Most people who hire a long term disability lawyer have already received a denial letter or are in a panic about a benefits termination. By that point, some of the most important opportunities to protect the claim have already passed. Understanding what legal representation actually looks like at every stage of the process helps you engage help at the right time and get the most out of that relationship.
Stage One: Before You Stop Working
This is the stage most clients never think to involve an attorney. But it may be the most impactful. How you leave employment creates the foundation of your disability claim. If you abruptly stop working without documentation, the insurer may question the onset of your disability or dispute whether your departure was truly medically necessary.
An experienced long term disability lawyer helps you plan a clean, documented exit. That means coordinating with your treating physicians to ensure your medical records reflect the functional reasons you cannot continue working, reviewing your policy to understand the elimination period and any pre-existing condition clauses, and communicating your disability status to your employer in a way that protects your rights under applicable leave laws. Riemer Hess calls this “leaving work protected,” and it is one of the most valuable services the firm provides.
Stage Two: Filing the Initial Claim
The initial claim is your first opportunity to tell your disability story to the insurer. Done well, it sets you up for approval. Done poorly, it hands the insurer the ammunition to deny. Your attorney helps you complete claim forms accurately and completely, gather comprehensive medical documentation, obtain detailed functional limitation statements from treating physicians, and submit a package that preemptively addresses the criteria the insurer will use to evaluate your claim.
Riemer Hess wins 95% of the initial claims they file. That number reflects the power of a professionally prepared claim versus a self-prepared one.
Stage Three: Responding to Insurer Requests
After filing, the insurer will likely make ongoing requests. They may ask for additional medical records, schedule an independent medical examination, request an attending physician statement, or demand a functional capacity evaluation. Each of these interactions is an opportunity and a risk. Responding incorrectly or incompletely can damage your claim.
Your attorney manages these interactions strategically. They ensure you comply with legitimate insurer requests while protecting you from requests that exceed what the policy requires or that are designed to elicit information harmful to your claim. They prepare you for independent medical examinations and functional capacity evaluations so you go in knowing what to expect.
Stage Four: Receiving an Approval or Denial
If your claim is approved, congratulations. But your legal journey isn’t over. Benefits monitoring becomes the priority. If your claim is denied, your attorney analyzes the denial letter, identifies the specific reasons cited, reviews the administrative file for procedural defects or evidentiary gaps, and begins building the appeal strategy. Time is immediately of the essence because the appeal deadline starts running from the date of denial.
Stage Five: Building and Filing the Administrative Appeal
The appeal is the most consequential stage. Everything you submit at this point becomes part of the administrative record that a federal court will review if the appeal fails. Your attorney builds a comprehensive appeal package that strengthens every weak point in the initial claim, directly refutes every basis for denial, and positions your case as favorably as possible for eventual litigation if needed.
This often includes commissioning updated neuropsychological evaluations, obtaining vocational expert opinions, and submitting detailed legal memoranda that address the applicable law and policy language. This is where the depth of an ERISA lawyer experience is most visible. The appeal is not a form you fill out. It is a legal brief supported by expert evidence.
Stage Six: Federal Litigation
If the appeal is denied, your attorney files suit in federal court under ERISA. At this stage, the administrative record is essentially the entire case. No new evidence is introduced. The court reviews what was submitted during the appeal and applies the appropriate standard of review. Riemer Hess has litigated against every major disability insurer in federal court and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients at this stage. The firm’s reputation in federal court is itself a strategic asset.
Stage Seven: Ongoing Monitoring After Benefits Are Approved
Whether your benefits were approved initially or through an appeal, the monitoring stage begins as soon as payments start. Riemer Hess offers ongoing monitoring services and charges one flat fee to cover all legal needs, including continued monitoring and litigation if the insurer later attempts to terminate approved benefits. This structure gives clients the stability of knowing their legal protection doesn’t end when the initial fight is won.
What Makes a Long Term Disability Lawyer Worth the Investment?
The honest answer is outcomes. Clients who have experienced representation at Riemer Hess describe the process as seamless, the response times as exceptional, and the outcomes as life-changing. One client described it as working with a team that does good work for people who really need it. That emotional and practical support, delivered by attorneys who specialize exclusively in this area of law, is simply not available from a general practice firm.
Conclusion
Working with a skilled long term disability lawyer from the earliest stages of your disability claim is the most effective way to protect your financial future. From planning your exit from employment through federal litigation and ongoing benefit monitoring, every stage of this process benefits from expert legal guidance. Riemer Hess LLC has been delivering that guidance to professionals and executives nationwide for over 30 years. The earlier you engage, the stronger your position.
FAQ
Q: At what stage should I contact a long term disability lawyer? A: Ideally before you stop working. But even after a denial, there are meaningful steps an attorney can take to protect your rights.
Q: What is included in ongoing benefits monitoring? A: Monitoring involves managing the insurer’s continuing disability reviews, responding to document requests, preparing for independent medical examinations, and addressing any threats to terminate your benefits.
Q: Does Riemer Hess charge hourly or a flat fee? A: Riemer Hess uses a flat fee structure to cover all legal needs, providing cost transparency and eliminating the stress of escalating hourly bills.