New York Disability Lawyer & Attorney : Turley, Redmond & Rosasco : Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Bronx, Staten Island

Thanks for the comment, Brian. My major problem with Allsup, Advantage 2000 and others that get paid by the LTD carrier is that they might use their "trusting" relationship with you to share your confidences with the LTD carrier, which may not be in your best interest. Just because they might win your SSD case doesn't mean the LTD carrier won't use SSD info to later stop your LTD benefits. I think the old adage, "Buyer beware!" applies.

I did not use Advantage 2000 for my initial application for Social Security ( SS) . I had already signed with an attorney. Advantaged 2000 did call trying to get me to sign with them and Cigna did recommend them to me. I am so glad I didn’t go with advantage2000. About a year after being denied social security Cigna sent me to their doctor for confirmation of my permanent disability which they agreed after the doctor’s determination. I received a letter six months later to consider an offer from Cigna to close my case. I am one of those who get a large amount monthly (Sounding familiar). I denied there request. I got a letter from Cigna then saying the current request was no longer available. The letter did say if I was interested at a later date I could contact them. A few weeks Later Advantage 2000 called me saying a Cigna representative has requested an explanation as to why I was denied by (SS). The representative then asked if I had a copy of the (SS) determination I could send her. I explained Cigna had every copy of my case and determination. I explained to her I was award one year only and I even paid Cigna the overage amount I owed them. She said, "They didn't have copies could, I send her copies. I told her I would have to look for my copies. I then called another representative from Cigna who then said yes he has my copies. At that point things started to stink. Few days later Advantage 2000 sends me forms to sign as if I was starting from the start to apply for (SS). The very last sheet in the stack was the form which authorized them to request all copies from (SS). There intro letter mentioned one of my Cigna representatives as asking them to review my case. Then it goes on to read they work for me and how there years experience makes it a greater chance of winning my case. I did not sign anything. I called Advantage 2000 and told them I wanted a letter from Cigna as to why I need to go through re-applying again to (SS). It's been 3 weeks and no letter from Cigna yet. I have since received another call from Advantage 2000 asking if I have received the letter from Cigna I requested .I said, "No" She said, "she would talk to her supervisor to send an email to Cigna to remind them". It now seems I not only have Cigna pressuring me but also Advantage 2000. I'm waiting for the letter from Cigna which, I believe it will not reflect what the Advantage 2000 representative explained. I believe I will not get one as it is not required under the insurance agreement to use Advantage 2000 or even having to apply again. I Agree with the information presented on this site. If Cigna requires me to file again after they send me a written instruction and proof of the requirement by the insurance agreement be sure I will not use Advantage 2000.I will use an independent attorney, (sound familiar) if Cigna forces me to apply again. It seems Cigna wants to force me into litigation so I have to take an offer from them to settle. I just want to be left alone. It makes you feel feed up. I didn’t ask to become disabled. I just want what is mine by agreement. Sound familiar. By the way like the commercial I am not an attorney or affiliated with any persons on this website. I am a real disabled person. Who happen to surf this Website. looking for information on advantage 2000.

Thank You for confirming my determination on advantage 2000 and Cigna.

Larry

Wade did not pose a question in his post asking for a response. But since you did, how do you explain the Allsup promotional brochure to its insurance company clients (linked in the original post above) in which they play on their trusting relationship with the claimant to promote a setttlement for the benefit of the LTD carrier? Who is their "strategic partner" who supposedly protects the financial interests of the claimant? Since I posted this over 1 1/2 years ago, my office has screened multiple long term disability denials that coincidentally came right after the claimant won his/her Social Security disability claim. This has just strengthened my belief that long term disability claimants should not use either Allsup, Advantage 2000 or any other representative that gets paid by the insurance company. Don't buy the line "it will cost you nothing". It could cost you dearly when your LTD claim is later denied. Nothing is free in this world. The conflict is obvious - either you work solely for the benefit of the claimant, or you serve the interests of the insurance company. Thanks for your comment on this important issue.

An average SSDI representative fee is hard to estimate because everybody's retroactive benefits are different, and we ussually are approved for 25% of retro or $5300, whichever is LESS. Hope this helps.

SHOULD I GET AN ATTORNEY TO WORK ON MY CASE?I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH ALLSUP FOR OVER 2 YEARS.MY CASE IS IN THE APPEALS STAGE NOW.WHAT SHOULD I DO?SHOULD I TRUST THEM?THE COMPANY I RETIRED FROM IS SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR MY CLAIM.IAM DIABETIC HAVE NEUROPATHY IN MY LEGS AND FEET,ARMS AND HANDS.IALSO HAVE SEVERE SLEEP APITHY,SEVERE DEPRESSION,RECENTLY HAD 4 STINTS PUT IN MY HEART.IAM STILL GOING TO CARDIAC REHAB.WHY DOES THESE PEOPLE DRAG THERE FEET?DONT THEY CARS ABOUT PEOPLE OR JUST THE MONEY THEY WILL GET.

Attorneys' and non-attorneys' fees are generally identical, as all must abide by the 25% of back benefits law (capped, as noted above). Additionally, most (if not all?) are contingent in nature, and so are only paid/charged if benefits are won. With regard to ALLSUP, the only thing I have heard of is that the claimant rarely has a freely communicating relationship with his/her rep. They rarely even know who the rep is and the reps are very poor at responding to inquiries by the client or otherwise keeping the client apprised of what is going on, if anything. I have heard that it is a numbers game, akin to a factory. I have heard (again, rumor) that percentages of wins are lower than that of an individualized attorney (or non-attorney I am sure, if otherwise qualified), who generally doesn't have the requirement to take on an extravagent number of cases, beyond which he or she may competently be able to handle. I had not much thought of the alleged conflict regarding LDI carriers, etc., but it is duly noted. I, of course, may be biased, as I am an individual attorney who runs my own practice by my own level of ethics. (As they say, if you work for a firm, your level of ethics is only as high as your least ethical boss/partner - one of the drawbacks of working for others and doing their bidding for a paycheck. Been there, done that.)