I have a question about applying for long term disability?1

Question by Bus man: I have a question about applying for long term disability?
My father has been on disability for almost 6 months for depression. Short term disability benefits end after 6 months and he now has to apply for long term disability with another insurance provided through his company. This longterm disability insurer has sent out a 20 page application with all kinds of different questions that it looks like are designed to ensure that he is denied this claim. Some of the questions ask things like: “Please provide us with a brief description of your present condition. Describe any physical and/or psychiatiric/psychological limitations related to your return to work”, and “Provide us with a detailed description of your daily routine” and “What is your present height?” and “Are you right or left handed?” and “When do you expect to return to your last job/occupation either on a full-time or part-time basis? Please explain in detail.” and “Do you feel you could return to your job/occupation if accomodations were made? If so, please describe your accommodation needs”

My dads depression is so severe, that I feel that it’s wrong to try to make him answer these questions as a precondition of getting approved for longterm disability. “I” wouldn’t even know how to best answer some of those questions and I don’t have a mental illness. It seems to me that his psychiatrist would be better suited to answer alot of these questions. I’m sure my dad has NO idea what accomodations his employer could make to have him come back to work right now!

I feel like if I let my dad fill this form out that he’ll totally drop the ball and not answer these questions as good and thouroughly as they seem to want them to be answered.

I don’t know what to do. My father IS incompasited with this depression and he CAN’T work. He needs this disability money or he will not even be able to pay his utilitys and keep a roof over his head. It kills me to see him like this. I would have never thought that depression was a REAL disease until I saw it 1st hand like this.

I guess my question is, should I just let him fill this paper work out on his own like they seem to want? Or kind of help him and tell him what to write as a response to each question?

Best answer:

Answer by lil bit
Together, both of you can do the application. Since he is ill, he may need your help

What do you think? Answer below!