Common Roadblocks In Long Term Disability Claims

Filing a long‑term disability (LTD) claim should be straightforward when you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. Unfortunately, for many claimants, the process is anything but simple. Insurance companies impose strict requirements, request endless documentation, and often deny claims for reasons that feel unfair or unreasonable.

At the Law Office of Justin C. Frankel, P.C., we represent disability claimants nationwide and understand the challenges individuals face when navigating LTD insurance claims. Below are some of the most common roadblocks claimants encounter—and why hiring an experienced disability attorney can make all the difference in getting your benefits approved.

Incomplete or Inconsistent Medical Evidence

Insurance companies frequently deny claims by arguing there is “insufficient medical evidence,” even when a claimant has a well‑documented medical history.

Common issues include:

• Doctors’ notes that focus on treatment, not functional limitations
• Lack of detailed descriptions of how symptoms prevent work
• Gaps in care caused by insurance issues or illness itself
• Specialists who do not use “insurance‑friendly” language

How our firm helps:

We work directly with your medical providers to ensure documentation clearly explains:

• Your diagnoses
• Your symptoms and functional limitations
• How your condition prevents you from performing your job duties

We know what insurance companies look for—and what they often use as excuses to deny a claim.

Surveillance and Social Media Misinterpretation

Insurers frequently conduct surveillance or comb through social media accounts to find moments they can distort or take out of context.

What looks like:

• Carrying a grocery bag
• Attending a family gathering
• Smiling in a photo

…is sometimes used as “evidence” that a claimant is not disabled.

How our firm helps:

We prepare clients on how to protect themselves, respond to surveillance, and prevent insurers from mischaracterizing innocent activities.

Occupational Misclassification

Insurance carriers often misinterpret or oversimplify a claimant’s job duties to argue that they can still perform their occupation.

For example:

• A complex professional role may be inaccurately categorized as “sedentary.”
• Critical cognitive demands may be ignored.
• Physical tasks may be minimized or overlooked.

How our firm helps:

We gather accurate job descriptions, industry standards, and detailed employer statements to establish the true nature of your occupation.

Biased Insurance Medical Examinations

Insurers may require claimants to attend:

• Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs)
• Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs)
• Neuropsychological exams

Despite the word “independent,” these evaluations are often performed by physicians who frequently work for insurance companies and provide reports that support denials.

How our firm helps:

We prepare clients for these exams, challenge biased reports, and ensure that your own treating doctors’ opinions are given appropriate weight.

Missed Deadlines and Technical Requirements

Insurance carriers are strict about:

• Deadlines
• Appeal procedures
• Formatting and evidence rules
• ERISA compliance requirements

A single mistake can jeopardize a claim or appeal.

How our firm helps:

We manage your claim from start to finish, meet all deadlines, and ensure your submission is complete, compliant, and strategically presented.

Denials Based on Subjective Conditions

Claimants with conditions such as:

• Chronic pain
• ME/CFS
• Fibromyalgia
• Long COVID
• Migraines
• Mental health disorders

…often face heightened scrutiny because insurers may consider these conditions “subjective.”

How our firm helps:

We build persuasive, evidence‑based cases using:

• Symptom tracking
• Functional assessments
• Expert opinions
• Vocational evaluations

Our experience counters the insurer’s attempts to minimize or dismiss these conditions.

Why Hire the Law Office of Justin C. Frankel, P.C.?

Insurance companies have teams of doctors, analysts, and lawyers working to deny or terminate claims. Claimants deserve someone equally experienced fighting for them.

Our firm offers:

• Over two decades of disability law experience
• Strategic, individualized claim preparation
• Aggressive appeal representation
• Direct attorney involvement—not a large, impersonal firm
• National representation for disability claimants

We know how insurance carriers operate, and we fight back when they act unfairly or ignore the medical realities our clients face.

Protect Your Benefits. Protect Your Future.

You paid for disability insurance so it could protect you when you need it most. If you’re facing obstacles, delays, or denials, you don’t have to handle the process alone.

The Law Office of Justin C. Frankel, P.C. is here to help you navigate the complexities of LTD claims and secure the benefits you deserve.

Call us today for a consultation

T: 888.583.4959

T: 516.222-1600

Visit: jfrankellaw.com