Serving clients throughout PA, NJ, NY, and MD. If your long-term disability (LTD) insurance company has denied, delayed, or terminated your claim, you have important rights — and a ticking clock. LTD claims are governed by ERISA, a federal law with strict deadlines and procedures. Siddons Law Firm represents LTD claimants. Call (610) 255-7500.
Key Takeaways
- LTD insurance companies deny a significant percentage of claims at first filing. An experienced LTD attorney can often reverse a denial through the ERISA appeals process.
- You usually have only 180 days from the denial letter to file an administrative appeal — miss that deadline and your case may be over.
- Individual recoveries commonly range from $100,000 to $500,000+; some policies have substantially higher benefits and lump-sum settlement values.
- Most ERISA policies are governed by a limited “administrative record,” which means the evidence you submit BEFORE filing suit is everything.
- Contingency fee available for most cases. No fee unless we recover.
Common Reasons LTD Claims Are Denied
- “Your condition is not disabling under our policy definition”
- “Your medical records don’t support a disability”
- “You can perform sedentary work” (even when you can’t)
- “Your disability is based on a mental-health condition and the policy has a 24-month limit”
- “You failed to comply with the attending-physician requirement”
- “Surveillance showed you performing activities inconsistent with disability”
What Our Firm Does
- LTD Appeals: We build a complete administrative record — updated treating-physician statements, functional capacity evaluations, vocational evidence, and legal arguments that force the insurer to reconsider. Learn more →
- ERISA Litigation: When appeals fail, we file suit in federal court to force the insurer to pay. Learn more →
- Individual (non-ERISA) policies: If you bought an individual policy (not through your employer), state bad-faith law applies and can substantially increase your damages.
Who May Qualify
- You have an LTD policy through your employer, a private carrier, or an association.
- You are unable to perform your job due to a medical condition.
- Your claim has been denied, delayed, or terminated — OR your benefits are about to transition from “own occupation” to “any occupation” (a common termination trigger).
Why Choose Our Firm
ERISA LTD litigation has a tiny plaintiffs’ bar nationally. Siddons Law Firm represents LTD claimants throughout PA, NJ, NY, and MD with the support of nationally recognized ERISA co-counsel. No up-front cost. Contingency fee available.
Frequently Asked Questions
My denial letter gives me 180 days to appeal. Do I have to use an attorney?
No, but we strongly recommend it. The 180-day administrative appeal is your last real chance to put evidence in the record. Courts are almost always limited to the administrative record when reviewing ERISA denials.
Can I sue immediately?
No. Federal law requires you to exhaust the internal administrative appeal first.
What if my disability is mental health related?
Many LTD policies cap mental-health benefits at 24 months. We may still be able to document dual physical-and-mental-health conditions to extend benefits.
Start Your LTD Case
Call (610) 255-7500 or email msiddons@siddonslaw.com. Free case review. Serving PA, NJ, NY, and MD.