No. 1 – Is the long-term disability carrier entitled to repayment because I got Social Security Disability benefits?

Have you read your long-term disability policy? Does it provide that future benefits can be withheld to recover any overpayment arising from a retroactive payment of benefits such as Social Security Disability benefits?

In the case of White v. Coca Cola Corporation, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia upheld a provision in Coca Cola’s long-term disability plan that allowed Coca Cola to withhold future benefits to recover a retroactive payment of Social Security benefits in the amount of $38,124.90 that Mr. White received.

They reduced Mr. White’s payments for 60 months to recover the overpayment, and he appealed. The court agreed with Coca Cola and found that they were entitled to reduce future long-term disability benefits because of the lump sum payment of Social Security benefits.

At Cavey & Barrett we can assist you in reviewing your long-term disability policy to determine whether or not your long-term disability carrier is entitled to recoup any overpayment for Social Security benefits.