LTD - help!

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Lifeisprecious1
Lifeisprecious1 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello, I have been living with stage IV metastatic breast cancer for a little over 2 years. I made the very difficult decision to utilize my company's wonderful benefits of STD and then LTD.

I was recently approved for LTD an the subsequently was approved for SSDI. So things were going pretty good as far as finances. Not as good as when I was working but manageable. Recently I received a letter from the LTD company inquiring about whether I have a Pension or 401K through my work (which I no longer work for since going on LTD). I am concerned that they are going to try to use these "retirement" accounts against me and reduce my monthly LTD payments. I am 55 so have 10 years before I can touch these without the 20% penalty.

While the physical challenges of dealing with this disease is plenty, I am so upset of having to try to stay 1 step ahead of the LTD company as it appears they are doing what ever they can to not pay me. This frustrates me so very much because I paid into this for the 32 years I worked for my company.

So my question is - has anyone faced this? Do I need to get an attorney?

Any information you can provide me would be very much appreciated. I am doing my best to stay positive but every time I turn around, it's one more thing to worry about.

thanks so very much!


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Comments

  • Scout-a-bout
    Scout-a-bout Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2018

    Did the LTD company ask if you have a pension and 401k, or are you accessing your pension and 401k? I think they want to know if you're accessing them.

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  • Lifeisprecious1
    Lifeisprecious1 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2018

    They are asking 2 things:

    Do I have them?

    Have I rolled them over to an IRA ? Which doesn't really mean they are being accessed but I think that is how they look at it. And I did roll them over as I was not comfortable keeping them as they were.


    I had no idea they would even look at these types of accounts and consider them income. I'm so upset with myself as I strive to make plans for things and cover all my bases.

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  • Scout-a-bout
    Scout-a-bout Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2018

    My suggestion is, if you don't already have, get a copy of your LTD document and read through it yourself to gain a better understanding as to why you're being asked these questions. I, too, have my LTD through my employer, and while they have asked me if I have any other source of income other than my disability payments, they have never asked me about my 401k at all.

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  • Liwi
    Liwi Member Posts: 298
    edited March 2018

    Do you have a copy of your LTD summary plan description? It should say what income they can deduct.


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  • Liwi
    Liwi Member Posts: 298
    edited March 2018

    I have the same recommendation, get a copy of you LTD summary plan description. It should say what other income can be deducted. They may just need to fill in the information for their file.

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  • Lifeisprecious1
    Lifeisprecious1 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2018

    thanks so much for the responses. I have contacted my LTD company and they are mailing the document to me.

    Hoping I am worrying for nothing. I try to stay positive but sometimes it gets a little overwhelming.


    All the best to You!

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited March 2018

    Lifeisprecious, sorry for the circumstances. One thing to try and keep in mind is to not take it personally what that company is doing to you. It is almost their job to try to not pay anyone, anyone at all, if they can help it. It is just how those companies operate. It is very frustrating, yes, and seems so unfair when you are dealing with this disease. But its not you, it is the sytem.

    Please try to google the company and LTD and see if you come up with any forums discussing similar situatuons, and try to gain some insight that way. I worked as an aide in a school and had to apply for disability wages thru that system. I was denied, but I had done some research that almost everyone is when they first apply. I contacted a lawyer over the phone, had a free consultation over the phone and she sent me many forms thru the mail to fill out. She reapplied and after about six or eight months, I received disability pay beginning back to when I applied (not that much money but still, it belonged to me.). So, do consider legal representation if necessary. I only had to pay the lawyer if I received disability, and I think it was a third of the disability I received. And if there is anyone you know at work who went thru this, consider calling them and asking advice. I did that, also. Best wishes.


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  • ann1999
    ann1999 Member Posts: 104
    edited March 2018

    Thank you lifeisprecious for starting this thread. I just started STD and will be doing the paperwork for LTD in a month or two along with applying for SSDB. It is so true what DIvineMrsM said about not taking it personal and I know that as I used to work for a STD/LTD insurance company. If they can keep a penny/dollar they will. All I can say is document document document. Copy everything and send everything certified with a signed receipt. Let us know how it goes.

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited March 2018

    Ladies please contact the HR department where you used to work, and ask to speak to their benefits representative. Then ask for a copy of your summary plan description. The rep can help you navigate the paperwork you are receiving. Hugs!

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