Our Disability Lawyers Help You Collect Disability Insurance Benefits in Michigan

If you are a resident of Michigan 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 Michigan law because there are certain state-specific aspects that may affect the case.

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Our Lawyers Respond Today

Michigan residents that have had their disability insurance benefits denied can file a lawsuit in the Michigan Circuit Court or District Court under a limited set of circumstances. Michigan’s state appellate courts includes the Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. If the disability claimant resides in Massachusetts 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 Michigan 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. Michigan has two Federal District Courts, which are the Eastern and Western District of Michigan 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 Michigan Department of Insurance there are more than 1,600 insurance companies that sell insurance products in Michigan.

When seeking assistance from a disability insurance attorney in Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan, please contact us for a free phone consultation. We handle disability benefit claims at all stages: applications, appeal, 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.

Attorneys for Michigan Disability Insurance Claims

What qualifies you for disability benefits in Michigan?

According to Michigan’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 order to qualify for disability benefits, applicants must possess a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Under Michigan’s guidelines, individuals must have:

– A medical illness, injury, condition, etc. that significantly impacts an individual’s ability to perform basic job duties and participate in daily activities;

– A diagnosis from a qualified medical professional;

– Proof of the impact of the impairment on daily activities, such as difficulty standing, walking, sitting, lifting, remembering instructions, and other factors;

– Evidence that the individual’s condition is expected to last 12 months or longer.

Why work with a disability insurance lawyer in Michigan?

Most disability applicants get legal representation for appeals. A disability lawyer makes sure your medical evidence is accurate for the courts to review. They can explain your legal rights and options, guide you through appealing a benefits denial, and present your case effectively. This includes gathering evidence, filing paperwork, finding a favorable judge, and arguing your case well. A disability lawyer examines all evidence thoroughly and presents your case in an organised way. They can also explain unfamiliar legal terms and advise you on the appeals process. Having an attorney improves your chances of receiving benefits.

Do I have to file my disability denial lawsuit in Michigan?

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 Michigan can usually file a lawsuit in any federal court in any state. If the disability insurance policy is governed by a Michigan state law, then the lawsuit must be filed in Michigan.

Michigan Disability Insurance Lawyers

Answers to Questions About Working With Us

I need a disability lawyer near me. Do you work in Michigan?

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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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.

Disability insurance attorneys in Detroit

Reviews From Michigan 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 Michigan have extensive legal resources, a well-earned reputation, and a high client satisfaction rate. Be sure to browse some of the client recommendations to make the best decisions:

Tom N.

I’ve worked with the legal profession at large for over 30 years. I’ve found the elements of an “A-Team” to include not only legal knowledge and prowess, but also traits such as strategic planning, response time, structured information exchange, interpersonal relation skills and personal compassion.

I can say without reservation that I have had a wonderful experience with Mr. Symonds and his capable team at Dell Disability Lawyers. I’ve found the advice to be accurate and completely timely. The support staff, particularly Vanessa Arriaga, is also above par as to her prompt and professional service.

Navigating the complexities of the claims process can be intimidating, daunting and outright frightful to say the least. Not only can the materials requested become voluminous, but the entire process can leave a person feeling overwhelmed and somewhat alone… Mr. Symonds, Ms. Arriaga and others in this “A-Team” have alleviated much of the stress and burden of this process due to their compassion, intellect, professionalism and prompt response time… and most importantly; I’m not alone!

Michael P.

I had a very good experience. Rachel and Danielle were incredibly professional. They gave me a clear understanding of the process and timelines. I feel they are there fighting for me everyday. The process overall was very simple and enabled me to focus on my illness.

Howard F.

I just want to take a moment to tell you of the very positive experience I have had with Gregory Dell and his handling of my disability case. I am very pleased with the performance, support, professionalism and determination of Mr Dell every step of the way.

Throughout my case he has always been very quick to respond, made himself available during times that mist would consider after hours and was always patient in explaining the status and developments in my case. Every step of the way my case has been handled in an excellent way and I could not have asked fore more. I highly recommend Gregory Dell.

James J.

Dell Disability Lawyers has made my life much more restful in so many ways. They retrieved the appropriate paperwork from Medical Facilities and made all of the calls and faxes as to allow me to just rest. I know what it is like going through a rough time medically and need to handle all of the legalities that come with it. You can certainly count on this Law Firm, I am speaking from a standpoint from completely healthy to absolutely so sick I could not work at all. It can be devastating especially to people who have always been healthy, lived a great lifestyle and worked a fabulous position with a great company. Simply put things can happen that are frustratingly out of your control and when you need help then don’t hesitate to hire this law firm, they helped me greatly and they can help you too!

I would recommend Dell Disability Lawyers strongly and the main reason is the client service, the hard working staff of the Attorney and those that work together on a case like mine and communicate how the process works to me every step of the way!

Top 3 Disability Insurance Cases Resolved by Dell Disability Lawyers in Michigan

Lincoln Overturns Denial of LTD Benefits After Two Appeals — The client of Attorney Stephen Jessup was initially denied her disability benefits by Lincoln on the grounds that there was insufficient medical evidence to validate her claim. The denial letter from Lincoln only referenced her diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis and didn’t consider the potential impairment caused by her Multiple Sclerosis. To counter this, Jessup arranged a Functional Capacity Examination for his client and was able to present evidence that she could not meet the physical demands of her role as a Customer Service Representative. Despite the compelling evidence, Lincoln prolonged their review process and exercised a 45-day extension to complete it. Ultimately, Lincoln upheld their initial decision, forcing Jessup to prepare for a second appeal. Upon collecting additional medical records and expert opinions, Lincoln reinstated the client’s claim for benefits within 30 days.

CIGNA has reversed its previous decision to deny both short-term and long-term disability benefits for a senior personal banker in Michigan — CIGNA denied the disability claims of a senior personal banker, Ms. C. She filed a claim for disability benefits due to various medical conditions. CIGNA initially upheld the claim but later discontinued the benefits, stating that she no longer met the policy’s definition of disability. Attorney Jay Symonds represented Ms. C in appealing the denial and filing a claim under the LTD policy, both of which were initially denied. The appeals pointed out issues in the denial letters and discrepancies in the medical reviewer’s findings. CIGNA did not consider an independent Functional Capacity Examination (FCE), which confirmed the claimant’s inability to perform sedentary work. After reviewing the appeals and evidence, CIGNA reversed its denial and reinstated the client’s benefits. Attorney Symonds continues to represent Ms. C to protect her benefits.

Prudential Approves Disability Claim on Appeal — A physician with severe Crohn’s disease complications had his disability claim approved by Prudential initially because his condition required surgery. However, Prudential terminated the claim based on his doctor’s medical opinions about his physical abilities. Attorney Stephen Jessup argued that the termination was unjust and could compromise patient safety. Jessup prepared a statement with the doctor that refuted Prudential’s opinions and clarified the client’s work restrictions. After an appeal and examination, Prudential overturned the denial and granted past due benefits.


Michigan Courts, Government and Michigan Department of Insurance Information

Federal Courts

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.

Learn more

Sue Your Disability Insurance Company

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

Learn more

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

Learn more

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.

Learn more

Disability Company Reviews
(641)
Showing 8 of 641 Reviews
New York Life

Keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting

Reviewed by M.T. on February 15th 2024   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
I have been appealing a claim for LTD for 8 months! New York Life keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting ... read more >
Reliance Standard

Staff Lie

Reviewed by Tanya on February 12th 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2021 date of disability
I had my disability cut off the day I was scheduled to find out whether I should have surgery. The claims examiner was aware that I had an appointment on that date and sai... read more >
Reply
Sent on February 12th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

I am sorry to hear about your experience. It’s crazy that Reliance Standard would deny your disability benefits when you are suffering so badly that you need surgery.... read more >

Hartford

Former Hartford employee has had life insurance and accidental death policy's revoked for one late premium payment

Reviewed by Becky H. THOMAS on February 12th 2024   Verified Policyholder | February 2024 date of disability
Dislike how they are constantly interrupting the lives of their disabled EE's whom are entitled to benefit which they paid into out of there pay check every pay period onl... read more >
Reply
Sent on February 12th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Thank you for your review of Hartford and we appreciate you sharing.  It’s sad they don’t take care of their own employees.

Lincoln Financial

Never received benefits my entire leave - or help with them

Reviewed by Anna on December 19th 2023   Verified Policyholder | November 2023 date of disability
I used my short term disability insurance for maternity leave and started the process beforehand knowing when I would be out (scheduled induction.) It took a little over a... read more >
Sun Life

Unscrupulous Tactics

Reviewed by Misseekayy on December 19th 2023   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
Sunlife uses unscrupulous tactics in order to prevent payment of claims. They wait until it is close to the 30 day mark and then they ask for another form of information o... read more >
Sedgwick

Lame

Reviewed by Dennis T. on December 11th 2023   Verified Policyholder | March 2022 date of disability
My experience with Sedgwick and personell is as follows: Unhelpful, unprofessional and an overall unpleasant experience.
Unum

Low payments

Reviewed by Dorothy on November 30th 2023   Verified Policyholder | November 2023 date of disability
I was injured at work. I did house keeping in a hospital. I tore just about everything imaginable in my knee. I was let go from my job, because I was no longer able to do ... read more >
Lincoln Financial

Well Documented correspondence

Reviewed by Joshua on November 23rd 2023   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
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 >
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
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Helpful Videos
(873)
Showing 12 of 873 Videos
Disability Benefit Tips
(330)
Showing 8 of 330 Benefit Tips

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 concern... 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
(372)
Showing 8 of 372 Dell Disability Cases

Prudential Approves Disability Claim on Appeal

Our client, an Emergency Room Physician, had a long history of complications due to Crohn’s disease, which stemmed all the way back to his c... Read More >

CIGNA overturned its previous denial of both short term and long term disability benefits for Michigan Senior Personal Banker

Our client, Ms. C, formerly worked as a Senior Personal Banker for a large national bank, which required “light” work functional capabilit... Read More >

Lincoln Overturns Denial of LTD Benefits After Two Appeals

After fighting for her disability benefits for over a year, Lincoln finally awarded benefits to our client following two levels of administrat... Read More >

Transportation Manager with Brain Injury Wins Unum Disability Benefit Appeal

Unum unjustly terminated our client’s long term disability claim after it had approved and... Read More >

Engineer With Depression Wins Prudential LTD Appeal

The claimant is a former Senior Technology Services Engineer for Accolade, Inc. who was force... Read More >

New York Life Approves Disability Benefits for School Teacher With Multiple Sclerosis

Our client, a former elementary school teacher suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, contacted our office after New York Life terminated her clai... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
(765)
Showing 8 of 765 Lawsuit Stories

Federal District Court Overturns Hartford's Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits

In the recent decision of Tobin v Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co. a Michigan Federal District Court overturned Hartford’s denial of long t... Read More >

Michigan Court Finds Plaintiff Eligible for Long Term Disability Benefits

In Chamness v. Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, plaintiff James Chamness, a board-certified pediatrician who is also a pediatric slee... Read More >

Michigan Court Reverses AT&T's Denial of Plaintiff’s Two Claims for Short Term Benefits

In Filthout v. AT&T Midwest Disability Benefit, et al., plaintiff Rebecca Filthout had worked several years for Michigan Bell Telephone Co... Read More >

Michigan Court Remands Aetna to Reconsider Disability Benefit Denial

In Coulter v. Aetna Life Insurance Company, a Michigan federal court found that Aetna committed a number of errors in its review of claimant S... Read More >

Michigan Court Agrees With Anthem's Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits

The Michigan Federal Court agreed that the plaintiff had physical limitations, but none of the activities from which she was restricted were r... Read More >

Are the opinions of your treating physician's entitled to more deference?

The short answer, as you may have already learned, is no. Under ERISA, the opinions of treating physicians, despite the physicians often havin... Read More >

Michigan Court Upholds Metlife Denial of Benefits as Claimant Failed to Prove Disability

The claimant, Mr. Judge, had a high school education and worked for 20 years as a baggage handler and ramp agent for a major airline. He appli... Read More >

Court Rules That Walgreens Employee's Long Term Disability Claim Lawsuit Shall Not Be Dismissed

From our law firm's experience it seems that Walgreens will look for any excuse to deny short term or long term disability benefits to a plan ... Read More >

Reviews from Our Clients

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Our Lawyers Respond Same Day

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 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 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 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 lawyers 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 lawyers 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 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 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 lawyers 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 lawyers have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement. Our 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 welcome you to contact any of our attorneys 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 700 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our lawyers 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 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, GoToMeeting sessions, or Skype. 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 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.