Question

If I am covered by Guardian STD, why are they telling me to file with the state?

Asked on November 19th 2024 by Jesse
I had surgery on October 10th and they just now closed my claim. She is sending me a check for 20 dollars, I haven't even gotten to talk to her, only customer service. They told me she is relying on the state to pay me my benefits and that she's only giving me the minimum amount they can. She says I was eligible to go back to work on October 23rd when all my dr note said was I have a post operation visit scheduled for October 23rd, and another note from him stating I will return to work on November 15th. They claim they never got the second note and processed to send me 20 dollars for the 5 weeks I've been out, and that's as far as I've gotten; the state of NJ has on their website if I apply through them they'll just forward my paperwork back to the private insurance company. I have no idea what to do.

Answer

Answered on November 19th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Guardian is telling you to file with the state as they will get an offset for anything the state pays you.

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Guardian Reviews
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Showing 8 of 17 Reviews
Guardian

Guardian not being flexible during Covid

Reviewed by Robert W. on April 13th 2020   Verified Policyholder
Guardian denied my LTD due to doctor’s office not sending medical records quickly due to office closed because of Corona virus. There was nothing that I could do to get ... read more >
Reply
Sent on April 13th 2020 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Robert, this is very unfortunate and sad to hear. You would think that Guardian might understand that the great majority of the country is “shut down” and getting d... read more >

Guardian

Guardian thinks people with lupus miraculously recover

Reviewed by Virginia Z on March 20th 2020   Verified Policyholder
I became disabled in 2018 (Lupus and Sjogren’s). I’m 54 and I worked over 30 years (for the government) before I became disabled. I received Guardian STD and then LTD ... read more >
Reply
Sent on March 20th 2020 by Attorney Jay Symonds

Virginia: This is a very unfortunate situation they’ve put you in. You should request in writing an extension of time to submit the information and documentation. You... read more >

Guardian

Stress over Guardian caused my heart attack

Reviewed by Kate on September 20th 2017   Verified Policyholder
All of a sudden (after 12 years), Guardian LTD is sending more and more paperwork – especially after someone stole my identity and filed taxes in my name. The IRS knows ... read more >
Reply
Sent on September 20th 2017 by Attorney Stephen Jessup

Kate, please contact our office to discuss your claim in greater detail with one of our disability insurance attorneys.

Guardian

The IRS should know that Guardian refuses to send my W-2 form

Reviewed by James R. on May 19th 2017   Verified Policyholder
I have received Long Term Disability through Guardian. They cut off my checks in July of last year. I appealed their denial and won. Now I am fighting them to get my W-2 f... read more >
Reply
Sent on May 19th 2017 by Attorney Rachel Alters

James, have you made your request in writing? Also, is your benefit taxable? If it is not, Guardian would likely not send anything.

Guardian

Guardian cancelled my husband's claim without checking his medical records. Do better. We have children to feed and bills to pay.

Reviewed by Blanca D. on March 17th 2017   Verified Policyholder
My husband was disagnosed with a long term debility in October 2016. In March 2017, Guardian sent him a form that said his doctor saw him on march 3, 2017 and cleared hi... read more >
Reply
Sent on March 17th 2017 by Attorney Stephen Jessup

Blanca, if your husband’s claim has been denied he will need to go through the administrative appeal process. Please feel free to contact our office to discuss his cl... read more >

Guardian

Guardian has built-in denial for self-employed individuals

Reviewed by Vinny G. on January 23rd 2017   Verified Policyholder
I have had a non employer Guardian LTD policy since 1991. It is for full disability. I have never had a need for it. Now that I do, I am finding they are doing all they ca... read more >
Reply
Sent on January 23rd 2017 by Attorney Cesar Gavidia

Vinny, we would need to review your policy and all the correspondence from Guardian to determine how we may be able to assist you. Please feel free to contact our offic... read more >

Guardian

Guardian has the least helpful folks I have ever met

Reviewed by Jaye W. on December 7th 2016   Verified Policyholder
Trying to get my husband’s short term debility started after a heart attack. I don’t understand their process for collecting information and making a decision about hi... read more >
Reply
Sent on December 7th 2016 by Attorney Stephen Jessup

Jaye, please feel free to contact our office to discuss your husband’s claim.

Guardian

If you work for a company who offers Guardian, tell them NO and get a non ERISA provider. Guardian lied about my options and then tried to tell me I'm not disabled

Reviewed by Bill on July 11th 2016   Verified Policyholder
I have been disabled for 15 years or so… The Guardian compelled me to apply for SSDI benefits to offset Guardian liability.. The Guardian even retained the atty… I won... read more >
Reply
Sent on July 11th 2016 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Bill, have you appealed the denial? Please contact our office to discuss your denial and to determine how we may be able to assist you.

Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
(24)
Showing 8 of 24 Answered Questions

Q: If I am covered by Guardian STD, why are they telling me to file with the state?

Answered on November 19th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Guardian is telling you to file with the state as they will get an offset for anything the state pays you. Read More >

Q: How Does Guardian Calcualutate my Long Term Disability Benefit?

Answered on June 29th 2020 by Attorney Cesar Gavidia
A: Christopher, you should request a detailed explanation and calculation of your long-term disability benefit fr... Read More >

Q: How long do I have to file my Guardian disability appeal?

Answered on June 25th 2020 by Attorney Stephen Jessup
A: Jennifer, if you have an employer provided policy you will have up to 180 days to file the appeal. If you woul... Read More >

Q: Can I claim a permanent disability to avoid a surgery that requires several months of down time without promising results?

Answered on September 14th 2019 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: Lia, each claim depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the case in conjunction with the specific t... Read More >

Q: Do I still need to fill out Guardian claim forms if I am eligible for Presumptive Total Disability?

Answered on June 25th 2019 by Attorney Cesar Gavidia
A: Kate, it is common for benefit checks to be accompanied with claim forms as a matter of course. You can make i... Read More >

Q: Can Guardian make me file taxes on a non-taxable insurance?

Answered on August 9th 2018 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Dan, Guardian cannot make you file taxes. Only a tax professional can determine whether your benefits are taxa... Read More >

Q: Does Guardian reduce the qualifying income when an STD becomes a LTD?

Answered on April 24th 2028 by Attorney Alex Palamara
A: John, the document you are describing might not actually be the Long Term Disability Insurance Policy. The 270... Read More >
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Get Your Disability Application Approved

Our goal is to get your application for disability insurance 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 long-term disability 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.

Our attorneys have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement in more than 98% of our cases. 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 LTD 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 900 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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