COVID-19 Leads to Deadline Extensions for LTD Claims and Appeals

The coronavirus pandemic has led to many events being postponed or canceled all around the world. In many cases, this is considered bad news for all involved. Workplaces deemed nonessential have been closed for nearly two months waiting on this period of life to pass. Fortunately, our office’s mission is still to help our clients and to be available as much as possible during this time.

To our current clients and to those seeking our services for short-term and long-term disability claims and appeals, it is important to note that we are still here to help you every step of the way. Because of the National Emergency we are all enduring, current deadlines to file claims and to submit appeal letters following the denial of a claim under ERISA have been tolled until the pandemic is resolved. According to the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor:

All group health plans, disability and other employee welfare benefit plans, and employee benefit plans subject to ERISA or the Code must disregard the period from March 1, 2020 until sixty (60) days after the announced end of the National Emergency or such date announced by the Agencies in a future notification (the “Outbreak Period”) for all plan participants, beneficiaries, qualified beneficiaries, or claimants wherever located in determining the…time for making a claim for benefits or appealing the denial of a claim for benefits.

This means that if your appeal deadline falls within the time frame listed, you have an additional sixty days to file initial claims and to submit appeal letters following the denial of a claim from the date of the lifting of the National Emergency.

We understand that we are experiencing a trying time as a nation and we want to help you. If you have questions about your long-term disability claim or about the appeal process, or to see if you may be eligible to file a claim or submit an appeal at a date later than a deadline you were given before, call us today at (800) 249-3731 or visit us here to request a consultation with an attorney.