Eric Shore, Disability Attorney – Serving New Jersey for 30+ Years
You paid into long-term disability (LTD) insurance. Now you can’t work because of illness or injury, and your insurance company has denied your claim. You’re not alone.
In New Jersey, more than 900,000 residents live with disabilities. Most LTD claims are denied at first. The good news: denials can be challenged—and many can be won.
Why Insurance Companies Deny Disability Claims
It’s simple: they profit when they don’t pay. LTD benefits can replace as much as 80% of your income for months or even years. That’s a big payout, and insurers look for excuses to deny:
- Claiming your condition isn’t severe enough
- Arguing you can do “other work”
- Pointing to incomplete or inconsistent medical records
We’ve seen it all—nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and tradespeople across New Jersey told they weren’t “disabled enough” even when they clearly could not keep working.
Mental Health & “Invisible Illness” Claims
Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder can be just as disabling as physical injuries. Invisible illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and multiple sclerosis face even tougher scrutiny because they don’t show up on scans.
Insurance companies often ignore medical standards, especially in cases involving mental health or chronic pain. These are the very cases where careful documentation and strong legal strategy make the difference.
Understanding ERISA (Plain English)
If your LTD policy came through your job, it’s almost always governed by ERISA—the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, a federal law. ERISA is not state law, and the rules are strict:
- One shot at an appeal. If you lose, you can’t submit new evidence later.
- Short deadlines. Usually you have 180 days to appeal. Miss it, and your rights are gone.
- Evidence is key. Everything must be submitted in the appeal, or it’s excluded in court.
Insurance companies count on people not knowing these rules.
What to Do When Your LTD Claim Is Denied
Don’t panic—and don’t give up. Here are the first steps:
- Request your complete claim file immediately (they must give you everything they relied on to deny).
- Watch deadlines. Most ERISA appeals give you only 180 days.
- Get strong medical support. Independent evaluations from specialists carry weight.
- Document your limits. Journals, family statements, and co-worker letters help prove daily struggles.
- Strengthen your record. Ongoing treatment with respected New Jersey specialists is critical.
Q&A: Common New Jersey LTD Denial Questions
Q: What should I do if my long-term disability claim was denied in New Jersey?
A: Ask for your full claim file right away, mark your appeal deadline, and get legal help quickly. You usually have just 180 days to act.
Q: Can I handle an ERISA appeal on my own?
A: You technically can, but ERISA law is stacked against you. If you miss a step, you can lose your rights forever. That’s why most people use a lawyer who knows LTD appeals inside and out.
Q: What if my LTD insurance company requires me to apply for Social Security Disability (SSD)?
A: Most insurers do. We handle both LTD and SSD, so you don’t get stuck between your insurance company and the government blaming each other.
Building Winning Appeals
Every strong appeal tells your full story—not just your medical diagnosis, but how your condition prevents you from doing your job.
We’ve represented professionals across New Jersey:
- Nurses who could no longer work long shifts
- Teachers struggling with disabling depression
- Doctors sidelined by cancer treatments
- Lawyers facing multiple sclerosis
- Tradespeople with serious back and joint injuries
We’ve handled thousands of disability claims in New Jersey since the early 1990s, and we’ve secured settlements worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for clients.
What’s at Stake
Long-term disability benefits can mean:
- Up to 80% of your pre-disability income
- Monthly payments for years
- Back pay worth hundreds of thousands of dollars
- In some cases, cost-of-living increases
Without these benefits, many families can’t keep up with rent, mortgages, or medical bills.
Taking on the Biggest Insurance Carriers
We’ve gone up against—and won against—the largest disability insurers in New Jersey, including Unum, Prudential, MetLife, Cigna, Hartford, and Guardian. These companies know our name, and they know we don’t back down.
Why Experience Matters
Insurance companies have teams of lawyers and consultants whose job is to deny claims. You need someone who’s been fighting them for decades.
I’ve been handling disability cases in New Jersey since the 1990s. I know the federal courts, the medical experts insurers respect, and the tactics carriers use to wear people down.
We work on contingency—you don’t pay attorney fees unless we win.
Take Action Today
Your health is real. Your inability to work is real. The benefits you paid for are real too. Don’t let the insurance company tell you otherwise.
Call 1-800-CANT-WORK or visit 1800CANTWORK.com for your free consultation. We’ll review your denial letter, your medical history, and map out a strategy to fight back.
We’ve worked with clients throughout New Jersey—from Newark to Jersey City, Trenton to Cherry Hill, and communities in between.
You’ve fought your illness long enough. Let us fight the insurance company.
The Law Offices of Eric A. Shore – Serving New Jersey disability claimants for 30+ years.
All ERISA disability and SSD matters handled on contingency.
