Health savings account (HSAs) have several considerable advantages over employer welfare benefit plans. The government does not consider HSAs under the control of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), yet it will be happy to do so if your...
Social Security Disability payments and incarceration: What you need to know
If you receive Social Security Disability payments, you may wonder what happens to those benefits if you have to serve time in jail or prison. The main takeaway is that anyone serving over a month in a penal institution must forfeit their benefits during their...
What are the potential signs of a mental disorder?
Mental disorders can change your life forever, and they may not be tied to any specific event. Something like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have a root cause, but something like schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may seem to manifest at...
How to prepare for your Social Security Disability interview
If you suffer an injury or are diagnosed with an illness that affects your ability to do your job, you may turn your attention to any disability benefits you qualify for. It’s critical to take all your options into consideration, as this improves the likelihood of...
Was your short-term disability claim denied? You have options
As someone who is dealing with a disability that may not last forever, you are in a frustrating position. You want to do what you can to get through this, and you don’t want to take advantage of anyone. You only want the benefits that should be available to you. You...
Navigating through short-term and long-term disability claims
Many individuals with employer-sponsored ERISA plans have questions when facing the possibility of filing a disability claim. What is the difference between short-term disability and long-term disability insurance? How long do benefits last for? And, most importantly,...
Unable to work: The painful reality for some living with IBS
There is having an upset stomach -- occasionally -- and living with ongoing stomach and digestive issues that seem to just not want to quit. The two are quite different. While it is normal for a person to experience gastrointestinal discomfort from time to time, it is...
Appealing denied disability benefits for oil field workers
While all workers throughout Louisiana can be hurt on the job, given the very nature of the work, those in the oil and gas field industry are in a unique spot when it comes to job risks. It's important for workers to not only understand these risks, but to also know...
Chronic fatigue syndrome: A debilitating condition
Picture being able to go about your life -- full of zest and energy -- only to later become so fatigued that the simple act of getting out of bed can seem impossible. Now, just picture if this continued. Day after day, continuing to live with extreme fatigue,...
Do back injuries qualify for short and long-term disability?
No one wants to live with debilitating back pain. Whether the pain is due to repeated heavy lifting, some type of accident -- or the cause is still unknown -- for those living with back pain, it can seem unbearable at times. Doing every day activities may be downright...
