed as a Senior Case Manager for United Healthcare. Our client was a dedicated employee who enjoyed her work until chronic pain, frequent headaches, and resulting cognitive dysfunction forced her to stop working in July of 2018. Fortunately, her employer provided disability insurance coverage under two policies: UnitedHealth Group’s ... Read More >

CIGNA Overturned Their Denial of LTD Benefits for Nevada Healthcare Coordinator

Our client, Ms. G, formerly worked as a Healthcare Coordinator for a large regional healthcare provider. For many years Ms. G suffered from chronic debilitating effects of multiple physical conditions and ailments, including, among other conditions, Intractable Pain, Chronic Venous Insufficiency, which left her with debilitating physical and cognitive impairments. Ms. G was unwilling to give up her career and ... Read More >

MetLife Approves Long Term Disability Claim For Executive Assistant with Neck Pain

Our client, a former Executive Assistant at American Express, filed a claim with MetLife under American Express's short term disability policy on account of severe cervical and thoracic pain with resulting radiculopathy that made it impossible for her to execute her job duties. Based on the medical information provided, MetLife quickly approved our client's for claim for short term disability with little resis... Read More >

Prudential Approves LTD Claim on Voluntary Appeal

Prior to hiring our office, our client, a former director for a large university tasked with ensuring securing donations and fundraising, filed for disability insurance benefits with Prudential following surgery for a right hip replacement. Prudential initially approved our client’s claim in light of the surgery, but was soon making inquiries as to her continued restrictions and limitations as her initial re... Read More >

CIGNA overturned previous denial of waiver of life insurance premiums

Our client was the husband and beneficiary of Ms. S, who formerly worked as a registered nurse for a regional Healthcare System. In January 2016 a number of medical issues, including cerebrovascular constriction syndrome, vasomotor headaches, unspecified neurocognitive disorder, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain syndrome forced Ms. S to stop working and submit her claim for disability benefits under her employ... Read More >

Dell Disability Lawyers Successfully Appeals Metlife Denial of Benefits to Veteran

Mr. A contacted our firm after being denied benefits by his employer’s group disability carrier, MetLife. He had been working as a supervisor for a large manufacturer of heavy duty automotive components. His job required him to perform prolonged physical activities like climbing, kneeling, standing, pulling grasping, lifting and working with various tools.He was suffering from a long list of medical cond... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
(765)
Showing 8 of 765 Lawsuit Stories

NFL Disability Review Board Ignores Evidence of Disability and Appeal Court Reverses Lower Court Decision

In Darren Mickell v. Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Players Retirement Plan (Plan), Mickell spent nine years in the NFL as a defensive end. He was repeatedly subjected to high speed contact hits which caused multiple orthopedic injuries to his “back, ribs, shoulders, arms, hands, knees, hips, legs, and feet." He had multiple orthopedic surgeries. Mickell also sustained multiple blows to his head t... Read More >

Colorado District Court overturns denial of benefits by Life Insurance Company of North America

In Johnson v. Life Insurance Company of America, a Colorado District Court ruled in favor of the claimant finding LINA’s decision unsupported by any reasonable basis. The case dealt with a denial of long term disability benefits at the change in definition from own occupation to any occupation. After paying 24 months of benefits to Ms. Johnson, LINA concluded that Ms. Johnson did not qualify for any occupati... Read More >

Court Rejects Expanded Mental Illness Limitation to Coverage

In Jarillo v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co., Judge Michael M. Anello of the United States District Court of the Southern District of California held that plaintiff Marife Jarillo met her burden of proof and was entitled to benefits under the ERISA. For about eight years, Jarillo worked in the marketing department of the Sycuan Band of The Kumeyaay Nation (a federally recognized Native American tribe located ... Read More >

Federal Appeal Court Upholds District Court Order to FedEx to Pay Long Term Total Disability Benefits to Its Employee

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently agreed with a federal district court in South Carolina that the Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) was blatantly wrong when it denied long-term total disability benefits to its employee who was injured on the job. The claimant, Richard Bilheimer, had been employed by FedEx for eight years when he was involved in his second on the job car wreck. He was ... Read More >

Tenet Healthcare Corporation employee sues UNUM under ERISA for wrongfully denying disability benefits by disregarding attending physician's medical opinion

A disability attorney recently filed a lawsuit at the District Court for the Northern District of Alabama against the Unum Life Insurance Company of America (Unum). In Joan Allred vs. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, the plaintiff Joan Allred sued Unum for the recovery of long term disability benefits due under her disability insurance plan sponsored by Tenet Healthcare Corporation.The Nature of the... Read More >

Reliance Standard Disability Denial Upheld Due to Claimant's Lack of Strong Medical Record Support

In the case of Amy Wright v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance), Plaintiff was the vice-president of health information services at Integrity Health Care when she stopped working on August 7, 2017. She brought claims for benefits under an LTD insurance policy and a waiver of premiums under a life insurance policy.In order to be approved for LTD benefits, Plaintiff ... Read More >

Unum Wrongfully Terminated Disabled Lawyer’s Disability Claim of Depression and Anxiety Despite Improvement in His Condition

This Unum lawsuit and appeal in federal court is a great victory for all Unum disability claimants. This case supports all claimants that are disabled and claim that they cannot return to work as the requirements of their job will aggravate their symptoms and make them unable to work.Mark was a personal injury litigation attorney, when he began struggling with symptoms of... Read More >

Federal Court Overturns Aetna Denial Of Disability Benefits

In the recent case of Ferrin v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. a federal judge from the Northern District of Illinois determined that Aetna improperly terminated Ferrin’s claim for long term disability benefits and ordered Aetna to reinstate Ferrin’s claim and pay all past due benefits with interest. Prior to filing for long term disability Ferrin was an employee of Southwest Airlines. In 2008, while at work, she suf... Read More >

Reviews from Our Clients

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5 Ways We Help Get Your Benefits Paid

Get Your Disability Application Approved

Our goal is to get your application for disability income benefits approved. Applying for disability insurance benefits can be a difficult process and the information you provide is critical. Most disability insurance companies look at your application in hopes of finding a reason to deny your claim. Your disability company will ask you to complete numerous forms, interview you, request lots of information, speak with your doctors and possibly request to have you examined by their "hired gun" doctor.

Through our experience of having helped thousands of disability insurance claimants, our disability insurance lawyers will guide you through the entire application process and give you the best chance to get your disability claim approved the first time.

Submit A Strong Appeal Package

If your disability insurance benefits have been wrongfully denied, then our disability insurance lawyers know exactly what it takes to get your disability claim approved. You only get once chance to submit an Appeal, therefore every piece of evidence that will support your disability claim must be included. The goal is to win your disability benefits at the Appeal level, but while preparing your Appeal you must consider how a federal judge will review your disability claim if your benefit denial is upheld.

Preparing a strong disability appeal package is an art that requires you to understand how the courts interpret your disability policy language, ERISA regulations / laws, and how to strategically present evidence in support of your definition of "disability". We encourage you to contact any of our attorneys for a free immediate review of your disability denial.

Sue Your Disability Company

98% of the disability insurance lawsuits filed by our law firm have resulted in either the payment of benefits or a lump-sum settlement agreement. Our disability insurance attorneys have filed ERISA governed and private policy long term disability insurance lawsuits against every major disability insurance company in state and federal courts nationwide and we love fighting for the "little guy" against the multi-billion dollar insurance company giants.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and we would like the opportunity to provide you with a free review of your disability benefit denial. There are many complex factors in a disability benefit lawsuit and the legal battle to win long term disability benefits can be fierce.

Prevent A Disability Benefit Denial

Approval of long-term disability is a continuous process as every disability insurance company will evaluate your eligibility for benefits on a monthly basis. You can never let your guard down and assume that your disability company will continue to pay your benefits for as long as you think you need them.

Our disability insurance law firm offers a reasonable flat fee monthly claim handling service in which we handle every aspect of your long-term disability claim and do whatever it takes to make sure you are paid every month.

Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Let's discuss if a lump-sum settlement or buyout of your disability insurance claim is both available and makes financial sense for you. Our disability insurance lawyers have negotiated more than five-hundred million dollars in disability insurance buyouts and we know how to get you a maximum settlement. A disability insurance company is not required to offer a buyout and not every disability company offers them.

Questions About Hiring Us

Who are Dell Disability Lawyers?

We are disability insurance attorneys that know how to get your short or long term disability benefits paid. As a nationwide law firm we have helped thousands of disability insurance claimants throughout the United States to collect hundreds of millions of dollars of disability insurance benefits from every major disability insurance company.

In more than 98% of our cases, our attorneys have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement. Our disability insurance lawyers have seen it all when it comes to disability insurance claims and we know exactly what it takes for your disability claim to be approved.

We offer disability insurance attorney representation nationwide and we welcome you to contact any of our lawyers for a free immediate review of your disability claim. We also invite you to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we have more than 850 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our disability insurance attorneys help individuals that have either purchased a long term disability insurance policy from an insurance company or obtained short or long term disability insurance coverage as a benefit from their employer. We have helped individuals in almost every type of occupation with monthly disability benefit payments ranging from $1,500 to $50,000.

Our clients include all types of employees ranging from retail associates, sales representatives, government employees, police officers, teachers, janitors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, financial advisors, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, consultants, IT professionals, engineers, professional athletes, business owners, and high level executives.

A strong understanding and presentation of the duties of your occupation is essential for securing disability insurance benefits.

Do you work in my state?

Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm that is available to represent you regardless of where you live in the United States. We have partner lawyers in every state and we have filed lawsuits in most federal courts nationwide. Our disability insurance lawyers represent disability claimants at all stages of a claim for disability insurance benefits. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world.

What are your fees?

Since we represent disability insurance claimants at different stages of a disability insurance claim we offer a variety of different fee options. We understand that claimants living on disability insurance benefits have a limited source of income; therefore we always try to work with the claimant to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible.

The three available fee options are a contingency fee agreement (no attorney fee or cost unless we make a recovery), hourly fee or fixed flat rate.

In every case we provide each client with a written fee agreement detailing the terms and conditions. We always offer a free initial phone consultation and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you in obtaining payment of your disability insurance benefits.

Do I have to come to your office to work with your law firm?

No. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via phone, email, fax, or video conferencing sessions. If you prefer an initial in-person meeting please let us know. A disability company will never require you to come to their office and similarly we are set up so that we handle your entire claim without the need for you to come to our office.

How can I contact you?

When you call us during normal business hours you will immediately speak with a disability insurance attorney. We can be reached at 800-698-9159 or by email. Lawyers and staff must return all client calls same day. Client emails are usually replied to within the same business day and seem to be the preferred and most efficient method of communication for most clients.

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