Disability benefit

S

Sad and Lonely

Guest
My company pension plan states that if an employee is off sick for a period of XX weeks, then the disability benefit option comes into play. However, this deferred period is reduced by half for pregnancy-related conditions.

I was diagnosed with post-natal depression/exhaustion last year and have started to claim the disability benefit under the terms of the pension plan.

Can the insurance company try to cloud/question the cause of my illnesss so as to make the pension payable from XX weeks?. What does pregnancy-related mean - can they claim that PND is not pregnancy-related. I've been attending my GP since diagnosis for on-going treatment.

Grateful for any views or advice
 
Do the terms & conditions of the scheme not clarify whose word they take on these matters - e.g. your GP's or a doctor nominated by them or the company? If you are claiming the benefit now then surely it means that they are happy that you meed the pregnancy related illness condition required for the shorter "deferral" period? Has something happened that gives you real concern that they might change their mind on this?
 
O

Thanks for replying. I wasn't fully aware of the terms of the disability benefit option in the months after my diagnoses. So I haven't claimed the benefit so far.

However, I have now submitted a claim and I am to see the independent specialist nominated by the insurance company in the next few weeks. I have also seen the company doctor in the past few weeks and I'm waiting to see a copy of his report.

I'm just a bit concerned that this independent specialist will be singing from the insurance company hymn sheet and seek to establish in some way that this is not a pregnancy related illness. Maybe I'm worrying too much .....

Thanks again for replying
 
I know it's not easy when you're suffering from depression but try no to worry about things that (a) haven't actually happened yet and may not happen at all and (b) that you have no control over. If you do have control over something then try to do something constructive about it. In this case IF your application is refused then work constructively to address the issues. In the meantime let bureaucracy run its course and take it easy.
 
O

Thanks for your response - much appreciated.

Hopefully things will work out for me over the next few weeks.
 
No problem. Take it easy and let us know how you get on or of you have any further queries of if you simple need to get something off your chest! I would recommend some of the books and links at www.mcwilliams.com for anybody who is suffering from depression or low self esteem. Obviously anybody suffering from depression should seek appropriate medical and counselling treatment.
 
O

Surprise, surprise!! The "independent" doctor nominated by the insurance company has decided on the basis of a 30 minutes chat (10 months after I was first diagnosed) that I am not suffering from PND. He puts it down to a more general form of depression.

By doing this, he saves the insurance company, who pay him for the consultation, a large amount of money.

I have requested an appeal for which, I understand, I will have to pay.

If this appeal goes against me (which is likely) who can I complain to?
 
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