L3 Technologies is a major player in the aerospace and defense industry, providing advanced communications, electronics, and sensor systems for military, commercial, and government markets. Customers include the U.S. Department of Defense and its prime contractors, U.S. government intelligence agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice, allied foreign governments, domestic and foreign commercial customers, and select other U.S. federal, state and local government agencies.
L3 Technologies employees work in a variety of highly specialized roles, ranging from engineering and IT to manufacturing and project management. These positions often require precision, technical expertise, and the ability to perform under high-pressure conditions. Unfortunately, a physical or mental disability can make it incredibly difficult to continue performing these tasks effectively, leaving many employees unable to work.
L-3 Technologies offers long-term disability (LTD) benefits to its employees as an employee benefit. The last client I represented who worked at L-3 had a disability policy underwritten by New York Life Group Benefits Solutions (formerly Cigna). If you’re an L3 Technologies employee facing a disabling condition, you may be considering applying for long-term disability benefits. Below, we’ll discuss how your job affects your claim, the challenges you may face, and what you can do to improve your chances of being approved, and how a long-term disability attorney can help if your claim is denied.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities of L3 Technologies Employees
Depending on your role at L3 Technologies, your job may include some of the following responsibilities:
- Engineers and Technicians: Design, develop, and test cutting-edge systems and technologies, often requiring fine motor skills, mental clarity, and intense concentration.
- Project Managers: Oversee large-scale projects, including managing budgets and schedules and coordinating teams. This work requires a high level of cognitive function and decision-making.
- Manufacturing and Assembly Workers: Build and assemble delicate, complex parts, often requiring repetitive motions, manual dexterity, and physical stamina.
- IT Specialists: Develop and maintain secure systems for defense and aerospace customers, requiring advanced technical knowledge and quick problem-solving skills.
- Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance Workers: Inspect, upgrade, repair, and overhaul military and commercial aircraft, often involving heavy lifting, working in confined spaces, and adhering to detailed safety standards.
Workers are expected to perform at high levels under stressful and sometimes dangerous conditions in all of these roles. Disabilities that affect cognitive function, motor skills, or stamina can significantly impact an employee’s ability to continue working in these positions.
Challenges for L3 Technologies Employees in Securing Long-Term Disability Benefits
While long-term disability benefits are designed to support you if you’re unable to work due to a disabling condition, many employees face challenges when applying for benefits. Here are some of the top reasons L3 Technologies employees may experience problems:
- Physically Demanding Positions: Many positions, particularly in manufacturing and engineering, require physical labor and the ability to perform precise tasks. Even a relatively minor disability can make it impossible to meet these requirements, but insurance companies may downplay the impact of physical limitations.
- Highly Specialized Skills: Jobs at L3 Technologies often require a unique set of skills, from programming to operating complex machinery. A disability may make it impossible to perform these tasks, but insurers may argue that employees can still perform another type of work that doesn’t require such specialized skills.
- Pressure and Stress: The aerospace and defense industries are fast-paced, and stress-related mental health conditions (such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression) can be particularly difficult to prove in an LTD claim. Insurers often require extensive medical documentation and evidence showing how these conditions directly prevent you from performing your job duties.
- Subjective Symptoms: Many disabling conditions—especially mental disorders, chronic pain, or conditions like fibromyalgia—can be more difficult to prove. Insurers tend to be skeptical of claims where symptoms are subjective and not easily documented by medical tests.
Tips for a Successful Long-Term Disability Claim
- Get Comprehensive Medical Documentation: Be sure to provide thorough medical documentation that clearly explains your diagnosis, symptoms, and limitations. This is especially important for conditions that may not show up on traditional tests, such as mental illness or chronic pain disorders.
- Be Clear About Job Requirements: Your insurance company may not fully understand the demands of your job. It’s important to clearly outline your daily responsibilities and explain how your condition affects your ability to perform them. For example, if your job requires you to lift heavy equipment or maintain intense concentration for long periods, make sure these specifics are documented in your claim.
- Stay Consistent: Any inconsistencies in your claim—whether in medical records, statements to your insurer, or with your employer—can raise red flags and lead to a denial. Be consistent in explaining how your condition affects your ability to work.
- Follow Your Treatment Plan: Insurers often deny claims if they feel you aren’t following a prescribed treatment plan. Make sure you attend all doctor’s appointments, follow prescribed treatments, and keep records of your efforts to manage your condition.
How a Long-Term Disability Lawyer Can Help
The long-term disability claims process can be daunting, especially if your claim is wrongfully denied. This is where a long-term disability attorney like Nick Ortiz can step in. With experience handling complex disability cases, an attorney can help:
- Gather Evidence: An attorney can help you gather the right medical records and other evidence to strengthen your case.
- Communicate with Your Insurer: An attorney will handle communication with the insurance company, eliminating the back-and-forth delays that often occur with LTD claims.
- Appealing Denied Claims: If your claim is denied, an attorney can help you navigate the appeals process, which often requires building an even stronger case to get your benefits approved.
At the Ortiz Law Firm, we understand how difficult it can be to get the disability benefits you deserve, especially in specialized fields like those at L3 Technologies. If your long-term disability claim has been denied or cut off, contact us for a free case evaluation. We’re here to help you through the appeals process, so you can focus on your health and well-being. Call (888) 321-8131 to schedule a free case evaluation today.