The SSD Attorney's Roadmap to ERISA LTD Benefits

Attorneys representing disabled clients must navigate a complex intersection of benefit systems to secure the full financial protections available to their clients. In this practical program, Ryan McIntyre and Jennifer Manger of Riemer Hess LLC provide a step-by-step roadmap to understanding and handling ERISA Long Term Disability (LTD) claims alongside Social Security Disability (SSD) claims.

While many SSD practitioners are familiar with the Social Security system, ERISA-governed LTD claims operate under a distinct statutory and procedural framework with unique deadlines, evidentiary standards, and litigation requirements. This course explains how LTD claims differ from SSD claims, how to properly build the administrative record, and how to coordinate both claims to maximize client recovery while avoiding costly offsets, overpayments, and missed deadlines. Attendees will leave with practical screening tools and strategic insights to better protect their clients' long-term financial well-being and reduce malpractice risk.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify when an ERISA Long Term Disability policy applies and screen SSD clients for potential LTD claims early in representation

2. Differentiate the key procedural and substantive distinctions between SSD and ERISA LTD systems, including disability definitions, evidentiary standards, timelines, and available remedies
   

3. Navigate the ERISA LTD claims and appeals process, including building the administrative record and preserving issues for federal court review

4. Evaluate the interaction between SSD and LTD benefits, including offsets, overpayments, and coordination strategies to maximize overall client recovery

5. Implement practical strategies to avoid common missteps, such as missed deadlines or incomplete claim files, that can jeopardize benefits or create malpractice exposure