Do not use Reliance Standard's reccomended Social Security Lawyers

I have arrived at the dreaded 2 year mark of receiving LTD benefits at the same time that I have been approved for SSDI. I filed for continuation of benefits back in November 2011 and have yet to receive a response. I have spoken to my claims administrator on numerous occasions and she has stated that it is still in review. To be honest, this is the first time it has taken Reliance so long to respond or to extend the benefits. I am sure it is because of the SSDI approval. I have received the letter from them regarding the “overpayment” and I have responded to them that the language in the letter implies continued benefits should I forward them the “overpayment” received from SSA, however, as they have yet to notify me of their decision/determination, I cannot adequately respond to their request. I received an email reply that says, “We do not give written confirmation when your benefits have been extended. You can call me, email me, or contact the customer service department and they will be able to advise of continuation of benefits. Please call me to discuss overpayment letter that you received and I will clarify the appeal language as well as advise of current status.” Their letter is written as though they have notified me of their decision with timelines, document requests and rights to appeal and civil actions, etc. along with the powerful sentence “One review will be allowed.” In my response to them, I stated that all of this language was premature as I had not received a decision/determination of continuation of benefits and had nothing to which to base a review or appeal upon and requested that they tell me in writing the status of my continued benefits. Each time I have provided the additional information that they request to continue benefits, I ask them to put in writing that they have approved my continuation of benefits and for how long and they always refuse. In this case at this point in time, I refuse to go forward without something in writing. What do I do from here? I do not want to have verbal conversations and have requested to be in writing, do they have to comply?

As it is, I already have to live with the decision I made early in the process when I was having to have surgery after surgery after surgery and used RSLI recommended attorney. PEOPLE, DO NOT DO IT. Do not sign over your rights by using a group of attorneys connected to the insurance company. Believe me, there is some waiver in the documents that you are signing (albeit could be in small print) that gives that attorney the right to share your information with the insurance company. Do not despair if you have already done so, because same document states that you can notify them in writing at any time that you do not want your information shared with the insurance company and that no further contact is to be made between them and the insurance company regarding your claim. They must cease and desist immediately. Send an email first followed by registered/certified mail. Don’t forget you signed a waiver for SSA to provide the information to the insurance company too. It was in the package that you received from the insurance company.

Gregory, I already went through the SS process and was recently approved. What is happening now is that Reliance is denying benefits due to what they call the SSDI “overpayment” and I call backpayment. Semantics, I know. I had submitted a cliam for continuation of benefits in November and Reliance owed me a response by January 11, 2011 and did not give me one, nor did they notify me they needed an extension and why. They had found out through my SSD attorneys that I had received a favorable decision and withheld their decision awaiting information regarding the award amount and how much the back payment would be. I had been calling and emailing requesting status of my claim for continued benefits between January 10 and February 12 with either no response or a verbal it is still in review. I questioned the amount of time it was taking and stated, isn’t RSLI required to provide a determination in writing within 45 days. Her reply was that they were not held to that standard on continuation of benefit reviews. I received a letter from them on February 13, 2012 notifying me that I owed them the SSDI “overpayment” and that my benefits would be 0 until I sent them the money. I sent a letter and email response letting them know that they owed me a decision/determination of continuation of benefits. Their reply is in my first post above. I spoke to her per her request (see 2nd post above). My “attorneys” notified Relliance Standard of my benefit determination and the award values before I was even notified – I found out what they were from Reliance Standard on January 27th when I called to ask the status of my claim for continuation of benefits. I asked her where she got information that I wasn’t even aware of and she told me The Advocator Group (my attorneys who were recommended by Reliance Standard) gave it to her. What I want people to know is – DO NOT USE THE INSURANCE COMPANY RECOMMENDED ATTORNEYS! – keep your business totally separate by using attorneys that have no relationship whatsoever with the insurance and protect your interests. The insurance company will also include a release in their documentation that they want you to sign allowing SSA to release information to them – don’t do it. In addition, they will put a document in their document set that allows your attorneys to release information to them. Don’t do it.