Question
I was promised benefits until 66, but Hartford wants to cut them a year early? What do I do?
I was 56 years old in 2006 when I was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a form of Muscular Dystrophy) which is totally disabling. I started receiving SSD and LTD from Hartford and they have been very fair with me. In August I will turn 65 years old and Hartford tells me my benefits will stop. Their LTD policy states that if you become disabled at 61 years old or younger, you will receive benefits until Social Security Normal Retirement Age. In 2006 the normal retirement age was 66 years old. What can I do?
Answer
Tom, You should definitely write them to seek clarification on that issue. If the policy states benefits are to be paid until you reach your SSNRA, then you should be entitled to the extra year of benefits. It may be that the claims person wasn’t paying attention to the policy language and defaulted to the standard age 65 maximum benefit. If they do continue to insist the benefit ends at 65, then please feel free to contact our office to discuss how we may be able to assist you in securing the final year of benefit.
