Without question, having a disability can make it difficult to actively participate in many of the day-to-day activities of life – including working regularly at a job. Finding yourself unable to work can be financially stressful, to say the least. Things can become even more complicated when other unexpected factors come into play – like being terminated when you’re off work for a disability.

Unfortunately, this can happen – and it can feel incredibly overwhelming when it does. Those who find themselves in this situation often wonder if they can collect unemployment if terminated while also receiving disability benefits. It’s an essential and understandable question to ask. Let’s take a closer look at the law together.

Taking A Closer Look at Potential Benefits

Individuals who struggle with a disability that has rendered them unable to work may have a variety of options as far as available benefits:

• Social Security Disability Benefits: These are benefits that the Social Security Administration pays to disabled individuals who can prove that they have a qualifying disabling condition that has rendered them unable to work for one calendar year or more. There are two types of Social Security disability benefits:
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): These benefits are benefits provided to individuals with a qualifying disabling condition who also worked a job for a sufficient length of time through which they paid benefits into the Social Security system.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): These benefits are also benefits paid to individuals with a qualifying disabling condition, but unlike the case with SSDI benefits, those who receive SSI benefits need not necessarily have had a job through which they paid into the Social Security system. However, they have to have income and resources below a certain threshold established by the Social Security Administration to qualify for benefits.
• Long-Term Disability Benefits: Long-term disability benefits are benefits typically provided through a long-term disability insurance policy, either privately obtained by the individual or provided as a benefit by the employer. Long-term disability benefits are usually provided for medical conditions that are not expected to resolve quickly and often last for a year or more.
• Short–Term Disability Benefits: Short-term disability benefits are also benefits typically provided through a long-term disability insurance policy, either privately obtained by the individual or provided as a benefit by the employer. Short-term disability benefits generally range for a period of less than a year – often around six months or so, though benefit periods will differ based upon the terms of the particular policy.

Unemployment benefits, by contrast, are typically paid to individuals who are able to work – but lose their job through no fault of their own. The company may be laying off employees for any number of reasons that have nothing to do with performance – and if so, an employee who is otherwise ready, able, and willing to work may qualify for unemployment benefits.

Can I Collect Both Types Of Benefits At Once?

As a general rule of thumb, the answer to the question of whether you can collect disability and unemployment benefits at once is, unfortunately, no.

Generally, individuals enefits based on the fact that they are unable to work as a result of their medical condition. Unemployment benefits, by contrast, are collected based on the fact that an individual is able to work but currently has no suitable employment. As a result, if you are already collecting disability, it may be unlikely that you can collect both types of benefits at the same time.

There is, however, a possibility that those who are terminated while on short-term disability leave may be eligible for unemployment benefits. If the disability is only temporary and resolved fairly quickly, those who are terminated during the period of disability may be eligible for unemployment benefits as soon as the disability resolves. Those who are terminated while struggling with a long-term disability, however, usually will not recover unemployment benefits because their disability is not expected to resolve to the point where they can return to work.

Without question, disability insurance can provide vital financial support for those who are unable to work. The support that disability insurance provides is often only temporary, however – and is only financial support. Disability insurance will typically not protect your job itself – although some federal and state laws do. Ultimately, whether those laws protect your job depends on various legal factors. As a result, consulting with an attorney who knows and understands the law will be essential.

Summary

At The Law Firm, we understand the multitude of struggles that disabled individuals often face. We know that a disability is more than just an injury or an illness – it’s a change to your entire way of life. When you face these difficulties, you should know that you never have to face them alone. Our talented and experienced team of attorneys understands every aspect of the process of pursuing disability benefits, and we will always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion, but for some families, it can become a traumatic event due to birth injuries. These injuries can have lifelong consequences for the child and emotional and financial repercussions for the family. In such cases, a Birth Injuries Law Firm becomes a beacon of hope, offering legal support, guidance, and advocacy for families seeking justice and support. In this article, we will delve into the world of birth injuries law firms, exploring their mission, significance, and the vital role they play in helping affected families find redress.

1. Understanding Birth Injuries

Birth injuries, also known as birth traumas, are physical injuries that occur during childbirth. These injuries can affect the baby, the mother, or both. Birth injuries may result from a variety of factors, including medical negligence, complications during delivery, or issues with the baby’s position in the womb. Some common birth injuries include:

• Cerebral Palsy: A group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.
• Brachial Plexus Injuries: Nerve injuries that affect the arm, often leading to conditions like Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy.
• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): A brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the baby’s brain during childbirth.
• Facial Nerve Injuries: Injuries to the facial nerve, which can lead to facial paralysis in the newborn.
• Bone Fractures: Fractures in the baby’s bones, which may occur during a difficult delivery.
• Intracranial Hemorrhage: Bleeding inside the baby’s brain, often associated with the use of vacuum or forceps during delivery.

2. The Role of Birth Injuries Law Firms

Birth injuries law firms are dedicated to representing families who have experienced the trauma of birth injuries. Their primary mission is to advocate for these families and ensure they receive the compensation, support, and justice they deserve. The key aspects of their role include:

a. Legal Advocacy: Birth injuries law firms provide legal representation for affected families, helping them navigate the complex legal processes required to seek compensation.

b. Investigation: These firms investigate the circumstances surrounding the birth injury to determine if medical negligence or malpractice played a role.

c. Compensation: Birth injuries law firms aim to secure compensation for the families, covering medical expenses, ongoing care, pain and suffering, and other associated costs.

d. Accountability: Holding responsible parties accountable for their actions or negligence is a critical part of their mission.

e. Emotional Support: In addition to legal assistance, these firms provide emotional support and understanding to families who have experienced traumatic events.

3. The Significance of Birth Injuries Law Firms

Birth injuries law firms play a significant role in society for several reasons:

a. Legal Expertise: These firms specialize in the complex field of medical malpractice and personal injury law, ensuring that families receive expert guidance.

b. Advocacy: They act as advocates for families who may be overwhelmed by the emotional and logistical challenges of dealing with a birth injury.

c. Financial Relief: Birth injuries often result in extensive medical bills and long-term care costs. Law firms work to secure financial compensation to ease these burdens.

d. Accountability: By holding medical professionals and healthcare institutions accountable, these firms contribute to improved patient care and safety.

e. Emotional Support: Birth injuries can be emotionally traumatic. Birth injuries law firms offer compassionate support to help families cope with these challenges.

4. The Legal Process with Birth Injuries Law Firms

When families turn to birth injuries law firms for assistance, the legal process typically involves the following steps:

a. Initial Consultation: Families meet with the law firm to discuss the circumstances surrounding the birth injury. This initial consultation helps determine if there is a potential case.

b. Investigation: If the law firm decides to take on the case, they conduct a comprehensive investigation to gather evidence and evaluate the merits of the claim.

c. Legal Action: Based on the findings of the investigation, the law firm initiates the legal action, typically through a lawsuit against the responsible parties.

d. Negotiation or Litigation: The firm may negotiate with the defendants or their insurance companies to reach a fair settlement. If negotiations fail, the case may proceed to court.

e. Resolution: The ultimate goal is to achieve a resolution that provides compensation to the family, covering medical expenses, pain and suffering, and ongoing care costs.

5. Expertise and Specialization

Birth injuries law firms possess a high level of expertise in medical malpractice and personal injury law. They often work with medical experts to evaluate cases and understand the medical aspects of birth injuries. This specialization is crucial for building strong cases and advocating effectively for families.

6. Awareness and Prevention

While birth injuries law firms primarily focus on helping affected families seek justice and support, they also indirectly contribute to raising awareness about the importance of patient safety and the prevention of birth injuries. By holding healthcare providers accountable for negligence or malpractice, these firms send a powerful message about the need for a high standard of care during childbirth.

7. Conclusion

Birth injuries law firms are beacons of hope for families who have experienced the trauma of birth injuries. Their dedication to providing legal advocacy, securing compensation, and holding responsible parties accountable is a vital part of the healing process. These firms not only offer families the opportunity to seek justice and financial support but also provide the emotional understanding and guidance needed to navigate the challenges of birth injuries. In a world where medical malpractice and birth injuries can be devastating, birth injuries law firms stand as advocates for the well-being and rights of affected families, helping them find the support and justice they deserve.

Structured settlements have emerged as a valuable financial tool for individuals who have received settlements or awards from personal injury or wrongful death cases. Liberty Life Structured Settlements, a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual, has become a recognized leader in providing structured settlement solutions to individuals, offering them the opportunity to secure their financial future. In this article, we will explore the features, benefits, and significance of Liberty Life Structured Settlements in empowering financial security and peace of mind for recipients.

1. Understanding Structured Settlements

Structured settlements are a method of compensating individuals who have been injured due to the negligence of another party or have suffered losses. Rather than receiving a lump sum payment, the recipient of a structured settlement receives a series of periodic payments over a specified period. These payments are typically tax-free and can be customized to meet the recipient’s financial needs and goals.

Structured settlements offer several advantages:

a. Steady Income: The recipient receives a reliable stream of income, which can provide financial stability and cover ongoing expenses.

b. Tax Benefits: Structured settlement payments are often tax-free, providing significant tax advantages.

c. Protection Against Impulsive Spending: Structured settlements discourage reckless spending by distributing funds over time, ensuring the recipient doesn’t exhaust the settlement too quickly.

2. Introducing Liberty Life Structured Settlements

Liberty Life Structured Settlements, a division of Liberty Mutual, has built a strong reputation for providing structured settlement solutions that prioritize the financial well-being of recipients. The company offers a range of services, including consultation, annuity placement, and ongoing support.

3. Customized Solutions

One of the hallmarks of Liberty Life Structured Settlements is its commitment to providing tailored solutions. The company recognizes that every individual’s financial situation is unique, and it works closely with recipients to design structured settlements that align with their specific needs and goals.

Recipients can customize their structured settlements in various ways:

a. Payment Frequency: Liberty Life offers flexibility in determining the frequency of payments, whether monthly, annually, or another schedule.

b. Duration: Recipients can choose the length of time for which they will receive payments, ensuring the settlement aligns with their long-term financial plans.

c. Inflation Protection: Liberty Life offers options for adjusting payments to keep pace with inflation, protecting the recipient’s purchasing power.

d. Guaranteed Payments: The company can structure settlements to guarantee a certain number of payments, offering additional financial security.

4. Expert Guidance

Liberty Life Structured Settlements recognizes that navigating the world of structured settlements can be complex, especially for individuals who may not have prior experience with financial planning. To address this, the company provides expert guidance and consultation throughout the settlement process.

The key features of their expert guidance include:

a. Consultation: Liberty Life’s knowledgeable team of consultants helps recipients understand their financial needs and goals. They guide recipients through the process, answering questions and addressing concerns.

b. Financial Planning: The company provides assistance in creating a comprehensive financial plan that takes into account the recipient’s future expenses, such as medical bills, housing, and education.

c. Tax Considerations: Liberty Life offers guidance on the tax implications of structured settlements, ensuring that recipients make informed decisions about their financial future.

5. Ongoing Support

Liberty Life Structured Settlements is committed to the long-term well-being of recipients. The company doesn’t view its role as ending once the structured settlement is established. Rather, it offers ongoing support and services to recipients to ensure that their financial needs are met throughout the life of the settlement.

Key aspects of Liberty Life’s ongoing support include:

a. Customer Service: The company provides a dedicated customer service team that recipients can reach out to with questions, concerns, or changes to their settlement.

b. Access to Funds: Liberty Life offers flexibility in accessing funds beyond the structured settlement payments when unexpected financial needs arise.

c. Beneficiary Designations: Recipients can choose beneficiaries to ensure that their structured settlement benefits are passed on to loved ones if they pass away.

6. The Role of Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual, the parent company of Liberty Life Structured Settlements, is one of the largest and most reputable insurance companies in the United States. This affiliation provides recipients with additional confidence in the stability and reliability of their structured settlements.

7. The Significance of Liberty Life Structured Settlements

Structured settlements are more than just financial instruments; they represent a path to financial security, peace of mind, and a brighter future for recipients. Liberty Life Structured Settlements plays a significant role in this journey by:

a. Empowering Recipients: The company empowers recipients to take control of their financial future, offering customized solutions that align with their unique needs and goals.

b. Providing Peace of Mind: Recipients can move forward with the assurance that their financial well-being is safeguarded, allowing them to focus on their recovery and future endeavors.

c. Offering Financial Stability: Structured settlements are designed to ensure a steady stream of income, helping recipients cover their essential expenses and enjoy financial stability.

d. Simplifying the Process: Liberty Life’s expert guidance simplifies the process of establishing a structured settlement, making it accessible and understandable for individuals in need.

8. The Structured Settlement Process

The process of establishing a structured settlement with Liberty Life typically involves the following steps:

a. Initial Consultation: The process begins with an initial consultation during which the recipient discusses their financial needs and goals with Liberty Life’s consultants.

b. Customized Plan: The consultants work with the recipient to create a customized structured settlement plan that addresses their specific requirements.

c. Legal Agreement: Once the plan is established, the recipient enters into a legal agreement with the responsible party or parties to formalize the structured settlement.

d. Annuity Placement: Liberty Life places the funds into annuities, which will provide the periodic payments according to the agreed-upon schedule.

e. Payment Commencement: The structured settlement payments commence according to the agreed-upon schedule, providing the recipient with financial security.

9. Conclusion

Liberty Life Structured Settlements stands as a trusted partner in the journey to financial security and peace of mind for individuals who have received settlements or awards from personal injury or wrongful death cases. By offering expert guidance, customized solutions, and ongoing support, the company ensures that recipients have the means to address their financial needs and secure their futures. Liberty Life’s commitment to empowering recipients underscores the significance of structured settlements in providing financial stability and peace of mind. With the backing of Liberty Mutual, one of the nation’s leading insurers, Liberty Life Structured Settlements offers a reliable and reputable solution for those in search of financial security and a brighter tomorrow.