Question

What do I do if my doctor has me on no limitations, allowing Principal to cut my benefits?

Asked on January 1st 2014 by Julie
I am a full time employee and went out November 26th, 2013 for a partial Hysterectomy. I have turned in all of my paperwork to file for STD and was submitted a check for just about 4 weeks. I am still not cleared by my doctor to return to work due to compilations from surgery – stress incontinence of the bladder and severe chronic pain in the pelvic area also still very tender around the port holes in my lower abdomen area. I will be out until the 25th of February and now the physical therapist is requesting my OBGYN to keep me out for another two weeks after that. However Principal is telling me recovery time for hysterectomy is six weeks and my doctor has me on no limitations so they can no longer pay me. I am just about to lose my car and many other things because of this. What should I do? Is this even legal seeing I have paid hundreds into short term and long term but when I need it to help me I get ripped off!

Answer

Answered on February 7th 2014 by Attorney Stephen Jessup

Julie, You need to have your doctor document continued restrictions and limitations that would prevent you from returning to your job. If the doctor is not providing specific information to Principal to support the continued time off of work, Principal could easily justify denying continued benefits.