What You Should Know About Mental Health Disability Claims

It is essential to prioritize your mental health in your personal life and in the workplace. If you suspect you are experiencing mental health issues, it is important to speak to a professional who can help you better understand how you are feeling, and help you weigh your options for a treatment plan. 

Part of that plan may include asking for accommodations at work to help you complete your tasks or requesting time off of work entirely if you can no longer do what's expected of you, even with accommodations.

If you need to go on mental health disability leave, you may wonder what kind of financial support is available and what processes are involved. Utilize this guide to help you navigate your rights and the steps you must take in the case of a mental health disability claim. 

Consider a Consultation with a Professional

Insurance companies routinely deny mental health disability claims, so you need an expert on your side with a successful track record of getting clients the disability benefits they deserve. You may want to talk to a few disability lawyers.

The good news is that you can always get a free, no-obligation consultation with the disability lawyers at Ertl Lawyers to get a head start on the process without having to make any commitment before you are ready to proceed.

Understand Your Disability Benefits

Disability benefits are monthly payments that replace employment income for people who cannot work because of a disability. You have to be covered under an insurance policy that provides disability coverage. There are short-term and long-term disability plans. Short-term disability lasts for up to 6 months and, if needed, the long-term plan takes over the payments after that.

The amount of disability benefits you receive and how it's calculated is stated in your policy. Disability benefits typically cover anywhere between 60 - 75% of your income. 

Basic Requirements to Qualify for a Mental Health Disability Claim

To be eligible for short or long-term disability benefits for a mental health disorder, your impairment must leave you unable to perform crucial elements of your job. This is referred to as being "totally disabled." To prove this, your doctor will have to fill out a portion of your application for benefits and include all relevant information and supporting documents. 

Tell your doctor everything you can about your disability, symptoms, and how they prevent you from completing essential work duties. Keeping a journal may be helpful in this regard.

What Will Cause an Insurance Company Deny a Claim?

Mental health disability claims make up 70% of the total disability cost. Insurance companies, like all companies, try to reduce their costs and denying claims helps them do so.  They look for any reason they can to justify denying a claim, so knowing some of the common ones they use may improve your application's chances. They include:

• The person applying for mental health disability benefits did not see a doctor soon enough and/or was not seeing them regularly before the application.

• The application failed to show that the person is "totally disabled."

• The symptoms a person experiences result from a "toxic" workplace and should be handled through workplace procedures.

• There was a lack of documentation or medical records to support the claims made in the application. 

• Failing to disclose a pre-existing condition.

• The applicant is not or did not follow the treatment plan.

• Evidence collected by an investigator contradicts information stated in the application.  

If your claim is denied, or you've been receiving benefits but the insurance company has notified you that they are terminating payments, speak to a disability lawyer right away as you can file an appeal or sue the insurance company but there is a time limit to do so. 

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