Aerospace behemoth Lockheed Martin employs over 100,000 people worldwide. With offices all over the nation, and particularly in and around Central Florida, this employer can experience human resource concerns that run the gamut of complexity.
What do I do if My Long Term Disability Benefits are Denied by Lockheed Martin?
Employers like Lockheed Martin do not typically make the call to approve or deny Long Term Disability claims. These claim decisions are made by the insurance company that issues the policy selected by your employer.
Lockheed Martin provides Short Term Disability benefits automatically, at no cost, for up to 26 weeks, subject to eligibility requirements. Only Short Term Disability benefits may be denied by Lockheed Martin. In the event of a denial of Short Term Disability benefits, Herbert M. Hill, P.A. has helped countless Lockheed Martin employees seek to overturn this decision.
In contrast, Long Term Disability policies must be paid by the employee at Lockheed, unsubsidized by Lockheed. Long Term Disability policies represent income replacement in the event an employee, like those at Lockheed Martin, becomes unable to continue to do their own or any work as a result of sickness or injury, regardless of whether it occurs on the job.
Once you submit your claim to Cigna (now New York Life), a claims representative will be assigned to your claim and make the determination as to whether you satisfy the definition of disabled as outlined by the policy issued to Lockheed.
What Policy is Issued By Lockheed Martin for Long Term Disability? 
Lockheed Martin currently offers employees Long Term Disability policies through Cigna/New York Life. These policies may be customized based on when they were issued and the job of the employee. Lockheed Martin offers an array of employee benefit plans that may be customized by the particular needs of the employee during annual enrollment.
In the event you are denied Long Term Disability benefits by Cigna/New York Life after you have become disabled from working at Lockheed Martin, Herbert M. Hill, P.A. has extensive experience in helping employees of Lockheed overturn the denial of benefits in order to receive disability benefits.
How Is Disability Defined?
The definition used by Cigna’s (NYL) Long Term Disability policy to be considered disabled is as follows:
“The Employee is considered Disabled if, solely because of Injury or Sickness, he or she is unable to perform each and every material duty of his or her Regular Occupation; and unable to earn 80% or more of his or her Indexed Earnings from working in his or her Regular Occupation.
After Disability Benefits have been payable for 24 months, the Employee is considered Disabled if, solely due to Injury or Sickness, he or she is: unable to perform each and every material duty of any occupation for which he or she is, or may reasonably become, qualified based on education, training or experience; and unable to earn 80% or more of his or her Indexed Earnings.”
Herbert M. Hill, P.A. Can Help
If you are an employee of Lockheed Martin and believe you meet the above definition of disabled, please contact our office so we can help you navigate the arduous task of filing a claim for disability benefits.
