Our Disability Lawyers Help You Collect Disability Insurance Benefits in Georgia
If you are a resident of Georgia and would like assistance with your short or long term disability benefits claim, ERISA denial, long term care, life insurance or accidental death policy, there are several things you need to be aware of. Regardless of what stage of the claim process you are currently in, it’s usually best to consult a disability lawyer and carefully go through your options before you file a disability benefits claim, appeal or a lawsuit. In addition, it’s important to have an experienced lawyer who deals specifically with Georgia law because there are certain state-specific aspects that may affect the case.
Georgia residents that have had their disability insurance benefits denied can file a lawsuit in the Georgia State Court under a limited set of circumstances. Georgia’s state appellate courts include the Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. If the disability claimant resides in Georgia and the disability insurance company is located in a different state, and the amount of disability benefits payable is greater than $75,000, then the lawsuit can be filed in Georgia Federal District Court. If the disability insurance policy is an employer -provided policy governed by ERISA, then the disability claim must be filed in federal court. Georgia has three Federal District Courts, which are the Middle, Northern, Southern District of Georgia Federal Courts. An ERISA governed disability claim denial lawsuit can usually be filed in any state that the insurance company conducts business. According to the Georgia Department of Insurance there are more than 1,600 insurance companies that sell insurance products in Georgia.
When seeking assistance from a disability insurance attorney in Georgia, it is important to consider how much experience your lawyer has in dealing with your specific disability insurance company. At the Law Offices of Dell Disability Lawyers, we deal with every major disability company on a daily basis. We know every action that they will take. We have earned our reputation in both Georgia and Nationwide as aggressive, competent, and reliable disability insurance lawyers. It is essential to hire an experienced attorney with a disability insurance law firm that has the resources, co-counsel network and experience to effectively represent disability insurance claimants against these nationwide disability insurance companies.
If you need attorney representation in Georgia, please contact us for a free phone consultation. We handle disability benefit claims at all stages: applications, appeals, and litigation of disability lawsuits. We are available to help you with any claim in the United States and you will not be required to come to our office. If we cannot assist you, we will try to refer you to someone that can. We encourage you to look around our extensive website and download our free E-brochure to learn more about our legal services.
What qualifies you for disability in Georgia?
According to Georgia’s guidelines, an individual is considered to have a qualifying disability if the following conditions are met: they are unable to work and engage in substantial gainful activity due to their medical condition, or they are unable to perform their previous work or adapt to other work due to their medical condition.
In addition, their disability must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months and must prevent them from performing basic work activities, such as walking, standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, pushing or pulling. The disability must also be severe enough to significantly limit their ability to function in a work setting on a daily basis.
Finally, Georgia considers an individual disabled if they have a condition that is listed on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) List of Impairments, which provides detailed descriptions of impairments and the symptoms associated with them. If an individual meets these criteria, then they may be eligible for disability benefits in Georgia.
Why work with a disability lawyer in Georgia?
The majority of disability applicants seek out legal representation for the appeals process. An experienced disability lawyer will ensure your medical evidence includes accurate information for the courts to review during a disability hearing. They can also help you to understand your legal rights and options, provide guidance on how to appeal a denial of benefits, and ensure that your case is presented in the most compelling manner. This includes gathering evidence from medical records and other sources, filing all necessary paperwork in a timely manner, obtaining a favourable judge for your hearing, and arguing the strongest possible case at the hearing. An experienced disability lawyer will be able to examine all evidence and documentation thoroughly and present your case in an organized, well-structured way. Additionally, they can help you to understand any legal terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to you, as well as provide advice and guidance on how to proceed with the appeals process. Having an attorney on your side in the disability appeal process can significantly improve your chances of receiving the benefits you deserve.
Do I have to file my disability denial lawsuit in Georgia?
In the event of an initial application denial of a disability claim denial, our disability attorneys will usually have the option of selecting one of several states to file the disability lawsuit. More than 80% of short-term and long-term disability insurance policies are governed by a federal law called ERISA, which means that a disability insurance attorney in Georgia can usually file a lawsuit in any federal court in any state. If the disability policy is governed by state law then the lawsuit must be filed in a court located in the state where the policy was issued. This means that depending on the specific circumstances of your case, a disability attorney may need to file your case in Georgia if this is where your policy was purchased.
Answers to Questions About Working With Us
I need a disability lawyer near me. Do you work in Georgia?
Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm with extensive experience and we are available to represent you regardless of where you live in Georgia or anywhere else in the United States. We have partner disability lawyers in every state and we have filed lawsuits in most federal courts nationwide. Our disability lawyers represent disability claimants at all stages of a claim for disability insurance benefits, and we deal with clients who have a wide variety of medical conditions or have experienced injury. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world, so please do not hesitate to give us a call for a free initial consultation.
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 clients to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible. The three available fee options are a contingency fee basis (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. Someone from our legal team is are certainly available to meet with you at any of our satellite offices located in either Georgia or another state. However, following a review of your disability policy, medical records, or any other pertinent documents and a free telephone conversation we are usually able to make a determination. It is our job to try to get our clients paid their disability insurance benefits as quickly as possible; therefore we prefer to have an initial consultation via telephone to review your benefits claim. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via telephone, e-mail, text or an online meeting tool. 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. Whether you need help with the initial application process, ERISA-governed policy issues, employer-sponsored Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance problems, insurance company denial, appeals, or litigation processes, we are happy to help remotely.
How can I contact you?
When you call us during normal business hours, you will immediately speak with a disability attorney. We can be reached at 800-698-9159 or by email. Because we have extensive resources, our lawyers and staff return all client calls the 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.
Reviews From Georgia Clients
Choosing a disability law firm to represent you in the application, appeals, or lawsuit stages is no easy task. You want to look for a law office with legal experts who have extensive experience in dealing with initial disability claims, appeals processes, and litigation, and have handled thousands of claims. It’s vital that your chosen disability lawyers of Georgia have extensive legal resources, a well-earned reputation, and a high client satisfaction rate. Be sure to read some of the client recommendations to make the best decisions:
Melissa from Atlanta
I wanted to thank you for taking a chance on my husband’s case when no one else would. I knew it would be an uphill battle, but I’m pleased with the outcome. As I said, it’s like found money. I really do appreciate everything that Mr. Alex Palamara and Vanessa did during this process.
Christopher G. from Sandy Springs
I am very pleased with the job done by Dell Disability Lawyers. From start to finish the team that worked with me was very thorough, professional and communicated with me frequently. They really took the time to understand my situation and came up with an effective strategy to win my appeal. I would not hesitate to recommend Dell Disability Lawyers to anyone needing this type of legal support.
Ron K. from Savannah
I was on disability with a major insurance company for five years without any problems, upon a field rep’s visit to my home, I let him know that I was planning to try to go back to work. I did try to go back to work but with my severe sleep apnea and depression and several medications that made me very tired, the work day became impossible, when I let the case manager know that I couldn’t work without getting very tired and having to take a nap after a few hours on the job, he told me that the claim would be reexamined. I waited 9 months without any monthly benefit benefits being paid to me, the company gave me several excuses and I was in a real pickle, I researched disability attorney’s since I was in the insurance business and was told that the very best in the business for representation of my issues was a firm called Dell Disability Lawyers.
I reached out to the firm and was put in touch with an attorney named Steve Jessup, from that point forward, my problems seemed to fall off my shoulders and into the firms hands, I can’t explain in words what this firm did for me and my family.
Steve Jessup & Gregory Dell began working on my case immediately and I felt confident with every action they took. The insurance company as most wanted to settle my case for pennies on the dollar, but with the skill of the two attorneys, I was able to settle my case for a once in a lifetime lump sum payment from the disability insurance company that will take care of me and my family for life. All I can say is that these guys were like a machine grinding away in the trenches agains the insurance companies attorneys and getting me a great settlement. I would highly recommend this firm for anyone who felt like I did up against bad odds with a large insurance company and no where to turn to.
The best experience I have ever had with any attorneys.
Brett C. from Atlanta
I have been on LTD, since Aug 2016, and Cigna is my LTD Insurance Company. I received a couple of payments from Cigna, without any issues, but then the payments stopped in Oct, at which time I was informed by Cigna that they were “looking into” my claim. Cigna stopped contacting me, would not even return calls or emails, but finally contacted me in mid-December to inform me that they would not be continuing with my claim.
I contacted Dell Disability Lawyers in January, at which time I began working with Attorney Alex Palamara, Disability Appeal Specialist Randa Escayg, and Legal Assistant Kathy Bordes. These folks were always kind, professional, understanding, did a great job of explaining everything to me, and most importantly I could tell that they truly cared about the situation my wife and I had unfortunately found ourselves in.
I fully understand the feeling of being overwhelmed, when you are first denied, that David vs Goliath feeling of you against some huge conglomerate, that powerless and helpless feeling that overcomes you when you are sick and injured and at your most vulnerable. The only things that you are able to focus on are saving your family’s home, doing whatever you can to take care of them, all while you should be focusing your energy on getting better, as much as you are able, so that you can recover your life to what it once was, returning your current life of overwhelming stress and chaos to some semblance of normalcy. Well, as soon as I began working with Alex, Randa, and Kathy, I immediately felt better, like I finally had someone in my corner fighting for me, somebody who cared, and somebody who would stand up to that giant corporation, and make things right.
Alex won my appeal for me, and Cigna is in the process of restoring my full benefits, retro back to October. I cannot describe to you the feeling of joy and elation the moment my wife and I were notified we had won. To those currently dealing with a LTD company, and all of the madness that entails, just know that there is a light at the end of the long dark tunnel. You do still have hope, and you can certainly do no better than to have the wonderful folks at Dell Disability Lawyers in your corner fighting for you!!!!
From my initial contact, to current time, all of my dealings with Alex, Randa, and Kathy have been very professional, and I always felt that my case mattered, that what my family and I were being put through, knowingly and intentionally by Cigna, mattered. The feeling of security cannot be overstated, especially during a time when you need to be focusing on healing, and not on how your next mortgage payment is going to be made.
Shaun D. from Columbus
I can’t thank Rachel and Machal enough, my disability case was stopped by the insurance company on Veterans Day 2016 so at that point I went for the appeal myself. Each level of appeal I lost even though I needed back surgery again, my only regret is not contacting Dell Disability Lawyers sooner.
Disability companies are not your friend and when they play their paper work games and medical reviews, that’s when you want an attorney like Rachel on your side. Anyone reading this and wondering what to do if you have a denial letter from the disability company or an upcoming review, please call Rachel and let her handle everything. This firm works hard and it shows with their attention to detail and the concern for the client.
Top 5 Disability Insurance Cases Resolved by Dell Disability Lawyers in Georgia
Dell Disability Lawyers’ Administrative Appeal for Cafeteria Manager Forces Lincoln to Re-Approve Disability Claim — A cafeteria manager in Worth County School District had her long-term disability insurance claim approved by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. However, after two years, the company stopped her benefits, stating that she was capable of performing a job. She appealed this decision but was unsuccessful. She then hired Attorney Alexander Palamara from Dell Disability Lawyers. With the support of her doctors and evidence, the lawyer made a strong appeal against Lincoln’s decision. Lincoln agreed to reverse its denial and reinstate her benefits from December 4, 2017. She will now receive her benefits until she turns 65.
Aetna overturned previous denial of long term disability benefits for Georgia Assistant — An executive assistant from Georgia was initially denied long-term disability benefits by Aetna. The client, referred to as Ms. A, stopped working in 2014 due to multiple physical conditions and filed for disability benefits under her employer’s Long-term Disability (LTD) Policy, which was facilitated and funded by Aetna. After receiving LTD benefits for two years, Aetna denied Ms. A continued benefits, stating that she was not completely disabled according to the policy definition. Attorney Jay Symonds contested Aetna’s denial of Ms. A’s disability benefits. He raised concerns about faulty health and vocational reviews and false claims regarding the client’s potential work capabilities. The appeal addressed each of Aetna’s reasons for denial and highlighted their inaccurate assessment of her ability to perform sedentary work. Eventually, a financial resolution was reached for Ms. A’s claim after extensive review.
LTD claim approved by Lincoln for former Biomet, Inc. employee suffering from Meniere’s Disease — Lincoln has approved and paid a long term disability claim for a former Project Manager of Biomet, Inc. The claimant had her claim initially denied, but after two appeals, it was approved. Dell Disability Lawyers, led by Attorney Alexander Palamara, conducted both appeals against Lincoln’s denial. Palamara collected supportive statements from all of her treating doctors to strengthen the case. The second appeal was filed in April 2017 with updated medical documentation and letters of support from physicians. Finally, in August 2017, Lincoln approved the claim and the client has received all the due benefits from December 20, 2015, and is now receiving monthly disability benefits.
Sedgwick Reinstates Long Term Disability Claim Following Appeal — A Field Engineer applied for disability benefits because of chronic pain. However, the benefits were denied even though there was medical evidence. Dell Disability Lawyers helped with the appeal and provided job demand information. The denial of short term disability was reversed, but long term disability remained denied. Another appeal pointed out contradictions in Sedgwick’s decisions. Eventually, long term disability benefits were granted. Sedgwick has a track record of trying to deny clients their benefits, so it’s important to stay vigilant.
Prudential Overturns Denial for Dell Disability Lawyers Client Suffering With Serious Back Conditions — A client with back conditions had his Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits reinstated by insurer Prudential. The client, a former Vessel Pilot, has lumbar spondylosis, lumbar radicularopathy, tendonitis, and muscle spasms affecting his capacity to work. Initially, Prudential accepted his claim and paid LTD benefits from August 2013 to 2014. However, they terminated his benefits after an independent medical examination and surveillance footage. After consulting with Dell Disability Lawyers and filing an appeal, Prudential overturned its decision 45 days later, reinstating the client’s benefits. The client knows his fight for benefits is ongoing but is reassured by the support from Dell Disability Lawyers.
Georgia Courts, Government and Georgia Department of Insurance Information
- Georgia Court System Official website
- Supreme Court – The Official Georgia Supreme Court website
- Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia official website
- Georgia Court Structure Chart
- Official Government Website of the State of Georgia – Information regarding the state of Georgia governmental entities resources.
- Georgia Department of Insurance – Regulates all insurance companies that do business in Georgia.
Federal Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals (11th Circuit) – This court has jurisdiction over appeals from United States District Courts located in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
- Middle District of Georgia Federal Court
- Northern District of Georgia Federal Court
- Southern District of Georgia Federal Court
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.
Sue Your Disability Insurance Company
We have filed thousands of disability denial lawsuits in federal Courts nationwide.
Protect Your Benefits
Get Your Disability Application Approved
We help claimants throughout the entire application process.
Prevent a Disability Benefit Denial
We manage every aspect of your disability claim following claim approval.
Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement
Our goal is to negotiate the highest possible buyout of your long-term disability policy.
Disability Company Reviews
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Showing 8 of 632 Reviews
Lincoln Financial
Well Documented correspondence
I read other situations and it’s all very similar to my case. I have received STD from May 2023 and when my FMLA run out LF would not respond or answer my calls. My last... read more >
Unum
They closed my claim and I have been without income since they closed it
Went off work on 9/26/22 due to back issues. Applied for Short Term Disability. On Jan 2023 switched over to Long Term Disability and Unum had me to apply for Social Secur... read more >
Hartford
Bad Faith
They kept asking my doctor for the same information that they did not need to process my claim. He kept sending in the same information, and they kept asking for it. My do... read more >
Hartford
Denied by Hartford after 20 years of Payments
Hello,I am a Multiple Sclerosis patient. I also have Lymph-edema, Asthma, Blood-clot problems, Bi-Polar 1 Depression, and Head & Neck Injuries. And now, due to MS, Spast... read more >
Standard
Standard insurance just dropped me with no communication with me.
I was put on Standard insurance by my employer in 2019. I was told by them when I was first on disability that I would be on this for the rest of my life. After 2 years of... read more >
Reply
Sun Life
What a mess
This place has no idea what day it even is. First they attach my claim to my previous claim in which was a new claim. They messed up and denied me then made me wait yet ag... read more >
Reply
Sedgwick
I was disabled 2003 by SS. I got SSDI 7 years too late.
I believe if Sedgwick would have moved on my Claim. They absolutely did everything not to answer my calls, change dates. I had already been through WV comp. Ins. Sold out,... read more >
MetLife
Only care about $$$$$
PLAY THEIR GAME FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.....after getting a copy of the insurance policy from my HR. I nipped a lot of the headaches quickly by calling their bluff word for w... read more >
Reply
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
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Showing 1 of 1 Answered Questions
Q: Do you handle cases for Aetna employees in Georiga?
A: Jo Anne, yes, we represent claimants nationwide. Please feel free to contact our office to discuss your claim ... Read More >
Helpful Videos
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Disability Benefit Tips
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Showing 8 of 329 Benefit Tips
Can a disability company sue me to recover an SSDI overpayment?
This case shows how a long-term disability insurance company can claim an overpayment once a claimant is approved for social security disabili... Read More >
Disability Benefit Denial Reason #4 - Your Doctor Is Misled By the Disability Company
When you're seeking disability benefits under a long term disability policy, your medical rec... Read More >
Disability Benefit Denial Reason #3 - Video & Social Media Surveillance
One thing many long term disability claimants don't know about (or expect) from the claims re... Read More >
How Do You Fight a Long-Term Disability Denial?
Getting a denial letter from your disability insurance company is one of the ultimate insults... Read More >
Disability Denial Reason #2 - Change of Disability Definition & Vocational Review
One of the top reasons for terminating a claimant's long term disability benefits involves th... Read More >
Disability Denial Reason #1 – Paper Review & IME
At Dell Disability Lawyers, we've seen insurance companies give countless reasons to deny lon... Read More >
How to Apply for Reliance Standard Disability Benefits & Top 5 Reasons for a Claim Denial
At Dell & Schaefer we’ve handled hundreds of long term disability insurance claims against Reliance Standard, and have learned a few thi... Read More >
Applying for Standard Disability Benefits? Top 5 Claim Denial Reasons
At Dell & Schaefer, we've helped hundreds of clients recover long term disability benefit... Read More >
Dell Disability Cases
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Showing 8 of 362 Dell Disability Cases
Dell Disability Lawyers Administrative Appeal for Cafeteria Manager Forces Lincoln to Re-Approve Disability Claim
On August 26, 1988, our now client was hired by the Worth County School District. She worked as the School Nutrition Manager, essentially a Ca... Read More >
Aetna overturned previous denial of long term disability benefits for Georgia Assistant
Our client, Ms. A, formerly worked as an executive assistant for a town administrator. In April 2014 a number of co-morbid physical conditions... Read More >
LTD claim approved by Lincoln for former Biomet, Inc. employee suffering from Meniere's Disease
Although it took two separate appeals to convince Lincoln to approve our client's long term disability claim, we are happy to announce that ou... Read More >
Sedgwick Reinstates Long Term Disability Claim Following Appeal
Like many disability claimants, our client’s experience in dealing with Sedgwick was less than a pleasurable experience. After finding himse... Read More >
Prudential Overturns Denial for Dell Disability Lawyers Client Suffering With Serious Back Conditions
Our client previously worked as a Vessel Pilot for the Ingram Barge Company. Besides being a Vessel Pilot, our client is a husband and a fathe... Read More >
How does Reliance Standard deny long term disability benefits after paying for three years?
A former Payroll Manager for Solairus Aviation, a large Private Jet Charter and Aircraft Mana... Read More >
Louisiana State College Director Wins Unum LTD Appeal But Then Denied Again
Client was Regional Director for the State of Louisiana. She was diagnosed with cervical rad... Read More >
FPL Lineman Wins Lincoln Disability Denial Appeal
Lincoln Life Assurance Company of Boston improperly denied our client’s long-term disabilit... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
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Reviews from Our Clients
