What Happens After You Win LTD Benefits?

Our clients have so many questions about what they should do when they are denied their long term disability benefits, and we are always happy to help them through this process. But what happens after we secure them the benefits they deserve. The following is an experience from one of our clients with fibromyalgia. ** Barbara’s problems began when she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at the age of 37. The pain made it difficult to carry out her responsibilities as a software engineer, so she applied for disability benefits as soon as she received the official diagnosis....

A Day In The Life With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chronic pain can make even the most rudimentary tasks impossible. It’s also a profoundly isolating experience, whether you live alone or with a family. One of our clients, Rowan*, was kind enough to share what her day-to-day experience was like. A 40-year-old teacher with rheumatoid arthritis (RH), she has a family to take care of; a husband, John, and two young girls. John works full time as well and takes care of the majority of the housework on his own. This is what a typical day in Rowan’s life looks like.  5:30 a.m. My pain always wakes me up. It’s agony. First...

Justin Bieber Reveals He Has Lyme Disease

In early January, Justin Bieber announced by way of an Instagram post that he was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease. The news came as a shock to fans as it was revealed he’d been suffering from symptoms of the condition for a long time on top of other highly debilitating conditions such as chronic mono.   In his post, Bieber drew attention to the spread of misinformation based on appearances. “While a lot of people kept saying Justin Bieber looks like [****], on meth etc. they failed to realize I’ve been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease,” he said....

How Long It Takes for Long-Term Disability Claim to be Approved

Submitting a long-term disability claim can be frustrating. From the length of time it takes to hear back on your claim to misinterpretations of policies, it’s a stressful time for those impacted. One of the more common questions surrounding LTD claims is how long it will take for a disability claim to be approved.  LTD Claim Approval Process  Different factors will impact the time in which it takes for your insurance company to process your long-term disability claim. Start the process by thoroughly reading your policy, whether it’s a group disability insurance...

How to Work With Share Lawyers If You Live Outside of Ontario

Since 1987, Share Lawyers has worked hard to assist those dealing with disability insurance claims in Ontario and across Canada. We hold our team to the highest standard in legal representation, which means we’ve carefully selected a team of experienced and compassionate lawyers and law clerks. We appreciate all of our clients and firmly believe in fighting for what is right for the individual and family involved. That’s why we are always prepared to do whatever we can to ensure the insurance company adequately compensates our clients. But what if you live far away from...

Severely Depressed and Denied LTD Benefits

Unfortunately, we see this almost every day. Despite a clear diagnosis of depression, the insurance company will often argue that you can still do your job. We like to use Soledad’s story as an example to show that there is hope.** Soledad had never thought that life as a dental technician would feel so isolating. After all, her job required her to treat and deal with people, and there was no shortage of patients at the clinic where she worked in Guelph, Ontario. Unfortunately, she had come to learn that the reality was much more claustrophobic. Many of the rooms in the...

Can the Insurance Company Deny Your Disability Claim if you have PTSD?

The short answer is yes – even if you have a medical diagnosis. Here’s a story very similar to a case that we recently won for a client. Please note that all names and identifying details have been changed to protect the confidentiality of all involved.  Derrick had always assumed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was something that only happened to soldiers and people in dangerous professions. He certainly never expected that it was something he’d have to deal with in his position as a bank manager in downtown Vancouver, or that it would upend his life in such a...

Why It’s So Important to Listen & Empathize With Our Clients

At the most basic level, a disability is a disruption. Those who develop a condition in their adulthood can suddenly find themselves struggling with everyday tasks, and are physically or mentally unable to do as much as they did when they were younger. It can be incredibly demoralizing to be forced to confront those limitations, and no one feels that more acutely than the person wading through a to-do list that never seems to get any smaller. Unfortunately, many bystanders are simply unwilling or unable to empathize with that struggle. They have no broader understanding...