Ortiz Law Firm

06/17/2026

06/15/2026

Most people who file for Social Security Disability don't fully understand what the program is evaluating — and that gap affects how they build their case from the beginning.

SSDI isn't based on your diagnosis. It's based on whether your condition prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity — on a consistent, sustained basis — for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death. Your age, work history, and transferable skills are all part of the analysis.

People who should qualify often don't apply. People who do apply often submit files that weren't built around what SSA actually needs to see. Understanding the standard before you start is worth more than most people realize.

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06/12/2026

A recent court ruling against Unum highlights how claimants can prevail—even against major insurers—when the law is on their side.

A Minnesota attorney won the lawsuit he filed against Unum Life Insurance Company of America after the insurer terminated his long-term disability benefits.

06/08/2026

If your long-term disability coverage comes through your employer, there's a federal law that governs your claim — and most claimants don't know it exists until they try to fight a denial.

ERISA was designed to regulate employer benefit plans. In practice, what it means for LTD claimants is this: if your appeal fails and you go to court, a judge is generally limited to the record that was built during the appeal process. No new evidence. No jury. In most cases, the court reviews what's already there and asks whether the insurer's decision was reasonable — not whether it was right.

This is why the appeal isn't just paperwork. It's the last real opportunity to build your case.

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06/05/2026

Not every LTD appeal wins. This one didn't — and the reason why is something claimants miss all the time. ⚠️

A Minnesota attorney won the lawsuit he filed against Unum Life Insurance Company of America after the insurer terminated his long-term disability benefits.

06/01/2026

Mental health conditions do qualify for long-term disability — but these claims come with specific challenges that claimants aren't usually warned about.

First: many LTD policies cap mental health benefits at 24 months, regardless of how disabling the condition is. Second: insurers scrutinize mental health claims more aggressively than physical conditions. Third: the functional limitations from depression, anxiety, and PTSD are harder to document in ways that survive a paper review.

None of this means the claim can't be won. It means it needs to be built differently. If you've been denied or you're in the middle of a mental health LTD claim, there are things worth knowing before you take your next step.

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05/29/2026

A recent LTD appeal win shows how strong evidence and legal support helped a research scientist defeat Reliance Standard’s denial.

At the Ortiz Law Firm, we understand how devastating it can be when a disability insurance company unfairly denies your claim for benefits. Recently, we had