Long-Term Disability Benefits in West Chester, PA
Suffering a disability that prevents you from working can be physically, emotionally, and economically devastating, particularly when you have to fight with an insurance company or with your employer to obtain disability benefits or are facing a premature termination of disability benefits. If you find yourself in this situation, you don't have to go it alone.
West Chester, PA attorney Steve Kunkle has the experience to:
- Work with disabled clients to obtain the benefits to which they are entitled
- Help disabled parties navigate complicated laws
- Fight insurance companies' arbitrary denial or termination of benefit claims
In his representation of clients with long-term disability claims, Steve has helped disabled clients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain syndrome, brain damage and neurocognitive impairments, and a variety of other life-altering illnesses.
Most employer-sponsored group disability insurance plans are subject to a federal law known as ERISA – the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Most benefit claims arising under employer-sponsored benefit plans are covered under ERISA, although some are not.
If you work in the private sector, ERISA likely applies to your employer. Anyone who receives benefits from an employer is likely covered by ERISA, even if your employer is a not-for-profit entity (other than a church or other religious organization).
ERISA covers an array of different types of benefits:
- Group health insurance plans
- Group disability benefit plans
- Pension plans
For more details about our depth of experience representing claimants in ERISA matters, see our page on ERISA.
Because disabled individuals often have claims for Social Security disability income (SSDI) benefits, and because most long-term disability plans allow insurance carriers to offset the amount of actual or estimated SSDI benefits against the claimant’s entitlement to long-term disability benefits, Steve coordinates with counsel expert in the handling of SSDI claims to achieve an optimal outcome for the client.
Steve also has significant experience handling benefit claims asserted under privately purchased long-term disability insurance plans. These claims typically arise under state statutes and insurance contract cases that are more favorable to individuals who have purchased such insurance with their own funds. In such claims, the possibility of punitive damages as a sanction on insurance carriers who deny claims in bad faith is a significant weapon.
Contact Our West Chester Law Firm When Issues Arise Regarding Your Employee Benefits
Contact us if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation about a long-term disability or other employee benefits matter. Our goal is to provide superior legal representation to clients who have compelling and significant cases. We do not seek to attract a high volume of clients, preferring instead to pursue a manageable number of cases on behalf of clients who have particularly worthy claims.
