You are disabled. Your have a long term disability policy with a private insurer such as Aetna, Mutual of Omaha, Prudential The Standard or perhaps Unum. Your disability insurer may introduce you to a national law firm such as Allsup for the purpose of “helping” you obtain security benefits sometimes at no cost.
Your private disability insurer may have a close relationship with Allsup. Your insurer hires Allsup, not so you will get social security benefits, but so the disability insurer will be able to reduce any long term disability owed to you by the amount of social security benefits you are awarded. Remember, Allsup generates a great amount of business from disability insurers. Allsup needs to keep disability insurers happy. And, Allsup is aware that the definition of disability for social security purposes is not necessarily the same in the context of your long term disability policy.
The result could be that while Allsup builds a case for your social security claim, it is careful not to generate evidence which would support your long term disability claim. Also, since social security awards sometimes are back dated, you may end up actually owing your private disability carrier after Allsup “successfully” addresses your social security claim. While you may have a duty to apply for social security under your long term disability policy, you may be better applying for social security yourself or with local counsel you select.
Richard Rizk is an attorney who can help you resolve issues with your private disability insurer. For help with your private disability claim, contact Richard Rizk at 503.245.5677 or rich@rizklaw.com. If you need a Long Term Disability Attorney, Personal Injury Attorney or Insurance Attorney in the Portland Metro area contact Richard Rizk.