ERISA Disability Traps & Tricks for the Non-ERISA Practitioner
By Cassie Springer Ayeni, President Springer Ayeni, A Professional Law Corporation The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, better known as ERISA, is referred to by at least one judge as “Everything Ridiculous Imagined Since Adam.” Florence Nightingale Nursing Service, Inc. v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, .832 F. Supp. 1456, 1457 (N.D. Ala. 1993), affirmed, 41 F.2d 1476 (11th Cir. 1995)...Read More
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How to Apply for Long-Term Disability When You Stop Work
By Cassie Springer Ayeni You never thought it would happen. You thought you would work until retirement or beyond, but then along came your vestibular disorder. Now, focusing on a computer screen is a challenge; someone has to drive you to work; walking is a safety hazard; and your concentration is not what it used to be. All of these symptoms can interfere with your ability to do the material...Read More
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Know Disability Benefits Before Accepting A Job Offer
You found it: the perfect job for your next career move with a great salary. You are ready to give your acceptance! But before you do, understand what’s really included in the “benefits package” that your future employer described to you in broad strokes. Yes, there is health insurance and 401(k) matching, but an often-overlooked benefit that becomes crucial in a time of need is your...Read More
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In the Kingdom of the Sick: An ERISA Disability Lawyer’s Perspective
In the Kingdom of the Sick: An ERISA Disability Lawyer’s Perspective By Cassie Springer Ayeni Springer Ayeni, A Professional Law Corporation “‘Illness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and the kingdom of the sick . . . sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify...Read More
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Medical Professionals Who Have Disabilities: Why I Like to Help
By Cassie Springer Ayeni [email protected] www.benefitslaw.com I’ve developed a bit of a niche within my specialization of employee benefits (ERISA) law: I have helped numerous medical professionals secure their partial or complete disability benefits. My clients have been OBGYNs, family medicine practitioners, physical therapists, PICU M.D.s, gastroenterologists, specialized nurses,...Read More
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Reforming Disability Claim Procedures Under ERISA
On Dec. 19, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor published in the Federal Register sweeping reforms to the regulations it issues under Section 503 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, aimed at eliminating bias in the ERISA disability claims and review process. Despite ERISA’s reputation as an erudite law affecting primarily pension plans, the DOL reports that, “An empirical study of...Read More
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