(866) 615-9507

Sun Life Disability Insurance Claims Attorneys

Sun Life Financial is a Toronto-based insurance company that announced in May 2019 it had over $1 trillion of assets under its management. In its 2018 Annual Report, Sun Life stated it had $2.947 million in underlying net income and $1.154 million in new business in 2018.

If you or a loved one have developed a disabling condition and are in need of assistance filing a claim or appealing a denied claim with Sun Life Financial Group, contact Capitan Law for help right away. You should know that you are entitled to have a lawyer assist with the filing of your application and help you handle any other issues that may arise, like unexpected denials, appeals, and other necessary steps to ensure that you get the disability payments you are owed.

Capitan Law is dedicated to helping people obtain all of the disability benefits they need and deserve. Call (267) 419-7888 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.

Do I Need A Sun Life Long Term Disability Insurance Claims Lawyer?

When you file a disability claim with Sun Life, the insurance company is likely to delay or outright deny your claim. Keep in mind that insurers make more money when they are either minimizing the amounts paid for disability claims or denying them altogether.

You are going to want to be sure that your initial application is appropriately prepared and contains all of the information necessary to render a decision. Many people who attempt to file claims on their own frequently have their claims denied because of common errors or oversights.

When Sun Life is taking too long to review your claim, an attorney will know how to compel the insurance company to take action. A lawyer is also going to be able to help you determine the best way to respond if your claim is denied.

If Sun Life wrongfully denies a disability benefits claim, you need to understand that there are strict time limits applicable to your appeal options. Certain cases may be complicated if the insurance is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the federal law establishing the standards for the processing and administration of ERISA plans and claims.

Why Choose Capitan Law To Handle My Case?

Joe Capitan has been named a Pennsylvania Rising Star by Super Lawyers every year from 2013 to 2017. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Philadelphia Bar Association, and Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Do not think that you cannot afford a disability benefits attorney. Capitan Law does not charge you anything unless you receive the benefits you are entitled to.

Our firm has offices in Chadds Ford, Philadelphia, and Newtown Square in Pennsylvania and a location in Louisville, Kentucky as well. When Sun Life is unwilling to provide an appropriate settlement, our firm can take your case to court.

Types of Sun Life Disability Insurance Claim Cases We Handle

Long-term disability works similar to short-term disability, but the benefits will last longer, and the elimination period may also be longer. Employees may transition to long-term disability insurance when their short-term disability benefits are exhausted.

When a person is an hourly employee, Sun Life multiplies their hourly rate by the actual number of hours worked per week (no more than 40) to get the weekly rate and multiply it by 52 to obtain an annual amount before dividing by 12. For a bi-weekly rate, Sun Life multiplies by 26 and then divides by 12, semi-monthly rates are multiplied by 2, and salaried employees have their annual salaries divided by 12 to get a monthly rate, although an employee who worked less than 12 months could have a different calculation.

Long-term disability forms for Sun Life require applicants to complete statements from employees, employers, and treating physicians. An incomplete application can result in lengthy delays in the processing of your claim.

If your claim is denied, you should receive a written notice of denial that states the specific reason or reasons for the denial, the particular Group Policy provisions on which the denial is based, and your right to appeal the claim determination and to receive a copy of documents relating to it. Procedures relating to claims denials are outlined in the Group Policy of your employer. When all or part of your claim is denied, you can request in writing a review of the denial within 180 days of receiving the notice of denial.

Physician’s treatment notes are required for most claims, and you are going to want to make sure you have a lawyer if Sun Life presents you with any additional forms it wants you or your doctor to complete. Some documents purposefully try to present information so it can be implied that a person’s disability does not prevent them from returning to work, so you want to be extremely careful in your handling of these kinds of forms.

Sun Life may go to great lengths to try and prove that your disability is not as severe as you claim. In some cases, the insurance company may have an agent conduct undercover surveillance on you and videotape you engaging in activities Sun Life will claim prove that you are not actually disabled.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A waiting period is the amount of time that a new employee or a person who has recently enrolled in the Group Policy must wait before they are covered under the policy. The elimination period is the amount of time that a claimant must be continuously disabled before they are eligible for consideration of benefits. Both the waiting period and the elimination period will vary by the employer. You should review the Employee Benefits booklet for your Group Policy.

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes are commonly deducted from disability benefits when employers pay disability premiums in full. Federal regulations require Sun Life to withhold FICA taxes from employer-financed disability benefits for six months after the last month that the employee worked. You will not be subject to FICA taxes if you pay for all or a portion of your disability premium with after-tax dollars. If you are paying all or a portion of your premiums on a pre-tax basis, your disability benefits will still be subject to FICA.

You generally cannot recover disability benefits for disabilities resulting from occupational illnesses and on-the-job injuries. Most policies contain exclusions explicitly stating that benefits will not be paid for any disability due to injuries or diseases compensable by workers’ compensation or any injury or illness sustained while doing any act relating to the person’s occupation.

Contact a Sun Life Disability Insurance Claims Attorney Today

If you or your loved one are trying to obtain disability benefits from Sun Life Financial Group, you will want to get experienced legal representation for assistance with every aspect of your claims process. Capitan Law understands the stress and confusion people feel in completing these applications, and we will do everything we can to simplify the process for you and fight to help you recover all of the benefits available to you.

Our firm not only assists with the initial application, but can guide you through any appeals, lawsuits, or settlements that may be necessary as well. You can have us assess all of your legal options as soon as you call (267) 419-7888 or contact us online to take advantage of a free consultation.

We’ve fought the big insurance companies.
Call, chat, or message us today to get started.