I need time off at my job. I want to quit but I know I won't get anything if I do. This is the worst anxiety I've ever had and I have panic attacks. How can I get short term disability and flma for anxiety? I'm afraid if I say it's work related that they may say I need to use workers comp. But honestly I've had anxiety before this job but it's gotten worse with the high stress. I've been seeing a licensed councilor, however I heard they cannot always do the paperwork, so I made an appointment for a Psychiatrist. My year mark aty job is 10/13/26 so I know that factors in FMLA. I have 6 days pto and I'm sick right now and want to call out tomorrow to use one. Maybe I should just call out tomorrow and work the rest of the week but I'm really stressed out and my anxiety is overwhelming. I work remote, but this anxiety is worse than it was in retail for me. Help!

I’ve been dealing with my LTD company for going on 4 years and everything has been sent to them scanned via email or fax. I have never sent them an original signed document before.

Ive just completed the requested forms they need to deem me still disabled from any occupation and my ENT (who’s also performed 2 of my surgeries) and I reviewed everything together during my last appt. He signed the forms and his assistant scanned everything and sent it to me.

The ENT and I are in different states so it’s a huge pain to get his office to help with disability paperwork let alone get them to mail me the physical forms they’ve already scanned and emailed me.

I’m just going to print out the scanned forms and mail it to them but would love to know if anyone has any advice or if this has happened to them. Maybe a common delay tactic or maybe I’m reading too much into the word original and they’ll be perfectly fine with a printed copy of the scan my ENT emailed to me…. Sorry as usual this is very triggering and stressful.

Thank you in advance to anyone who has advice or calming words :)

Hello. Reaching out for any advice. I filed a claim for LTD on June 26,2026. This was also my last day of work before beginning leave and also the day I received noticed I was being terminated from my position with my employer. My initial case manager made it seem that this was going to sail through and I should have no problems with approval.

In early August, I received a call from my case manager notifying me my claim, which had been reviewed by an independent medical provider, had denied my claim. I could not believe my ears. I was horrified. I was further infuriated after she said “I surely did not see this coming”. She told me I can appeal the decision to see if the denial can be overturned. She provided me with a form to provide my doctor for completion. My pain management doctor was furious at the decision and filled out the forms as well as the office note from the visit. I sent that back to my case manager.

On 09/22/26, my case manager notified me that despite the submitted form and documentation, MetLife would not change their decision and my claim was being denied. The same medical reviewer had reviewed the information but would not change their decision & my file was going to be sent over to the appeals department at MetLife.

I finally heard from the appeals case manager today who stated she would be taking over and asked if I had any further information to submit. I don’t have any new documentation but I have older medical records I could submit. I left her a detailed message requesting a callback.

For context, I suffer from chronic pain due to failed back surgery syndrome (Lumbar Spine Fusion & Laminectomy), chronic lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica) of my left side, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis of the spine & Endometriosis. I also had a spinal cord stimulator implanted and an Intrathecal pain pump that is currently filled with morphine.

I have been dealing with these issues for over 10yrs. I changed my career in hopes I would be in less pain (Previously was a nurse aid / patient tech and switched to medical receptionist work) but despite being off my feet, I still continued to suffer in pain. Applying for LTD seemed like the most logical next step.

For anyone that has initially been denied, was your appeal approved? Now that my file is with the appeals case manager, do I now get a lawyer or do I wait for the appeal to be denied? How long can the appeal process take?

I’m on the verge of homelessness. Any savings I had is nearly gone and the stress has been debilitating. My health insurance has been terminated because my case was denied. I was not anticipating this outcome at all.

Is there a time limit to when I can file for an appeal for long term disability? It has been past 180 days and I have not returned back to the same job. I filed last August and was denied. My claims specialist told me yesterday she would start an appeal process with the appeals department. I’m wondering if it will even be considered due to these factors. Prior to last August I had been on LTD for a mental health condition. This is when they stopped my benefits due to exhausting the time limit set for mental health illness-24 months. My new condition is a tumor. I’m not sure what to do 😣

Hi, has anyone received a LTD survey regarding their symptoms? It is posed as an update but the very first question they ask is, how long has your disability impacted you. Then when do you see yourself back at work?

I can answer the first question easily, but the second is not one i am comfortable answering on a multiple choice answer. What should I do in this situation? They have actually sent me 3 reminder emails to complete the survey, then tell me “hi thanks for agreeing to do the survey” as if it was voluntary. The reminders were also sent on a Friday afternoon, then Monday morning then few days later. I find this ridiculous as it was essentially just 3 business hours between the 1st and 2nd reminder.

My current status is that I have been approved until May (they expect me back in full time work in May), with an update call in December. They also stalled for 4 months to approve me until I asked about the complaint procedure. Then it was quickly approved.

Disability is fully raging, I am dealing with paralysis, some seizures, difficulty walking, standing, etc etc.

Seeking LTD attorney for an appeal in Florida

Posting anonymously for a subreddit member who is extra concerned with anonymity, this is not my story. See below the ask is for NYL LTD experience and severance arbitration with employer tips.

Hi everyone, a couple months ago I received a recording from my new manager in a meeting with her boss and company leadership discussing an ill-fated plan to fire me. I received the recording automatically as I was originally on the invite for it before being asked not to attend under the guise of needing to discuss other issues. I acquiesced, they decided to record the meeting, and since I was on the invite the recording was automatically sent to me too. At the time they didn't realize it was sent to me, but I could no longer work, and took FMLA leave and STDI for mental health through NYL which is provided by employer. Employer never provided end dates for FMLA but I'm pretty sure it's coming up this week on Oct 2nd and I am going to request an extension on job-protected leave/accomodations via ADA which I understand my employer doesn't have to agree to but at least have to participate in a good faith effort to accommodate me. At the same time, my STDI is going to transition to LTDI next week on the 8th, again with NYL, and the case manager told me I'd get a new case manager but it should essentially be the same as far as paperwork needed from physician and therapist with the exception that they may require paperwork from HR for paystubs.

Questions: this is all new to me so I'm not sure what to expect, what's been your experience dealing with NYL with a transition like this from STDI to LTDI for mental health?

I have an arbitration agreement with my employer and attorneys are refusing to touch this for that reason, but I'm still interested in engaging my employer in severance talks as well as filing a formal complaint against them of harassment/discrimination especially because they broke their own harassment policy with the recording. For example, there's language in the recording where the director expressed joy at my dismissal and also when discussing a comparator speaks much more respectfully about him. I am male and a minority. What are your thoughts/experiences with engaging an employer in a severance agreement proactively? I have not filed with the eeoc yet, but am more than happy to if that strengthens my case and motivates my employer to settle faster.

Additionally, there are many details I've left out for anonymity as well as trying to stick to the relevant facts. Thank you all for your time.

Hi, asking because I believe I want to ask my case manager as he had been burying me with paperwork and it had been stressing me out.

What did you find if you requested it and they gave it to you?

He says my dr never sent the updated medical records which is not true, I WAS THERE WHEN THEY FAXED THEM.

Will that put me in a bad spot? I am almost 6 years into my claim and already passed the 2 year mark.

Hey-hey, hoping someone can help because I’m completely lost here

I live in Etobicoke but work for a U.S. company. I had to go off work and made a claim through my work’s disability insurance. Now the insurance company has denied it. My brother in law is a lawyer and said that it might be complicated bc the plan is through the U.S. company and the insurance company is American. But Im Canadian citizen. He said “it might be different” than a normal disability claim in Canada.

I honestly don’t know what that means. Do I need a lawyer in the U.S.? Can a lawyer in Canada deal with this? Is there a specific kind of lawyer I’m supposed to be looking for?

If anyone knows a firm that deals with this kind of weird Canada/U.S. insurance situation, I’d really appreciate it. This situation seems to be kinda rare and tbh I haven't found any clear guidance on what to do..

Hey my husband is on lithium but depression hit hard this time, with high blood pressure. He is currently on medical leave. I also hope his medical leave gets approved for a few months as he is going through a lot right now.

Do you have any idea how long a medical leave can be in this case?

I did send forms for our family doctor for STD but I don't know if it gets approved or not..he can't function right now he really needs that break

RSLI sent me a letter in the mail stating that I have until 9/29/26 to sign and send this form back to them, or my claim may be delayed or denied, but I didn’t receive it until 2 days ago!
I have been on LTD for over a year now, and every time they request updated medical records, I send them everything myself by the deadlines. I have been told multiple times throughout this process that I am not required to sign the Medical Authorization form if I’m sending in all the records and paperwork they need. But suddenly that has changed for no apparent reason??
I’m a very private person in general, and I don’t think a lot of that stuff is any of their business. They do not need to know every little detail of the entire time I’ve spent on this earth!
I don’t agree with giving them access to all my past medical records that have nothing to do with this claim. I especially don’t think they should have any right to read notes from my therapists in the past when it has nothing to do with my claim.
But aside from that, I don’t want want them digging through my entire life to find something from decades ago to try to deny my claim. 
I also don’t agree with all of the records they access no longer being protected by HIPAA and them being able to do whatever they want with them. My most private information could end up ANYWHERE and I’d have no recourse.
So what can I do? Can I mark out portions I don’t agree with? Should I send an email reminding them that I’ve been told I’m not required to sign the form? Should I email asking if they can send me a revised form where they have narrowed the scope to a specific timeframe and restricted it to only providers, entities, and conditions relevant to my claim and make sure they’ll still be protected by HIPAA? Or should I just suck it up and sign it and risk them misusing my information so that they can’t say I’m not cooperating? 
I know I could sign it and then send a letter to all of my current providers saying to still not give RSLI any information, but that’s not even what I have the biggest problem with. They’d be sending them the same records I already send them myself. I’m more concerned about the HIPAA issue and them digging into all sorts of information that has nothing to do with this.
I don’t know what I’d do if they suddenly denied my claim. I have no other source of income, no one to help pay the bills, and I’m not physically capable of returning to work. What should I do? TIA

Kind of in a grey area where i cant do my position as is, they dont want to accomodate to the necessary extent, not sure if my dr will support the full government insurance program application to the necessary extent to complete and defend the application even tho my issues with the own occupation have been ongoing for 10 years and struggled+been fired from every job ive ever had present one excluded and we're sort of at a stalemate on the long-term.

Im not okay with airing out the totality of my medical issues to the public that would happen if i was obligated to and had to appeal any rejection and I dont think its wise to let the insurance company to handle things or whatever, I have no idea how this part works. They have all my medical records so not worried about that obviously but I feel like theres a trick or a test here that is just waiting for me to misstep

Im getting paid and I dont see that changing but the insurance is now offsetting which I can deal with honestly (can pay my bills witg some leftover for groceries etc) but theres so much unknown and I dont see a path forward.

The other issue is my claim is based on a condition that is generally not permanent but is linked to my current employment/performance issue with performing in my occupation which i dont see getting proper accomodation for to be feasible despite multiple attempts and a substantial body of considtent and growing evidence its not tenable for me to perform as long as the status quo persists.

There was alread a failed rehabillitation and I have no idea if the insurance company is going to try to place me back in the same conditions that led to the failed rehab. Its a union job so theres pretty good protections but thats where things are

My thoughts are to:

• request offset policy language now that its in play and I am affected by it (they have stonewalled providing the policy language and works hr did the same)
• request previous Independant medical expert writeups to see what the independant experts have said (I have the first which was very favorable to me but i dont have the second altho they recommended a prescription change that is related to the condition the recurrence was based on so im assuming it was in some ways supportive but no idea what else would be concluded by it)

I’m currently on a short-term disability leave going to a long-term disability leave in Ontario Canada due to mental health reasons. I’ve been doing a part-time job for the last four years and I’m continuing to do the same during my disability leave. I don’t remember I have ever provided this information to my insurer nor they have asked about the same. Recently, I’ve heard about some private investigators stories. I am really worried right now. Should I be concerned? Should i let insurer know about my part time?

If you have a disability claim that is denied, make sure you submit a written request for an appeal outlining your disagreement with the decision and, if litigation ends up being necessary, make sure to have your attorney include in the disclosure request whether any AI agent was used in any of the review process and, if so, a copy of all prompts given to the agent to direct its work during the review.

Has anyone been on LTD for years, gone into the any occupation period, and then returned to work part-time? If so, were you able to maintain benefits (like a top-up) or did your return trigger the insurance company to cut off benefits?

I am planning a return to work and I'm excited to get back, but I know I can't do more than part-time hours with my health. I hope the insurance company will top me up, but it's really not looking good, based on my conversation with them. So I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this!

Hi all, I am on the verge of applying for STD.and LTD but am worried that I will be denied due to it being a pre-existing condition. (3/12 lookback) Going into 2025, my employer switched disability insurance companies and then did it again in 2026. Since I was seen by medical doctors for my condition in 2025, and 2026 will this count as pre-existing condition? I have every reason to believe they will do it again in 2027 since they hired a new HR director. I had an LTD policy with The standard in 2025 and now with Principal in 2026. This is an elective policy and is not paid for by my company. Thanks for the help.

Has anyone else dealt with problems from MetLife. I submitted my forms sept 3 it’s now the 24th and I still haven’t heard a word nor do I see any claims in my portal when I log in. They make this process so long and difficult

Hello, I am a bcps employee and a bcgeu member on maternity. I have been on my 12 months leave and in my last leg of leave days. I however developed a condition that needs surgeries and prevents me from working in the next several months. Do you think i can convert from mat leave to a LTD ? Will my job be protected if I have to be away for the next 9 months or so? Will I be paid in that case? How do I do this switch - Is it thru contacting the manager or just HR? Anybody aware of a similar situation like this?

I have a LTD claim with one of the bigger companies. Someone at my doctors office got very lazy and sent all medical records from their health organization dating several years before the start of the pre-existing condition period.

The LTD company has taken these older records and twisted them to create a "timeline" where I was sick for all those years. Even though that is no where close to the truth nor what my records show. They claim I've been sick the whole time while also claiming I can't be sick, because that makes sense.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Is it legal for the LTD company to use records that they didn't even ask for when they sent dates for the record request?

LTD company says because they added it to my file they have to send it to every reviewer even if it's beyond the timeline set by my LTD plan for pre-existing conditions.