Collecting Substance Abuse Disorder Disability Benefits Is A Reality

Substance Abuse Disorder disability claims are often challenged by disability insurance companies. How Can Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Assist You?

As disability insurance attorneys, Dell & Schaefer have represented numerous long term disability claimants that have been unable to work as a result of a substance abuse disorder (drugs or alcohol).

Substance abuse disorder is a category of long-term disability which is often overlooked by individuals who could file a claim for long-term disability. That’s because when we think of categories in which people usually file disability claims with their long-term disability insurance carrier, physical disabilities are usually the first come to mind. It is common that substance abuse develops secondary to a physically disabling condition.

Long-term disability insurance carriers are usually quick to deny a substance abuse disability claim for a number of reasons. Not the least of which has to do with the insurance company’s view that drug and alcohol abuse on the part of the claimant can be resolved through various forms of treatment. In the insurance carrier’s eyes, the responsibility toward making long-term disability payments to the claimant is mitigated. With that said, the long-term disability insurance carrier fails to acknowledge the fact that drug and alcohol abuse is a mental disease that must be managed and one that cannot be cured.

Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer have an expansive understanding of the significant restrictions and limitations that a person with a substance abuse disorder must live with on a daily basis. We have worked closely with top physicians in order to sufficiently satisfy a disability carrier’s threshold of evidence necessary to prove that a client is disabled due to a substance abuse disorder.

Not everyone suffering with substance abuse qualifies for long-term disability benefits, therefore the medical records of each client must be reviewed to determine the level of restrictions. Not every disability insurance policy provides coverage for substance abuse.

What Is Substance Abuse Disorder?

Substance abuse disorder is defined by meeting consistently a set number of criteria over 12 month period. According to the proposed revisions slated to appear in DSM-5, such criteria include:

  • repeated substance use resulting in a failure to carry out major responsibilities at work, school, or home
  • ongoing substance use even though interpersonal problems persist as a result of such use
  • higher amounts of the substance are consumed in order to achieve the same, previous effect
  • alcohol or drug use continues despite the user’s knowledge of the harmful effects caused by the excessive use of alcohol or drugs

Let’s say for a moment that you are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. Over the course of time, you have been in and out of inpatient rehab along with making numerous follow-up visits to a psychiatrist and an AODA counselor due to the number of relapses that have occurred. During the follow-up visits to your psychiatrist, you are told that you have substance abuse disorder because your drug and alcohol abuse impairs your ability to function normally and hold down a job as result of substance abuse disorder. The evidence for such a diagnosis is clear to your psychiatrist since you changed jobs seven times in the past two years. The numerous job changes were due to the behavior associated with drug and alcohol addiction apart from consuming alcohol and ingesting drugs.

Substance-abuse disorder runs far deeper than simply giving in to drugs and alcohol. The mindset of an addict differs from the mindset of person who can function normally. A person who has a history of drug and alcohol abuse is prone to other mental disorders that cause long-term disability. Depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are mental disorders that can prevent a person from having the ability to hold down a job and lead a productive life.

In this case, your psychiatrist or AODA counselor might recommend that you file a long-term disability claim as result of your substance abuse disorder. Make sure the behavioral health specialists you see are on board with filing a long-term disability claim. A disability attorney will help you navigate all of the legal challenges you’ll face when you file a substance abuse disability claim. Our disability attorneys are trained to identify the strengths and potential weaknesses of your potential substance abuse disability claim.

Once your disability lawyer files your disability claim with your long-term disability insurance carrier, you don’t have to worry about dealing with the insurance carrier directly. All instances of communication with your long-term disability carrier will be handled through your disability attorney regarding your substance abuse this claim. That means you can focus on your recovery because you know your disability lawyer is working hard to obtain your disability benefits.

Resources

There are many valuable sources of substance abuse disorder information available, such as:

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Showing 8 of 653 Reviews
New York Life

New York Life is a joke!

Reviewed by Heather on October 3rd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
This company sucks when it comes to disability claims. They are slow at processing stuff, then they always say they didn't recieve the doctors information. You spend your ... read more >
MetLife

They FULL OF ****

Reviewed by KM on October 3rd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
MetLife is what everyone on this review are saying. They don't contact you to let you know what's going on with your claim or to let know you need additional info. I had a... read more >
Sedgwick

Worst Company Ever

Reviewed by RobRob on September 23rd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
If something happens to you at work you better hope you die, my son is going through HELL because this company is handling his work comp. NO RETURN PHONE CALLS, TEXTS, EMA... read more >
MetLife

MetLife for disability? Avoid the surgery unless it's life-threatening

Reviewed by Jeff on August 22nd 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2024 date of disability
The worst company I ever dealt with, never received a call from my claim manager.
Reliance Standard

Short Term Disability Claim/Inconsistent to NO Communication

Reviewed by GaKRN on August 22nd 2024   Verified Policyholder | June 2024 date of disability
When I did call & reach a live person they were kind & helpful. The person assigned to my claim left one phone message & I have not spoken to her since. Information she re... read more >
Unum

Unum Closed My Case Today

Reviewed by Scott C. on July 5th 2024   Verified Policyholder | March 2023 date of disability
Unum will keep you around, if they pay you 100 a month. But as soon as have to pay more than 2700 a month, they will drop you. We will be going to the attorneys office fir... read more >
Hartford

Ran me Around for Months

Reviewed by David on July 5th 2024   Verified Policyholder | January 2024 date of disability
Scammers. Immoral horrible people.
Reply
Sent on July 5th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

David:

It’s horrible that Hartford did that to you.

Prudential

Denied but Not Denied but I am Denied

Reviewed by KDDK on July 5th 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2022 date of disability
I went out in Aug. 2022 for neck pain. After seeing a neurologist I had to get an ACDF C5-7, it was also determined I had carpal tunnel in my right hand and bulging disk i... read more >
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Through our experience of having helped thousands of disability insurance claimants, our disability insurance lawyers will guide you through the entire application process and give you the best chance to get your disability claim approved the first time.

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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.

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Who are Dell Disability Lawyers?

We are disability insurance attorneys 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 attorneys have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement. Our disability insurance 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 offer disability insurance attorney representation nationwide and we welcome you to contact any of our lawyers 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 850 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our disability insurance attorneys 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 insurance 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, or video conferencing sessions. 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 insurance 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.

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