Attorney Jay Symonds

Jay Symonds is a Partner at Dell Disability Lawyers with nearly three decades of ERISA disability litigation experience and more than three thousand ERISA disability claims, appeals, and lawsuits under his belt.

Jay spent the first half of his career on the insurer side, serving as in-house and outside counsel for some of the country’s largest disability insurance carriers, including Sun Life Financial, Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, and Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. As Senior Litigation Counsel at Sun Life Financial, he managed all ERISA disability litigation filed in the United States involving the company’s group insurance products. He also spent several hundred hours training insurer claims and appeals units on DOL regulatory compliance, claims investigations, and ERISA case law.

In 2009, Jay served as Chair of the Defense Research Institute’s annual Life, Health, Disability and ERISA Seminar in New York City — the largest and most prominent ERISA defense conference in the country. He also served as a seminar speaker in 2005, 2007, and 2009. In 2014, he co-authored the “ERISA – First Circuit” chapter of the American Bar Association’s Misrepresentation in the Life, Health, and Disability Insurance Application Process: A National Survey.

A cum laude graduate of New England Law and Bentley University (B.S. in Finance), Jay has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar since 1998 and is admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First, Second, and Third Circuits. Since joining Dell Disability Lawyers in 2015, Jay has used his deep carrier-side knowledge to fight for claimants who are unfairly denied disability and life insurance benefits under ERISA.

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • United States District Court, Massachusetts
  • First Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Second Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Affiliations

  • Boston Bar Association
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Education

  • Bentley University, BS in Finance, cum laude
  • New England Law, JD, cum laude

Publications

  • ERISA – First Circuit: Misrepresentation in the Life, Health, and Disability Insurance Application Process: A National Survey. American Bar Association (Second Edition).
Attorney Jay Symonds

Get to Know Attorney Jay Symonds

Jay's Client Reviews
(37)

Jay's Resolved Claims
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Lincoln overturned its previous denial of LTD benefits for Escalation Engineer

Our attorneys helped a Escalation Engineer with Migraines win a Lincoln LTD insurance Appeal. See how we won & get a free legal case review

Aetna Overturns Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits for Quality Control Manager

Our attorneys helped a QA Manager with Stroke win an Aetna LTD insurance Appeal. See how we won & get a free legal case review

After Appeal, Lincoln Overturns Denial of LTD benefits for Trucking Supervisor

Our attorneys helped a Supervisor with Osteoarthritis win a Lincoln LTD insurance Appeal. See how we won & get a free legal case review

Sun Life Overturns Its Previous Denial of LTD Benefits for Massachusetts Teacher

Our attorneys helped a Tech Teacher with Osteoarthritis win a Sun Life LTD insurance Appeal. See how we won & get a free legal case review
Jay's Answered Questions
(56)
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Q: Will Lincoln Financial Really Pay My Disability Benefits Through 2033?

Answered on March 19th 2026 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: At the 24-month mark the definition of total disability typically changes from inability to perform your “ow...

Q: SSDI Backpay and LTD Reimbursement: What New York Life Can and Can't Claim?

Answered on March 18th 2026 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: The payment of retroactive SSDI benefits likely created and overpayment that you would be required to pay back...

Q: Pregnancy health issues

Answered on September 23rd 2025 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: Nea, did you file a Short-Term or Long-Term claim with Unum? When did you file it? From your question it seems...

Q: What can I do if my appeal is denied?

Answered on July 7th 2025 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: Andie, if the appeal is denied, NYL may offer a voluntary second level appeal. If not, you will have exhausted...
Jay's Disability Videos
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Jay's Disability Benefit Tips
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Physical and Mental Disabilities: Can Disability Benefits Be Limited?

If I Have Physical and Mental Disabling Conditions Will My Disability Benefit Be Subject to a Limited Pay Period?

The answer to this question is very fact specific in each case. Not every disability policy has a limited pay period for a mental condition. Most employer...

Can my severance agreement eliminate my right to claim disability insurance benefits?

Can severance pay affect your long-term disability insurance benefits? This guide clarifies the rules and helps you secure the benefits you deserve.
Jay's Disability Lawsuit Stories
(24)
Showing 4 of 24 Lawsuit Stories

Court Rules Plaintiff's Medical Records Was Replete With Evidence Supporting Claim of MS & Was Not A Pre-Existing Condition

U.S. District Court in Louisiana granted judgment in favor of Plaintiff based on Unum’s failure to conduct a full, fair and thorough investigation of Plaintiff’s alleged pre-existing medical condition.

Court Rules That Aetna’s Failure To Consider Plaintiff’s Actual Job Duties Was Arbitrary And Capricious

3rd Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed District Court’s grant of judgment in favor of Plaintiff based on Aetna’s failure to consider whether Plaintiff could perform his actual job duties rather than his occupation as it was performed in the national economy.

Court Rules That MetLife Improperly Limited Proof Of Claim To Only Objective Data

A district court judge granted judgment in favor of claimant based on MetLife’s failure to properly consider claimant’s subjective pain complaints and treating physician’s opinions in evaluating his ability to perform any gainful occupation.

Court Rules That MetLife Did Not Consider The Material Duties Of Claimants Occupation

A district court judge granted judgment in favor of claimant based on MetLife's failure to properly consider claimant’s subjective pain complaints and treating physician’s opinions in evaluating her usual occupation.

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