Category Archives: Long Term Disability

Signs of Bad Faith Disability Insurance Denials that Violate Maryland Law
When you pay your premiums in full and on time, you expect your disability insurance company to uphold its side of the bargain by processing your disability claim quickly. Unfortunately, some insurers don’t comply with the Maryland Insurance Administration’s Insurer Good Faith Requirements. Not only are bad faith disability insurance practices unlawful, but they… Read More »

FAQs About Offsets for Disability Insurance Benefits
If you are or will be receiving benefits under an employer sponsored group disability plan or private disability insurance plan, you may come across “offsets” (also referred to as “deductible sources of income”) that affect the amount paid out to you. In short, offsets are terms within your policy that allow your insurance company… Read More »

ERISA and the Department of Labor
Attorney, Keith R. Siskind of the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC, attended the American Conference Institute for Litigating Disability Insurance Claims in Philadelphia from 2/21/18 – 2/23/18. This seminar focused on a variety of topics regarding the filing, appealing and litigating of disability insurance claims. There is an abundance of discussion… Read More »

Disability Insurance Claims
Attorney, Keith R. Siskind of the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC, attended the American Bar Association ERISA Litigation Seminar held in Chicago from June 7th through June 9th, 2017. This seminar explored a variety of topics associated with claims under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The seminar was formulated… Read More »
Pursuing a Disability Insurance Claim Requires an Experienced Disability Attorney
Attorney, Keith R. Siskind of the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC, attended the American Conference Institute seminar on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims held in Boston on September 14 and 15, 2016. The seminar addressed multiple issues associated with disability insurance claims. These issues include the applicability of ERISA, remedies, discovery, and… Read More »

SSDI Offsets to Long – Term Disability Benefits in Maryland
In the 2012 case of Garcia v. The Hartford, the surviving spouse of Jose Garcia, Elvira Garcia, sued the insurance company The Hartford for a violation of ERISA. The decedent had participated in his employer’s long-term disability plan. The plan was insured and administered by The Hartford and was governed by ERISA. The purpose… Read More »

Impact of Video Surveillance on a Maryland Long Term Disability Claim
If you make a claim for disability to an insurer, you should be aware that some insurers conduct video surveillance to assess whether you are being truthful about your injuries or disabilities. They also sometimes check on your social media updates. In a recent case a plaintiff sued Life Insurance Company of North America… Read More »

Are Maryland Policy Holders’ Long-Term Disability Benefits Offset By Social Security Benefits?
The short answer is that it depends on the plan language. However, it is common for plans to include a provision whereby the benefits they owe a claimant will be offset by any Social Security benefits they receive. A Maryland attorney familiar with both private and government disability claims can look at the written… Read More »

“Objective” Evidence of Disability in Maryland Long Term Disability
As we’ve mentioned in other posts, the language of your long term disability plan is controlling in Maryland. An insurer can give itself complete discretion about whether to award benefits. This is one reason it is important to look at your plan documents when you enroll in a plan, and retain an attorney as… Read More »

Recent legal updates on disability insurance benefit claims
On December 4, 2013 attorney Keith R. Siskind attended the 26th annual ERISA Litigation Conference in New York. The conference provides an opportunity to network with other professionals and obtain updated information on recent cases and issues involving long term disability insurance benefit claims under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act. The process of… Read More »