What to Do in the First 48 Hours After Your LTD Denial

You just got the letter. Now what?

You opened the envelope or the email, and there it is. Your long-term disability claim has been denied. Maybe it was Manulife. Maybe Sun Life. Maybe Canada Life or Desjardins. It doesn't matter which insurer — the feeling is the same. Shock. Disbelief. A pit in your stomach that won't go away.

You paid your premiums for years. You trusted the system. And when you needed it most, they said no.

If you're reading this, chances are it just happened — maybe hours ago, maybe yesterday. The first 48 hours after a denial matter more than most people realize. Not because you need to file a lawsuit tonight. But because the things you do and don't do right now can make a real difference in what comes next.

Here's exactly what to do.

Don't panic — but don't ignore it either

A denial is not the final word. Insurance companies deny over 60% of legitimate LTD claims in Ontario. That number isn't an accident — it's a business strategy. Denials save insurers money. Many people who get denied give up. The insurance company is counting on you being one of them.

You don't have to be.

But you also can't afford to freeze. The worst thing you can do right now is nothing. Not because you're out of time — you're not — but because the steps you take in the first 48 hours set the foundation for everything that follows.

Read your denial letter carefully

This sounds obvious, but most people skim the letter through a fog of anger and confusion. That's understandable. But this letter is a roadmap — it tells you exactly why the insurer says they denied you, and that information is critical.

Here's what to look for:

1. The stated reason for denial. Is it "insufficient medical evidence"? A "change of definition" from own occupation to any occupation? A pre-existing condition exclusion? An IME report? Each reason requires a different response strategy.

2. Any deadlines mentioned. Some policies reference internal appeal timelines. Note them, but don't rush to act on them — more on that below.

3. The policy provisions cited. The letter should reference specific sections of your insurance policy. Circle them. You'll need to review those exact clauses.

4. Who signed it. Was it a claims adjuster? A medical consultant? A manager? This tells you how far up the chain the decision went.

If the letter references "self-reported symptoms" or "no objective evidence," know this: that's insurance code for "we don't believe you." It's one of the most common denial tactics for conditions like depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia. It doesn't mean your condition isn't real. It means the insurer is using the nature of your illness against you.

Save everything — right now

Before you do anything else, gather and preserve every document you have. This is not optional. Think of it like sealing a crime scene — you don't know yet what will matter, so everything matters.

1. The denial letter itself. Print it if it was digital. Screenshot it. Save it in multiple places.

2. Your insurance policy. The full policy document — not just the benefits booklet your employer gave you. If you don't have it, request it from your insurer or your employer's HR department immediately.

3. All correspondence with the insurer. Every email, letter, voicemail, and note from phone calls. If you spoke to someone by phone, write down what was said, who said it, and when.

4. Your medical records. Treatment notes, prescriptions, test results, referrals, specialist reports — anything documenting your condition.

5. Any forms you submitted. Disability application forms, attending physician statements, functional capacity questionnaires.

Put everything in one place — a folder on your computer, a box on your kitchen table, whatever works. Your future lawyer will need all of it.

Stop social media activity immediately

This is one of the most important things you can do right now, and most people don't think of it.

Insurance companies monitor your social media. They hire investigators to comb through your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. A photo of you smiling at a family dinner can be used to argue that your depression isn't as severe as your doctors say. A check-in at a restaurant can be twisted into evidence that you're "more functional than claimed."

A thirty-second clip of you in a parking lot doesn't tell the story of the other twenty-three hours. But the insurer will try to make it look that way.

Right now: set all accounts to maximum privacy. Stop posting. Ask friends and family not to tag you. Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know. And whatever you do, do not delete old posts — deleting content can be considered spoliation of evidence and can actually hurt your case.

Just go quiet. Starting now.

Do NOT call the insurer back to argue your case

This is where instinct gets people in trouble. Your first impulse might be to call the insurance company, tell them they made a mistake, explain your condition more clearly, or demand to speak with a supervisor. It feels like the logical thing to do.

Don't.

Everything you say to the insurer is being recorded and noted. The person on the other end of that phone is not your advocate — they work for the company that just denied you. Anything you say can and will be used to strengthen their denial. You might accidentally contradict something in your medical records. You might downplay a symptom without realizing it. You might agree to something you shouldn't.

One client at another firm described it perfectly: "Everything they told me to do was wrong." The insurer is not on your side. They never were.

If the insurer calls you, it's okay to say: "I've received the denial letter and I'm reviewing it with a lawyer. I won't be discussing my claim further at this time." That's it. Short, polite, done.

Be very careful with the "internal appeal"

Your denial letter might mention the option to file an internal appeal — asking the insurer to reconsider their decision. This can feel like the natural next step. It rarely is.

An internal appeal means you're asking the same organization that denied you to reverse its own decision. The success rate is low. And worse, the appeal process gives the insurer more time to build their defense against you. They get to see your best arguments early, gather more evidence for their side, and delay your case further.

Many Ontario disability lawyers — including us — advise against filing an internal appeal without legal guidance. In Ontario, you are not required to go through an internal appeal before suing the insurer. You can go straight to litigation in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

This is one of those decisions that seems small but has real consequences. Talk to a lawyer before filing anything with the insurer.

Contact a disability lawyer — here's why the timing matters

You don't need to file a lawsuit in the first 48 hours. But you should be talking to a disability lawyer.

Here's why timing matters: In Ontario, the limitation period to sue your insurance company is generally two years from the date of denial. That sounds like a long time, but it goes fast — especially when you're dealing with a disability. And the sooner a lawyer reviews your file, the more options you have. Evidence is fresher. Medical records are easier to obtain. And your lawyer can advise you on what to do (and what not to do) while your case is building.

People who wait often wish they hadn't. Not because they ran out of time — though some do — but because early legal involvement almost always leads to better outcomes.

And if cost is what's stopping you: disability lawyers work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. Nothing out of pocket. The lawyer only gets paid if they win your case. A free consultation costs you nothing — and it tells you exactly where you stand.

What happens when you call us

When you call Mirza Law, you talk to a lawyer. Not a call centre. Not an intake coordinator reading from a script. You speak with someone who understands disability law and can assess your situation directly.

We'll ask you to tell us what happened. We'll listen. We'll review your denial letter, look at the insurer's stated reasons, and give you an honest assessment of your case — including whether we think you have one. If we can help, we'll explain exactly what the next steps look like. If we can't, we'll tell you that too.

There's no pressure, no obligation, and no cost for the consultation.

You've been dealing with an insurance company that didn't believe you. That treated your pain as a line item. That decided it was cheaper to deny you and hoped you'd go away quietly.

You don't have to go away quietly. And you don't have to fight this alone.

If you've been denied long-term disability benefits, a free consultation costs you nothing — and it could change everything.