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The changing employment landscape in St. Catharines creates particular challenges for disability claimants whose occupational capacities must be assessed against evolving job markets. At Matthews Abogado Long-Term Disability, our LTD lawyers in St. Catharines address the “any occupation” assessment phase that frequently leads to benefit termination. Our team has developed effective strategies to demonstrate how specific limitations continue to prevent gainful employment despite theoretical job matches insurers may identify.
What sets our St. Catharines practice apart is our proactive vocational assessment approach. Rather than waiting for insurers to conduct limited labour market surveys, we engage qualified vocational experts who can realistically evaluate the practical employability of clients with specific limitation profiles. This comprehensive method addresses not just theoretical job matches but actual employment accessibility, often revealing substantial barriers to re-employment that insurance assessments overlook.
If you’re a St. Catharines resident facing the critical “change of definition” period in your disability claim, Matthews Abogado Long-Term Disability offers specialized transition assistance. Contact us for a free consultation where our forward-thinking long-term disability lawyers in St. Catharines will evaluate your occupational capacity and develop strategies to maintain your benefits.
How Our LTD Lawyers in St. Catharines Can Help with Your Claim
The critical “change of definition” period in disability policies creates vulnerability for claimants transitioning from “own occupation” to “any occupation” assessment. At Matthews Abogado Long-Term Disability, our LTD Lawyers in St. Catharines specialize in developing comprehensive evidence that addresses this challenging transition through detailed occupational and functional analysis. Our legal team provides the specialized knowledge to document ongoing disability under changing criteria. We regularly assist clients with numerous disabling conditions, including:
- Depression & Anxiety
- Chronic Pain
- COVID-19 Long Haulers
- COVID-19-related depression and mental health issues
- Fibromyalgia
- Bipolar & Mood Disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Cancer & Post-Cancer Treatment Recovery
- Stroke
- Critical Illness
- Brain Injury
- Arthritis
- Addiction
- Psychosis
Our St. Catharines disability lawyers implement a proactive methodology designed explicitly for definition-change challenges. We begin with a comprehensive vocational assessment to identify potential occupations the insurer might consider suitable. Then, we systematically document how your specific limitations prevent successful performance even in these alternative roles. Our approach often includes obtaining transferable skills analyses, commissioning labour market surveys that address actual employment accessibility, and coordinating functional capacity evaluations specifically structured to assess capacities required in identified alternative occupations.
Our LTD Claims Process
1. Reach Out to Us
Start by contacting our knowledgeable team. We’re here to listen and understand your situation.
2. Receive Comprehensive Guidance
We’ll guide you at every step, ensuring you understand the process and feel supported.
3. We Handle Everything for You
Our team takes on all the necessary work, from paperwork to negotiations, so you don’t have to worry.
4. No Win, No Fee
You receive your benefits or a settlement, or you don’t pay anything. Your success is our priority.
Book a Free Consultation with an LTD Lawyer in St. Catharines
When your disability benefits in St. Catharines face termination during the critical “change of definition” period, specialized legal intervention becomes necessary. Contact our LTD lawyers in St. Catharines for a free consultation where we’ll evaluate your vocational profile and develop a strategic approach to documenting how your limitations prevent gainful employment.
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A LONG-TERM DISABILITY LAWYER IN ST. CATHARINES
Why Choose Matthews Abogado Long-Term Disability as Your Long-Term Disability Lawyer in St. Catharines?
Definition Transition
Our LTD lawyers in St. Catharines specialize in navigating the critical “change of definition” period when many initially approved claims face termination threats. We use our expertise to develop evidence packages designed to address the transition from “own occupation” to “any occupation” assessment standards. We document how specific limitations prevent successful performance even in theoretically suitable alternative occupations through detailed vocational analysis, and counter insurance company assessments that identify supposedly appropriate positions without considering practical accessibility factors.
Occupational Analysis
Our St. Catharines disability lawyers obtain and utilize formal job descriptions to establish specific task requirements relevant to limitation assessment. We work with vocational specialists who provide authoritative analysis of occupational demands in relation to documented limitations. Our team counters insurance company claims that job modifications could reasonably accommodate limitations when practical evidence indicates otherwise. This occupation-focused approach ensures disability assessments accurately reflect real-world requirements of specific professions rather than generic job categories.
Evidence Development
We implement systematic approaches to identifying and addressing critical evidence gaps that undermine otherwise valid disability claims. Our lawyers work with healthcare providers to obtain functional assessments that translate diagnostic information into concrete work limitation evidence. Where necessary, we coordinate specialized evaluations when treating physician documentation alone proves insufficient for insurance purposes.
Communication Control
We implement communication strategies that maintain consistent claim positioning while avoiding documentation pitfalls that insurers often exploit. Our lawyers prepare clients for insurance company interviews with guidance on addressing predictable questions without creating unintended documentation issues. We counter inappropriate surveillance or social media monitoring through proper context establishment and privacy protection measures. Our communication strategies prevent common documentation problems while maintaining claim integrity throughout the assessment processes.
Serving Communities Across St. Catharines
Disability claim success often depends on understanding legal requirements and local healthcare resources. Our LTD Lawyers in St. Catharines provide specialized representation to residents across the city, ensuring your claim benefits from legal expertise and local knowledge.
We provide dedicated service to every St. Catharines neighbourhood:
- Brock University
- Carlton
- Fairview Facer
- Glendale
- Glenridge
- Grantham
- Haig
- Lakeshore
- Martindale
- Merritton
- North End
- Old Western Hill
- Port Dalhousie
- Port Weller
- Power Glen
- Queenston
- Secord Woods
- Andrew
- George
- Patrick
- The Midtown
- The Queensway
- Western Hill
- Westgate
- Yates
Whether you live in the downtown core or a suburban district, our disability lawyers ensure you receive specialized representation with knowledge of the specific medical and rehabilitation resources available in your St. Catharines neighbourhood, with a particular focus on navigating the critical “change of definition” period in disability claims.
Meet Your LTD Law Team
At Matthews Abogado Long-Term Disability, our team of dedicated long-term disability lawyers in St. Catharines brings a wealth of experience and expertise to each case we handle. For years, we have been trusted advocates for individuals facing challenging disability claims, and we are known for our compassionate and strategic approach to securing the best possible outcomes.
Our LTD lawyers in St. Catharines are recognized for their deep understanding of long-term disability law, consistently representing clients in complex cases with a focus on personalized service. We are committed to delivering results-driven legal assistance for each client’s unique circumstances.
Whether you’re dealing with a denied claim, need help navigating the appeals process, or require support in understanding your benefits, our team is here to guide you through the intricacies of long-term disability law.
WHO WE ARE
M. Greg Abogado
Partner
Greg is an experienced trial and appellate counsel. Before joining Linda Matthews to form Matthews Abogado LLP, Greg was a partner at one of the leading boutique civil litigation firms in the province. He brings to the firm more than 25 years experience in civil litigation. He has successfully acted as lead counsel in a number of jury trials and private arbitrations. He also has extensive involvement in alternative dispute resolution particularly private and court annexed mediations.
Education: LLB, 1988, University of Windsor; BA, 1984, York University
Andrew Franklin
I’ve always wanted to serve and help people
Service to others matters to me. I have always been a problem solver. After completing my graduate degree in neuroscience, I worked in research studying the environmental causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
I pursued a career in law to help others solve legal problems. My passion for science and medicine led me to work on cases involving people facing medical issues, injuries, and disabilities.
Within 6 years I became a partner at Matthews Abogado LLP in Toronto. My service to others continues and I remain deeply committed to helping people. I strive to demonstrate the highest level of care, compassion in every Long Term Disability (LTD) case I manage.
Tom Yen
It’s about making things right for you and your family
I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer to defend people’s rights, to right injustices on a personal level. After earning an Hon. B.Sc. at the University of Toronto, I entered the University of Ottawa Common Law program and was called to the bar in 2009.
Since then, I’ve successfully negotiated, litigated and arbitrated countless cases. I have the unique perspective of having acted for both injured persons and insurance companies. That deep understanding of the inner workings of the insurance industry gives me a strategic advantage to most effectively advocate for my client’s rights.
Away from my work, I try my best to keep fit, travel and enjoy great food and wine with my family and friends.
Sara Azghadi
My journey has always involved helping those in need.
While obtaining my psychology degree, I witnessed the pain that all disability, but particularly mental-health disability can have on a person’s ability to work. Now as a lawyer, I defend the rights of victims and help navigate them through the overwhelming process of being approved for or appealing the denial of disability benefits.
With the pandemic behind us, I have seen many hard-working Canadians suffer from the psychological aftermath of the last few years. While I represent clients with all types of disability, I have a keen interest in helping those who cannot work due to stress or anxiety related disorders, depressive disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorders.
Having a background in insurance law has allowed me to learn the language of insurance companies to the benefit of my clients. I hope to continue providing fair and effective legal representation for clients for years to come.
TESTIMONIALS
