Prudential Overturns Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits to College Professor
Prior to filing for disability our client was a Professor of Psychology at a large University. Unbeknownst to many around her she was battling a long history of Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Anxiety, which began to affect her ability to properly perform the duties required of her as a collegiate level professor. The daily battle she faced with depression and anxiety left her overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted. When she felt she could no longer properly fulfill her responsibilities to her undergraduate students or serve as a mentor to her graduate level students she made the very difficult decision of filing for disability.
Long Term Disability Benefits Are Awarded
Like many full time college professors, her university provided short and long term disability insurance benefits as part of her benefits package. Our client initially applied for short term disability benefits through Prudential and was approved. She did not experience any problems throughout the short term disability period and when it came for her claim to transition from short to long term disability benefits it appeared as if there would not be any problems from Prudential. She received noticed that her claim has been approved; however, the initial award of benefits came with the caveat that she was only to receive 15 days’ worth of benefits.
Although Prudential had only issued benefits for 15 days, it took approximately one month from the date she received notice her claim was approved before Prudential advised her in writing that additional benefits were not going to be paid due to what Prudential indicated was a failure to provide Proof of Loss under the policy. In response to this assertion our client provided Prudential with additional requested information in hopes of receiving continued disability benefits. Unfortunately, such was not the case. Approximately two months after initially approving her claim for long term disability benefits, Prudential formally advised our client that it had determined that there was no documented evidence in her treatment records sufficient to support her inability to perform the duties of her occupation. It should be noted that Prudential made this determination without having our client submit to an examination, consulting with her treatment providers, or as would be discovered reviewing all of her medical records.
The Appeal
Shortly after her claim was denied our client consulted with Attorney Stephen Jessup to discuss Prudential’s adverse determination and determine the best course of action in appealing same. Attorney Jessup secured a copy of our clients claim file and began gathering her medical records. It became readily apparent that Prudential was selectively reviewing our client’s records that were supportive of its decision to deny benefits, but ignoring those records that proved our client could not work in her profession. Furthermore, the records collected by Attorney Jessup far outweighed the amount collected by Prudential as contained in the claim file. Attorney Jessup consulted with our client’s treatment providers in order to obtain additional opinions as to our client’s functionality, to address any and all concerns in the medical records to be able to establish restrictions and limitations dating back to the date of denial, and to combat the opinions of Prudential’s peer review doctors. Armed with medical support sufficient to disprove Prudential’s opinion, Attorney Jessup attacked the vocational review conducted by Prudential as insufficient and not taking into consideration the mental demands of our client’s occupation as a College Professor, as well as the social interactions/demands required to properly perform the duties of same.
Attorney Jessup filed the appeal on our client’s behalf. Prudential attempted to stall in rendering a decision, exercising a 45 day extension on the 45th day following the submission of the appeal. Ever vigilant as to the deadline for Prudential’s decision, when Prudential failed to make a determination by the end of the 90th day, Attorney Jessup drafted a Complaint to be filed in Federal Court. Before the Complaint was filed, a letter was received indicating Prudential was overturning its decision to deny benefits and putting our client back on claim.
Has your claim been denied?
Like many people suffering from a Mental Health condition the added stress of fighting with Prudential took a toll on our client’s well-being and ability to focus on her treatment. If your claim is being challenged by your disability insurance carrier; your claim has been denied; or you do not want to deal with the stress of fighting with your insurance carrier monthly, please feel free to contact our office for a free consultation to discuss how we may be able to assist you.
We have a page dedicated to Prudential disability claims here and a page dedicated to anxiety and depression disability claims here.
Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits
Submit a Strong Prudential Appeal Package
We work with you, your doctors, and other experts to submit a very strong Prudential appeal.
Sue Prudential
We have filed thousands of disability denial lawsuits in federal Courts nationwide against Prudential.
Get Your Prudential Disability Application Approved
Prevent a Prudential Disability Benefit Denial
Negotiate a Prudential Lump-Sum Settlement
Our goal is to negotiate the highest possible buyout of your long-term disability policy.
Policy Holder Rating
Denied but Not Denied but I am Denied
California State Disabilty "OFFSET" never mentioned or outlined when enrolling for STD coverage.
Prudential terminated my LTD, so now I have no income
Reply
Prudential cancelled my policy amid COVID crisis
Reply
I was sold a policy that I cannot use and no one will show me the policy
Reply
Prudential verbally approved my claim and then sent me a denial letter
Reply
It would cost me more to fight Prudential than to let them get away with their games
Prudential told me I would have a decision today, and now the need another week. Guess what, I'm still broke
Reply
Q: I made a Short term disability claim with Prudential but they right away went to consider long term disability
Q: Prudential denied me STD due to a doctor who wrote personal things about me, like I still drive.
Q: Prudential is sending me to an IME but refuses to allow recording. Should I refuse to go to the IME?
Q: What can I do about my long term benefits that’s ending after 2 years?
Q: My mother paid many years for a long-term care policy. When she had to be put in an assisted care facility, Prudential won't pay. Do you accept cases like this?
Q: Can Prudential deny me if SSDI approves me?
Q: How does Prudential calculate attorney fees?
Q: Can I sue my PRUDENTIAL LTD for the cost of hiring a disability attorney to get my benefits reinstated?
Prudential Lump Sum Disability Policy Buyout Options
Is Exhaustion of Remedies Required before filing an ERISA Lawsuit?
What Should I Expect When Suing Prudential for a Disability Insurance Benefit Denial?
Do I need to disclose my disability insurance claim if I filed for bankruptcy?
Can I submit a long-term disability claim if my employment has been terminated?
How Much Time Does Prudential Have to Make A Determination On an ERISA Disability Appeal?
If I File A Short Term Disability Claim With My Carrier And My Claim Is Denied, Do I Also Need To File A Separate Long Term Disability Claim?
Can the disability company limit my disability benefits to 24 months if I have been diagnosed with depression as a result of my physical disability?
Prudential reverses decision to terminate LTD benefits of MRI Tech with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and degenerative Disc Disease
Engineer With Depression Wins Prudential LTD Appeal
Dell Disability Lawyers Win Disability Insurance Appeal Against Prudential for KPMG Employee
Lawyer Wins 24 Month Mental Nervous Prudential Disability Denial
Research Epidemiologist with chronic fatigue / ME wins LTD appeal against Prudential
JP Morgan Chase Financial Advisor With Cancer Wins Prudential Long Term Disability Appeal
Prudential Fails to Pay Long Term Disability Benefits of Claimant Suffering from Addison’s Disease
Successful Appeal Against Prudential Gets Breast Cancer Survivor Back on Claim for LTD Benefits
Reviews from Our Clients
![Super Lawyers award badge](https://www.diattorney.com/wp-content/themes/ace/images/logos/SuperLawyersBadgeSquareGray-2.png)
![Martindale Client Platinum award badge](https://www.diattorney.com/wp-content/themes/ace/images/logos/martindale-client-platinum-recon-2020-1.png)
![Martindale AV award badge](https://www.diattorney.com/wp-content/themes/ace/images/logos/Martindale_AV_300-1.png)
![5 star Google reviews award badge](https://www.diattorney.com/wp-content/themes/ace/images/logos/google-review-logo-1.png)
![Best Law Firms award badge](https://www.diattorney.com/wp-content/themes/ace/images/logos/best-law-firms-2.png)
![BBB A Rating award badge](https://www.diattorney.com/wp-content/themes/ace/images/logos/BBB_Accredited_Business_A_Rating-2.png)
![Avvo Rating award badge](https://www.diattorney.com/wp-content/themes/ace/images/logos/AvvoRating-1.png)