An Interesting But Motivational Case Of Disability

Disability is something that nobody wants in his or her life. Because, when it comes, it not only hampers your daily schedule but also gives you a financial jolt. Your most of the savings would be used in a matter of few months. And even after you recover from the disability, you may or may not be in the condition to earn from the source you used to. If you are working for a firm, it might happen that the employer could terminate you because you were on leave for long time. You could even go for filing a disability claim against your employer but rather than giving you money quickly this could take more of your money and also you would have to wait for some time before you could get your claimed money. This could give you money but that sum of money would be helpful for few months or few years. But after that your struggle could continue unless you have found other way of earning. Below is the case of disability of a young and enthusiastic girl who was disabled permanently but found her own way of earning. The story goes something like this:

"Stephani Victor is an American girl with vibrant spirit and unstoppable desire to learn. This characteristics of her landed her in a highly competitive film school at the University of Southern California in 1995, where she graduated with honors.

She was well on her way to a successful career in film when she met with a devastating accident. She was hit by an out of control car that crushed her into a parked car while standing in the driveway. In an emergency effort to save her life, doctors removed both her legs. At 26, Stephani was left disabled with whole life ahead.

After 3 years and 11 surgeries, she was left in a very deep financial crisis. Also, she was not able to return to her previous job and she has very limited savings. Her medical bills showed a staggering amount of well over $250,000.00 even with full coverage health insurance. This was too much for someone who had just graduated from the college. But this could not bring her confidence down and even with this disability she decided to make most of her remaining life. In 1999, she tried skiing for the first time with a mono-ski since the accident. This is where she found an opportunity and decided to become a skiing champion. With her utmost dedication and confidence, in 2000, she won her first U.S. National Title in Slalom. Currently she is the reigning World Champion, Paralympic Champion and Overall World Cup Champion.

Thanks to the success in skiing, film and motivational speaking, she is currently in a financially stable position. She considers herself very lucky because nobody could be as fortunate as she was after a life-changing injury. She was not aware of disability claim before the accident. Having a disability claim could really help in reducing the financial burden."

In such cases, even long term disability claims could not help you out and one would have to find his or her own way of earning as in this case she found skiing as her way of earning.

About the Author

Julian Booth writes regularly for disability benefits and disability claims. He has written many articles for long term and short term disability claims.

Facing a Disability? Choose Disability Claims Type Wisely

Brief Overview on Various Disabilities

Disabilities can be of many different types, some mental and some physical. People are not always born with a disability. They might acquire it during the course of their life.

 There’s a long list of physical disability including walking, hearing, sight or even failing to move a certain part of the body. Some of the cases might seem trivial like poor vision or inability to hear out of both ears but they are definitely considered as disabilities.

Even if a person has hard-time talking and conversing with different people, he/she might be at a risk of facing mental disability. If you cannot think for yourself easily then it also counts as a type of mental disability. Individuals suffering from dyslexia have trouble with letters and numbers and they certainly have hard time thinking as compared to average human being. Thus, dyslexia is counted as a disability.

Types of Disability Claims

When it comes to disability claims, there are two types: Long term disability claims and short term disability claims. Depending on the medical condition, you may be eligible for both types of insurance through your employer in the form of a group plan. If your employer doesn’t provide you with these benefits, you can claim the benefits directly through an insurance company on an individual basis.

Short-term Disability or Long-term Disability? Confused?

The application of claim is quite uniform amongst majority of the insurance companies. They require a completely filed application, an insurance medical exam, a telephonic interview and a proof of income tax returns. An average duration for a policy to get the approval is 3-8 weeks. However, the dilemma that many individuals face is whether to claim for short-term or long-term disability.

Conventionally, a short-term disability policy has 7-14 days of waiting period and 3-6 months of benefit period. In most situations, short-term disability claims are intended to pay the benefits while a person is waiting for his/her long-term disability policy. Additionally, short-term disability insurance pays for the expenses for relatively shorter periods and serves as a protection against minor injuries or sickness but not something major.

On the other hand, as per the terms of long-term disability insurance policy, a person becomes eligible for benefits only after 90 days of disability. He/she will continue to get the benefits for five years, ten years or till retirement depending on what was opted during the filing of the claim. A long-term disability program is a life-line for persons who are struggling to pay for their medical and other daily expenses.

Importance of Disability Policies & Choosing a Disability Lawyer

Amid our daily professionals and personal life, most of us never expect or assume that we can face disability. Image a scenario when your daily source of income ceases due to disability. And as a result, we are no longer able to support our everyday expenses and loans. In such grim circumstances, it is these disability policies that help a disabled individual to sail through.

It is advisable that if you do not get benefits from your workplace and opt for individual coverage then you should hire a specialist lawyer who can trust and helps you throughout the entire claim process. A professional attorney can assist you by finding and advising about the best and rightful policy for your disability.

Source: http://socyberty.com/law/facing-a-disability-choose-disability-claims-type-wisely/