If you have been approved for long-term disability benefits, you are likely counting on that income to make it through every month. The thought of losing that income is scary for many, and unfortunately, it is a real possibility for some. Here’s what you need to know about your long-term disability, and if you need to make a plan B.

Why Your Insurance May Cancel Your Disability Benefits

Your insurance company does not want you to suffer. However, there are several legitimate reasons why they may cancel your long-term disability benefits. Insurance companies have more leniency in choosing when to cancel long-term disability than Social Security programs. Many include a 24-month limit on benefits you can receive for certain illnesses and injuries. Limitations are often put on benefits for mental illnesses and chronic pain conditions such as:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Arthritis
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Back pain
  • Drug and alcohol abuse (physical disabilities caused by drug use typically do not have a 24-month limitation)

These 24-month limitations are put on certain illnesses because they are either common paths to insurance fraud, or are expected to improve over time. You may also have your insurance benefits canceled if you fail to submit proof of your disability or start to miss doctor’s appointments and checkups regularly. 

Sometimes insurance companies add clauses that change the definition of disability over time. Right after you report your disability, you are typically offered benefits when you can’t do your current job anymore. After a 12 or 24 month period, you may be asked to start in a different line of work that you are able to do with your disability. This can be burdensome because oftentimes insurance companies are not required to wait until you find an applicable job or receive training to cancel your benefits. 

Your insurance company may also cancel your benefits if you are eligible for SSDI. If you are eligible, however, that is good news. The Social Security Administration is much less likely to terminate long-term benefits than private insurance agencies. There are still some cases in which they cancel long-term benefits, but they are much more rare. 

Why Your SSDI Benefits Have Been Cancelled

The social security administration is less likely to cancel your disability benefits. However, there are certain exceptions to that rule:

  • You will lose SSDI when you reach retirement age (66), as you can’t receive both disability and social security income at the same time. 
  • If you are in prison or another penal institution your benefits will stop during the time you’re incarcerated. Typically they will continue after you are released. 

If you are concerned about losing your disability benefits for any reason, talk to Katherine Stone of Injury Florida Law Firm. Katherine and her team can walk you through any obstacles in your application for SSDI, and will be there afterward to provide for your legal needs. Contact Katherine at [email protected] or call the office to schedule a consultation.