Question
I carry my own disability insurance, it is seperate from any insurance I carry through my employer.The injuries that led to my disability occurred at home. I have been receiving weekly benefit checks since Jan 1999 and have not been released by my DR. I have filed for SSI disability and will have the SSI physical exam Nov 1. Today instead of a check I receive notice that my benefit checks are stopped until the insurance company reviews my case.In my DR's opinion it is very questionable I will be able to do my job as a solo OTR tanker driver since dragging 20 ' lengnths of 2 and 3 inch hoses plus other strenuous duties may be beyond my physical capability after 4 major surgeries in the past 9 months.Can they legally stop my checks before my DR releases me? My insurance will pay benefits up to 5 years. Thanks for your opinion it is greatly appreciated.
Answer
Disability policies vary greatly from company to company. Your policy may provided for what is called temporary total disability for a period of time, then a provision for permanent total disability. Also, there may provisions regarding an "offset" when SSI is involved.
I suggest you contact your agent for an explanation. Also, keep in mind that the provisions of the disability policy may have various exclusions. Example, does your policy consider you disabled only if unable to perform the duties of your profession or any profession? Does it provide rehabilitation? Some disability policies only provide when disabled from ANY profession. But others would not consider you disabled if you can work as a cab driver.
Read your policy. Start with the exclusions first and contact your agent for any assistance.