What to Expect in a Hartford Disability Benefit Denial Lawsuit

You probably feel as if the Appeal review conducted by Hartford was a sham and you never had a chance to have your Hartford disability benefit denial reversed. Your feeling of being called a liar by Hartford and questioning if it is even worth filing a Hartford disability lawsuit is exactly Hartford’s plan. The sad truth is that the law governing long term disability insurance claims favors disability insurance companies and therefore a high percentage of Hartford disability appeal denials are upheld. Hartford hopes that you will just go away and that they can strong arm you to return to work out of financial necessity. The good news is that with a strong legal strategy your Hartford disability benefit lawsuit can result in a recovery of your disability benefits.  

What Should You Expect In A Hartford Disability Lawsuit?

Through our experience of having helped thousands of Hartford disability insurance claimants nationwide, we would like the opportunity to help you win your Hartford disability benefit lawsuit. In order to help you understand what to expect in a Hartford disability lawsuit, Attorneys Gregory Dell and Cesar Gavidia have prepared the Hartford disability lawsuit video below. We encourage you to contact any of our disability insurance lawyers for a free immediate review of your Hartford disability claim denial.

When Can A Hartford Disability Lawsuit Be Filed?

The answer to this question depends on whether you have a claim that is governed by The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, also known as (ERISA.). If you have a Hartford disability claim that was provided to you as an employee benefit, then your claim is almost always governed by ERISA. An ERISA disability lawsuit cannot be filed against Hartford until you have received a denial of the appeal you submitted to Hartford. 

An ERISA lawsuit usually must be filed within either 3 years of your date of disability or the date of the final disability denial decision. If Hartford fails to make a timely decision on your appeal, you can file suit without having to wait for Hartford’s appeal decision. The law governing time periods to file lawsuits is known as the Statute of Limitations and it is an area of law that is regularly changing and not consistent from state to state. 

In a Non-ERISA disability benefit claim denial an appeal is usually not required by Hartford and most lawsuits can be filed 90 days after proof of loss is due but no later than 3 years after the date of denial. The period of time in which a lawsuit must be filed can be a complicated analysis determined by a combination of the policy language and the law of the state in which the person was denied. The best thing to do in many cases to avoid a statutory problem is to file a lawsuit as soon as reasonably possible.


Our Clients Have Recovered Hartford Disability Benefits in 99% of our Hartford Disability Lawsuits


As much as we love to beat up Hartford for their wrongful disability claim denials, we know how to set our egos aside. Our goal for every client is to try to resolve their Hartford claim in the most expedient, cost-effective, and efficient manner possible. Upon review of your disability denial letter from Hartford we can immediately let you know if you have a claim that we think we can help you with. We look forward to speaking with you to discuss your options against Hartford.

What Are the Most Challenging Issues in a Hartford Disability Lawsuit?

The most challenging aspect of any disability lawsuit is the fact that your Hartford disability benefit denial is likely governed by ERISA. ERISA is a pro-insurance company federal law that governs almost all employer-provided disability policies. ERISA was designed so that insurance companies could offer affordable benefits to employees and in return have limited lawsuit expenses if a disability claim is denied. If your disability policy was not provided by your employer, then you will not have to worry about the ERISA lawsuit limitations. In our video below, disability attorneys Stephen Jessup and Gregory Dell discuss the reasons why ERISA makes disability lawsuits against a company like Hartford challenging.

Five Reasons ERISA Disability Laws Favor Hartford 

  1. No jury trials are permitted;
  2. No punitive damages;
  3. Very limited discovery;
  4. The Judge usually must apply a standard of review that defers to the insurance company’s conclusion that you are not disabled;
  5. The Judge can remand the case back to Hartford for any additional chance to review the claim and deny it again;

How Much Does Our Firm Charge to Handle a Hartford Disability Lawsuit?

The proper preparation of a lawsuit against Hartford takes a lot of legal time and our law firm is selective in the type and quantity of cases we accept. Providing the highest level of legal work and personal attention to your claim is a fundamental mode of operation for every lawyer in our firm. We are not high volume social security lawyers that are trying to handle disability insurance claims against Hartford.

We have been handling claims against Hartford for over 30 years. We only handle Hartford disability lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This means that we charge you a percentage of the disability benefits that we recover on your behalf. If we are not successful at recovering any disability benefits for you, then you do not owe us any attorney fees or cost for the work that we have done on your behalf. 

More than 90% of the disability lawsuits that we have handled against Hartford have resolved in a one-time lump sum settlement. We encourage you to review some of our Hartford resolved case summaries to learn more about our experience. Most of our Hartford disability lawsuit settlements have confidentiality provisions which limit our ability to discuss specific details about the cases.

Collecting Hartford Disability Benefits Is A Reality

Through our 30+ years of experience litigating against Hartford and our daily work on behalf of Hartford disability claimants nationwide, we have seen and we are constantly aware of every claims handling technique used by Hartford. We are one of the few law firms in the entire country that has the experience of going through a jury trial and receiving a favorable verdict against Hartford. As a result of our years of battling Hartford we have established a strong reputation and a unique litigation technique that allows us to cut through the traditional 18 to 24 month delay in resolving a Hartford disability lawsuit.

We encourage you to contact any of our disability insurance lawyers to discuss some strategies for a possible resolution of your Hartford disability denial. It is incredible and sad how many people we see give up the fight following a claim denial as they don’t want to deal with Hartford. Our lawyers make the lawsuit process as simple as possible for claimants by requiring almost no time or effort by the claimant to pursue a Hartford lawsuit. Any of our disability lawyers are available for an immediate free phone consultation to discuss your Hartford claim denial.

What are the Top 10 Reasons for Hartford Disability Denials?

  1. Hartford denied the claim based on objective medical evidence
  2. Hartford’s in-house doctor denied the disability claim
  3. With no exam a third party medical company denied a Hartford claim
  4. With functional limitations Hartford denied a disability claim because claimant has the ability to perform sedentary occupation
  5. After a compulsory medical exam a doctor hired by Hartford denied the disability claim
  6. Hartford denied the claim based on a vocational consultant evaluation of employability in another occupation
  7. Hartford ignored claimant’s treating doctor’s opinion of limited work restrictions and denied claim
  8. Based on video surveillance Hartford denied disability claim
  9. My definition of disability changed from own occupation to any occupation and Hartford denied my disability claim
  10. Hartford based your denial on a mental disability and not a physical disability and therefore limited your benefits to 24 months

Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits

Disability Benefit Denial Options
Submit a Strong Hartford Appeal Package

We work with you, your doctors, and other experts to submit a very strong Hartford appeal.

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Sue Hartford

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

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

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Prevent a Hartford Disability Benefit Denial
We manage every aspect of your disability claim following claim approval.

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Negotiate a Hartford Lump-Sum Settlement

Our goal is to negotiate the highest possible buyout of your long-term disability policy.

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Hartford Reviews
(67)

Policy Holder Rating

1.6 out of 5
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0%would recommend
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55%
1
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Timely Payments
2.0out of 5
Handling Claim
1.9out of 5
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Showing 8 of 67 Reviews
Hartford

Hartford Stopped Payments

Reviewed by Fed up in PA on April 13th 2023   Verified Policyholder | January 2023 date of disability
Worst company ever. Their analysts will go against your treating provider every single time. Horrible experience, just horrible.
Hartford

Hartford never paid me

Reviewed by Nanette M. on April 26th 2020   Verified Policyholder
I went on disability March 25, 2019 until Dec. 23, 2019 from my job FedEx. The Hartford insurance company didn’t pay me my disability check after the end of July. I appe... read more >
Reply
Sent on April 26th 2020 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Nanette, we are sorry to hear that your claim for benefits for the period of July through December was denied. Please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.read more >

Hartford

Hartford rep felt so guilty over how the company treated me that she quit

Reviewed by Delton on April 8th 2020   Verified Policyholder
It’s been since 1998 but they really screwed me over big time and caused my family and I much distress ~ first they required me to go to a psychiatric doctor before they... read more >
Reply
Sent on April 8th 2020 by Attorney Rachel Alters

Delton, I’m sorry to hear about the experience you had with Hartford. Unfortunately since your claim dates back to 1998 it would be too late to file suit as the statu... read more >

Hartford

Hartford ajuster won't return my calls. I might have to move back to California

Reviewed by Jesse on March 17th 2020   Verified Policyholder
I was awarded medical for life, for my back injuries at work by the court of Los Angeles in California years ago. I moved to Colorado two years ago and for the past few mo... read more >
Hartford

Hartford keeps saying they haven’t gotten my paperwork

Reviewed by David C. on March 3rd 2020   Verified Policyholder
I have a short term disability claim through the Hartford through my job. I was approved to go back to work on March 9th. The Hartford keeps telling me they did not get my... read more >
Reply
Sent on March 3rd 2020 by Attorney Stephen Jessup

David, I would recommend you try to get a fax confirmation from your doctor, or better yet secure the information needed from your doctor and send to them. I have seen ... read more >

Hartford

I'm going bankrupt after Hartford rejected all my medical tests/records

Reviewed by JNC on February 26th 2020   Verified Policyholder
In January, I collapsed in a cross walk while crossing the street. I sustained injuries to my left knee and spine and have been chronic testing to determine the cause of m... read more >
Reply
Sent on February 26th 2020 by Attorney Jay Symonds

JNC: I suggest you contact our office and speak with one of the attorneys to address the specific questions you have regarding your situation as well as your options on... read more >

Hartford

Hartford has denying claims down to an artform

Reviewed by Judy P. on February 26th 2020   Verified Policyholder
I have been denied by the Hartford for LTD through my company. I can already tell they have this down to an artform.
Reply
Sent on February 26th 2020 by Attorney Jay Symonds

Judy: If this is the first denial you have the right to file an appeal but the deadline is time sensitive. Unless you plan to file your own appeal, I suggest you contac... read more >

Hartford

Hartford Insurance Company is a bunch of unpassionate people

Reviewed by Daniel B. on February 15th 2020   Verified Policyholder
Why is the Hartford Insurance Company a bunch of unpassionate people?
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
(51)
Showing 8 of 51 Answered Questions

Q: Why is Hartford asking for reimbursement?

Answered on June 6th 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Most group disability policies require a claimant to pay back any social security disability benefits received... Read More >

Q: Bipolar on STD Hartford is LTD

Answered on June 6th 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: I am sorry to hear what you are going through. It seems like you should easily be approved based upon your ext... Read More >

Q: Do I have to sign the overly broad "AUTHORIZATION TO OBTAIN AND DISCLOSE INFORMATION" form from The Hartford LTD insurance company?

Answered on March 24th 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: You have a duty to provide your medical evidence in support of disability to Hartford. You need a doctor to si... Read More >

Q: How Often Does Hartford Review My Disability Claim?

Answered on November 12th 2021 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: You should expect reviews from Hartford at a minimum of at least one time year. They are likely reviewing your... Read More >

Q: Is the policy that was acquired by Hartford from Aetna still the same policy? Does Hartford have a right to recover over payments made by Aetna? 

Answered on July 24th 2020 by Attorney Jay Symonds
A: LM: Generally speaking, Hartford would assume all rights and responsibilities available to Aetna on Aetna clai... Read More >

Q: Has Hartford been known to pay off doctors? 

Answered on March 24th 2020 by Attorney Rachel Alters
A: Adam, I haven’t heard of them paying off doctors but she will need to appeal the determination and find a ne... Read More >

Q: Can a chiropractor fill out the APS for The Hartford LTD claim?

Answered on February 4th 2020 by Attorney Stephen Jessup
A: Louis, yes, a Chiropractor can fill out an APS for a disability claim. That being said Hartford may try to min... Read More >

Q: Before I present my appeal, can I acquire exams and conduct an IME on my own (to avoid bribery/bias from Hartford)?

Answered on November 7th 2019 by Attorney Stephen Jessup
A: Michael, yes. In the course of an appeal you want to get as much beneficial information as possible, to includ... Read More >
Helpful Videos
(776)
Showing 12 of 776 Videos
Disability Benefit Tips
(325)
Showing 8 of 325 Benefit Tips

Does Hartford Pay Disability Insurance Claims?

At Dell & Schaefer, we get questions about Hartford long term disability policies on ne... Read More >

How Does Hartford Long Term Disability Work?

The most common questions for a disability attorney involve understanding how disability cove... Read More >

What Happens If My Hartford Short Term Disability Claim is Denied?

Understand your rights once your Hartford short term disability income claim has been denied.... Read More >

How Long Does a Hartford Short Term or Long Term Disability Claim Last?

Hartford disability income policy holders expect Hartford to pay their Short Term & Long-... Read More >

If I Convert my Former Employee Disability Policy to a Private Policy Does ERISA Govern?

Many employer welfare benefit plans offer employees who quit their employment the option of converting their disability insurance pl... Read More >

Is the Hartford Disability Purchase of Aetna Bad for Aetna LTD Policy Holders?

In October 2017 Hartford Insurance company agreed to purchase the disability and life insuran... Read More >

Hartford Disability Claim Problems

Hartford is requesting long term disability claimants to provide additional documentation fro... Read More >

How Can I Protect Myself At A Hartford IME Exam?

In this video, disability insurance attorneys Rachel Alters and Cesar Gavidia discuss what yo... Read More >
Dell Disability Cases
(356)
Showing 8 of 356 Dell Disability Cases

Executive Director with Meniere's Disease Denied Disability Benefits By Hartford

Our client, came to us when he was unjustly denied his claim for LTD benefits by Aetna, now Hartford, assert... Read More >

A Hartford Disability Benefit Lawsuit Victory for Truist Banker with Lupus

Our client found us after she was denied continued disability insurance benefits by the Hartf... Read More >

Hartford Denies Disability Benefits To Home Depot Employee 3 Weeks Before Change of Disability Definition

Our client was a former in-store merchandising associate responsible for the movement of merc... Read More >

Hartford Denies Long Term Disability Benefits After Paying for 22 Years

It is crazy that Hartford denied long term disability benefits to our client after paying for... Read More >

Hartford Overturns Denial of Disability Benefits on Appeal

Our client, a former clerk at a coal mine with severe lumbar back problems first, contacted our office and spoke with Attorney Stephen Jessup ... Read More >

Hartford Approves Disability Claim After Appeal Deadline

Prior to filing for disability our client worked as a registered nurse in a hospital setting, suffering from multiple chronic medical conditio... Read More >

Hartford overturned its previous denial of LTD benefits for Illinois Account Representative

Our client, Mr. K, formerly worked as an Account Representative for an international brokerage firm. In May 2017 a number of medical issues, i... Read More >

Hartford overturned previous denial of long term disability benefits for New York Consultant

Our client, Mr. M, formerly worked as a trade consultant for an international accounting firm. In May 2017 a large lumbar disc herniation forc... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
(763)
Showing 8 of 763 Lawsuit Stories

Federal Court Overturns Aetna Denial Of Disability Benefits

In the recent case of Ferrin v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. a federal judge from the Northern District of Illinois determined that Aetna improperly te... Read More >

Hartford Admits to Improper Offset, Agrees to Reimburse 10 Years of Wrongfully Withheld Money

In August of 2019, the next of kin for a man currently incarcerated in Florida State Prison reached out to our firm as his relative had been d... Read More >

Court Finds Video Surveillance Renders Claimant’s Self-Reporting Unreliable and Upholds Hartford’s Termination of LTD Benefits

In Cummings v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co. (Hartford), Plaintiff was employed by the Free-Port McMoran ... Read More >

Can Medical Records Created After the Eligibility Period Support a Claim for Disability Benefits?

In James s. Louis v. The Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company (Hartford), Plaintiff was a Senior Principal Product... Read More >

Appeals Court Upholds Hartford's Termination of Disability Benefits

In Scott Griffin v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Company, Plaintiff was a medical transcriptionist who was initially awarded long te... Read More >

Hartford Disability Company Field Interview Request and Video Surveillance

Hartford Disability Company, and other disability insurers, use video surveillance and field interviews as a technique to deny claims. A recen... Read More >

Hartford Long Term Disability Benefit Denial Reversed by Minnesota Federal Judge

A long term disability insurance claimant had his benefits denied when a doctor made a mistak... Read More >

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 >

Reviews from Our Clients

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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.