Denied Long-Term Disability Benefits in Vancouver? Here’s What to Do Next.
If your long-term disability benefits were denied, terminated, or cut off, you still have options. The next steps you take, and what you send the insurer, can make a real difference.
A denial letter is not the end. Insurers often rely on narrow readings of medical evidence, job duties, or day-to-day activity. Tim Louis & Company helps people in Vancouver and across British Columbia respond strategically, protect their claim, and pursue the benefits they applied for.
- We handle communications with the insurer so you can focus on your health.
- Clear guidance on evidence, deadlines, and the strongest next step for your situation.
- Decades of experience helping British Columbians challenge unfair LTD decisions.
What to Do in the Next 48 Hours After a Denial
- Save the denial letter and envelope. Dates matter.
- Do not send a long written response yet. First, confirm what the insurer is actually claiming.
- Write down your real job duties. Focus on what the job required day-to-day, not just your title.
- Collect key medical support. Notes, specialist reports, tests, and a clear description of restrictions and limitations.
- Book a call. We will review deadlines and outline the cleanest path forward.
If you have the denial letter, keep it nearby for the call.
Documents to Gather (If You Have Them)
- Denial or termination letter
- Benefits booklet or policy (if available)
- Recent doctor notes, specialist reports, and test results
- Medication list and side effects
- Job description plus a short “what my job really required” note
- Any insurer forms already submitted
Talk to a Vancouver Long-Term Disability Lawyer
Call (604) 732-7678, email timlouis@timlouislaw.com, or request a free consultation.
This page provides general information, not legal advice. Every claim depends on the policy and the facts.
When You May Need a Long-Term Disability Lawyer
You may want legal help if the insurer:
- Denies your claim due to “insufficient medical evidence” even though your doctors support your limitations
- Says you can work despite clear functional restrictions
- Uses surveillance or social media to misinterpret everyday activities
- Cuts you off after approval, including after an “any occupation” review
- Delays decisions, requests repeated forms, or shifts the goalposts
- Points to paperwork issues or deadlines as a reason to refuse benefits
If any of this sounds familiar, the goal is not to argue emotionally. The goal is to respond with the right facts, the right records, and the right structure.
Why People Get Stuck During LTD Appeals
Most people are dealing with symptoms, stress, and financial pressure at the same time. Insurers know that if the process becomes confusing, many claimants stop pushing.
A strong appeal or legal strategy typically depends on:
- Clear restrictions and limitations, tied to work duties
- Consistent medical support over time
- A clean paper trail that matches the policy language
- Avoiding common missteps that insurers use to justify denial
Why Work With Tim Louis & Company
- Decades of experience in disability disputes in British Columbia
- Clear, plain-language guidance so you understand the process and your options
- We deal with the insurer communications so you can focus on your health
- Strategy-first approach that focuses on evidence, deadlines, and outcomes that are realistic for your situation
Call 604-732-7678 for a free consultation or request a free consultation online.
Insurers We Have Dealt With in Disability Benefit Disputes
Tim Louis has represented clients in long-term disability disputes involving insurers and benefit plans such as:
- The Co-operators Life Insurance Company
- Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company
- Canada Life (formerly Great-West Life)
- RBC Life Insurance Company
- Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
- Pacific Blue Cross
- iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance)
- Healthcare Benefit Trust and other plan administrators (where applicable)
Long-Term Disability Is a Quality-of-Life Issue
When your income stops, it affects your health, your family, and your ability to recover. If you have LTD coverage and you cannot work because of illness or injury, you deserve a fair, careful assessment of your claim.
If you have been denied or cut off, you do not have to guess your next step.
Call 604-732-7678 for a free consultation
Email: timlouis@timlouislaw.com
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every claim depends on the policy and the facts.
Quick Questions People Ask After a Denial
How long do I have to appeal an LTD denial in BC?
Deadlines vary by policy and the denial letter. It is safest to check immediately so you do not miss a limitation period.
What if my benefits were approved and then cut off?
Cut-offs are common during reassessments, including “any occupation” reviews. The insurer’s stated reason and the medical evidence usually determine the best response.
Can surveillance or social media affect my claim?
Yes. Insurers can use activity to argue you can work. Context and medical restrictions matter, and it is important to respond carefully.
Common conditions that are eligible for claims
How Tim Louis & Company Fights for Your Disability Benefits
A clear plan when your LTD benefits are denied or cut off
Dealing with a serious illness or injury is hard enough without fighting an insurance company at the same time. When benefits are denied, delayed, or terminated, our role is to take the pressure off you and build a strong, evidence-based case that matches the policy and your real work duties.
What we do, step by step
1) We start with the denial reason and the policy.
We review the denial or cut-off letter, the policy language, and the insurer’s stated rationale so we know exactly what must be proven.
2) We build the claim around restrictions and work duties.
Insurers often focus on labels and diagnoses. We focus on what matters: functional limitations, medical support, and how your condition affects your ability to do your job.
3) We handle insurer communication and strategy.
You should not have to manage adjusters, repeated forms, and shifting requests while you are trying to recover.
We step in, keep your file organized, and respond in a way that protects your position.
4) We strengthen the medical picture without adding chaos.
When it helps, we work with your treating doctors and specialists to clarify restrictions, treatment history, and prognosis in a way insurers recognize and cannot easily dismiss.
5) We pursue the most effective resolution for your situation.
Some matters resolve through negotiation. Others require more formal legal steps.
We will explain the options, the likely path, and what the timeline can look like.
Common ways we help clients push back against unfair LTD decisions
- Denied claims: We challenge the denial with targeted evidence and a structured response.
- Benefits cut off after approval: We address reassessments, “any occupation” reviews, and sudden terminations.
- Medical evidence disputes: We organize records to show consistent restrictions and limitations over time.
- Surveillance or social media issues: We put activities in proper context and refocus the file on medical reality.
- Delays and shifting requests: We keep the insurer accountable and prevent the process from drifting.
Why timing matters
Most policies and denial letters include deadlines. If you have received a denial or termination letter, it is worth getting advice sooner rather than later so you do not miss a key step.
This section is general information, not legal advice. Every claim depends on the policy and the facts.
Tim Louis: Long-Term Disability Lawyer in Vancouver
Experience that brings clarity when benefits are denied or cut off
If your long-term disability (LTD) claim has been denied, terminated, or delayed, you are not alone. Insurers often take a narrow view of medical evidence, job duties, or day-to-day activity and use that to justify refusing benefits.
Tim Louis has spent decades helping people in Vancouver and across British Columbia challenge unfair disability decisions. The goal is simple: reduce your stress, protect your claim, and pursue the benefits your coverage is meant to provide.
A practice built around real people, not file numbers
Some firms pass files through layers. Tim’s approach is personal and practical. He starts by understanding your work, your medical reality, and what the insurer is actually saying, then builds a strategy that fits your situation.
You should not have to manage an insurance company’s process while you are trying to recover. We take on the communication, keep the file organized, and focus on evidence that holds up.
We help clients with many types of disabilities and conditions
Disability claims are not one-size-fits-all. What matters is not the label. It is how the condition limits your ability to work, and whether the medical evidence supports those limitations over time.
This section is general information, not legal advice. Every claim depends on the policy and the facts.
Long-Term Disability Services and Common Claim Issues
If you are dealing with a denial, a cut-off, or an “any occupation” review, start with the page that matches your situation. Each link below includes practical steps and a clear next action.
What to do next, what to gather, and how to respond. LTD Appeals in Vancouver
Appeal steps, strategy, and avoiding common missteps. 24-Month Change of Definition
Own occupation to any occupation, and how to prepare. Self-Employed Disability Claims
Unique proof issues and documentation for self-employed people. Resources
Guides and practical information to support your next step. FAQ
Quick answers to common LTD and legal questions.
Condition Pages (Common LTD Claim Scenarios)
Long-Term Disability Help in Surrey — Free consultation
If you live in Surrey, we can help you appeal an LTD denial or protect your benefits. We meet by phone or video and move quickly on time-sensitive deadlines.
Questions we’re asked in Surrey
Do I need to travel to Vancouver?
No. We handle your matter remotely and schedule in-person meetings only if needed.
Will you review my denial letter?
Yes. We’ll assess your denial letter and medical evidence and explain next steps — free consultation.
How fast can we start?
Usually within 24–48 hours after we receive your documents.
Vancouver office serving clients across Surrey. Remote consults • After-hours call-back • English & Spanish available.
Long-Term Disability Help in Burnaby — Free consultation
We help Burnaby clients challenge LTD denials and protect benefits with clear steps and timelines.
Can you coordinate with my doctor?
Yes. We advise on medical letters that insurers accept.
What if surveillance was used?
We’ll review the evidence and address it directly in your appeal.
Do fees come out of my benefits?
We’ll explain options and costs clearly during your free consult.
Serving Burnaby. Phone/video first • Confidential • English & Spanish.
Long-Term Disability Help in Langley — Free consultation
Langley residents get the same quick, respectful guidance. Send your denial letter and we’ll map next steps.
Are mental-health LTD claims different?
Yes. We guide the evidence and insurer communication carefully.
What documents do you need first?
Denial letter, policy, medical notes, and any insurer communications.
How long does an appeal take?
Depends on the insurer and evidence; we’ll set a timeline on day one.
Serving Langley and the Fraser Valley • Remote first • English & Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a medical or physical condition that prevents you from continuing to work at your current job, you qualify for long-term disability.
While your long-term disability coverage comes to an end if you lose your job, your long-term disability benefits do not come to an end.
To appeal a long-term disability claim, you need to ask for an application form from your employer. Part of the form requires information in the form of an Attending Physician’s Statement. This gets filled out by the doctor, and depending on the employer’s rules, it is submitted to your employer, who in turn sends it to your insurer, or it goes directly to the insurance company.
Yes, an employer can terminate an employee while on long-term disability. You have grounds for a lawsuit against your employer for termination without cause if the employer has not waited long enough for you to recover and return to work.
What is long enough? It depends on how long you had worked for the employer before the long-term disability claim, as well as your doctor’s diagnosis, prognosis and prediction for when you would be able to return to work.
Whether your employer does or does not have grounds to terminate you, this has no impact whatsoever on your right to continue receiving long-term disability benefits and/or payments from your long-term disability insurance company.
Yes, you are still an employee of your employer while you are on long-term disability, unless your employer has terminated you and you are no longer employed.
Can I apply for LTD benefits in BC if I have an invisible illness?
Yes. In British Columbia, you may qualify for long-term disability benefits even if your condition is not visible—like chronic fatigue, mental health challenges, or autoimmune disorders.
Want clarity? Ask us now or schedule a free consultation. We’ll guide you through your LTD claim with care.
🕒 Last reviewed: by Tim Louis, LLB
🔎 Related: Vancouver Long-Term Disability Lawyer
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