Top Reasons People File for Long Term Disability

Filing for long term disability can be one of the most important steps you take when a medical condition prevents you from working. While each person’s situation is unique, certain health issues are more commonly cited in long term disability claims. These conditions often cause persistent symptoms, require ongoing treatment, or lead to functional limitations that make it difficult—or even impossible—to continue performing your job.

Understanding the most common reasons people apply for long term disability benefits can help you recognize whether your condition may qualify. Below, we explore the top medical issues that lead individuals to file for long term disability, the symptoms that interfere with work, and the types of evidence often needed to support a successful claim.

1.   Cancer

Many people file for long term disability due to cancer, as the disease and its treatment can significantly impact your ability to work. Whether you’re dealing with early-stage cancer or an advanced diagnosis, the symptoms, side effects, and recovery periods can interfere with maintaining a consistent work schedule or performing your job duties safely and effectively.

Common types of cancer that often lead to long term disability claims include breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. However, any cancer diagnosis can potentially qualify you for benefits if it limits your functional capacity. You may be eligible even if your cancer is in remission, especially if you continue to experience fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties, or a weakened immune system from treatment.

Treatment itself can be just as disabling as the disease. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery often cause debilitating side effects such as:

• Severe fatigue: You may be unable to maintain regular hours or focus on tasks for extended periods.

• Cognitive impairment (“chemo brain”): Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, and slowed thinking can make desk or analytical work challenging.

• Nausea and gastrointestinal symptoms: These may make it difficult to commute or remain at a workstation throughout the day.

• Compromised immunity: If you’re at high risk for infections, returning to a public or shared workplace may be unsafe.

• Chronic pain: Especially after surgery or from metastatic disease, pain may limit both physical and sedentary work.

Even if you want to return to work, pushing yourself too soon can delay healing or worsen your condition.

Filing for long term disability can provide the financial support you need while focusing on recovery. If you’re considering a claim due to cancer, your medical records, treatment plan, and doctor’s opinions will play a key role in proving how your condition limits your ability to work. To prove disability due to cancer or cancer treatment you should also consider testing such as a comprehensive Functional Capacity Examination, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, and a cardio-pulmonary exercise test.

2.   Accidents and Injuries

Accidents and injuries are among the leading reasons people file for long term disability. A serious injury can happen in an instant—whether from a car crash, fall, sports incident, or workplace accident—but the physical and functional effects may last for months, years, or even permanently. If you’re unable to return to work due to lingering pain, limited mobility, or the need for ongoing treatment, long term disability benefits may provide critical financial relief

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Some of the most common injury-related conditions that lead to long term disability claims include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (“TBIs”): Even a moderate head injury can cause long-term problems with memory, focus, and executive function.

• Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spine can result in partial or total paralysis, making it impossible to perform many physical occupational functions.

• Back and neck injuries: Herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and chronic pain after a fall or accident can severely limit physical activity and sitting tolerance.

• Orthopedic injuries: Serious fractures, torn ligaments, or joint damage—especially in the knees, shoulders, or hips—can prevent you from walking, lifting, or using your arms effectively.

• Soft tissue injuries: Sprains and strains may seem minor but can become chronic, especially if surgery or rehabilitation doesn’t restore full function.

In many cases, the injury itself is only part of the challenge. You might also deal with complications such as:

• Chronic pain: Persistent pain can interfere with focus, stamina, and the ability to perform repetitive tasks.

• Limited range of motion: Even if you’ve healed, stiffness or restricted movement can prevent you from returning to your previous role.

• Need for multiple surgeries or rehabilitation: Time away from work for ongoing treatment may extend your disability far beyond the initial injury.

• Psychological effects: Accidents can lead to anxiety, depression, or PTSD, especially if the injury was traumatic or life-altering.

Filing for long term disability after an accident can give you the time and resources you need to recover without the added pressure of returning to work too soon. To support your claim, you’ll need to provide detailed medical records, imaging studies, and physician statements documenting your injury, functional limitations, and expected course of recovery.

Additional testing can also strengthen your claim. A Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”) can objectively measure your physical limitations, while a neuropsychological evaluation can assess the cognitive effects of a traumatic brain injury. These evaluations provide clear, clinical evidence of how your injury impacts your ability to perform your job, which can be especially helpful if your symptoms are not fully visible on scans or standard exams.

3.   Mental Health Conditions

Mental health conditions are a common reason people file for long term disability. Disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”) can be just as disabling as physical illnesses, especially when symptoms interfere with your ability to concentrate, maintain a routine, or interact with others. If your condition makes it difficult or impossible to perform your job consistently, you may qualify for long term disability benefits.

Many people with mental health conditions struggle to keep up with the demands of work due to symptoms such as:

• Difficulty concentrating: You may find it hard to focus, process information, or complete tasks without frequent breaks.

• Fatigue and low energy: Mental health disorders often cause extreme exhaustion, making it hard to maintain a full workday or meet deadlines.

• Social withdrawal: If your job requires communication or collaboration, isolating behavior can create challenges in the workplace.

• Mood instability: Unpredictable emotional shifts may affect your professionalism, decision-making, and ability to respond to stress.

• Panic attacks or flashbacks: These can strike without warning and may prevent you from functioning in a typical work environment.

• Sleep disturbances: Insomnia or poor sleep quality can lead to cognitive fog, irritability, and diminished productivity.

Mental health claims can be more difficult to prove because symptoms are often invisible and may fluctuate day-to-day. To support your claim, it’s important to have consistent treatment with a licensed mental health provider and detailed records documenting your symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment plan.

Additional evaluations can be helpful as well. A neuropsychological evaluation can provide an objective analysis of how your mental health condition affects your cognitive functioning. The results offer concrete evidence that can validate your symptoms and help support a successful long term disability claim.

4.   Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common reasons people file for long term disability. These conditions affect the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, often resulting in chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. If you’re unable to sit, stand, walk, or use your hands for extended periods due to a musculoskeletal condition, continuing to work may be impossible—especially if your job is physically demanding or requires sustained posture or repetitive motion.

Common musculoskeletal conditions that lead to long term disability claims include:

• Degenerative disc disease: Wear and tear on the spinal discs can cause severe back and neck pain.

• Herniated discs: These can compress nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms or legs.

• Osteoarthritis: This progressive joint condition can affect mobility and cause persistent pain and swelling.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disorder that leads to inflammation and joint damage, often accompanied by fatigue.

• Fibromyalgia: Characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties, this condition can make even light work difficult.

• Chronic back, neck, or joint pain: Often the result of injury or overuse, these conditions may worsen with activity or remain constant.

These disorders may limit your ability to lift, carry, walk, bend, sit, or even type—activities that are essential in many occupations. Over time, you might find it harder to maintain your work pace or stay focused due to persistent discomfort.

To support your long term disability claim, your medical records should include imaging studies like MRIs or X-rays, physician notes, and a clear diagnosis from a specialist, such as a rheumatologist or orthopedist.

Additional testing can help strengthen your case. A Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”) can document your physical limitations in an objective, clinical setting. The testing measures various physical functions, such as how long you can sit or stand, how much weight you can lift, or how your pain affects task performance. This evidence can be essential when your symptoms fluctuate or are not visible to others, providing your insurance company with concrete data that backs up your need for long term disability benefits.

5.   Heart Disease

Heart disease is a major reason people file for long term disability, as it can severely impact your ability to work—especially in high-stress and demanding jobs. Whether you’ve had a heart attack, live with congestive heart failure, or manage another serious cardiac condition, the limitations on your physical stamina and stress tolerance may make it unsafe or unrealistic to continue working full time.

Common heart conditions that lead to long term disability claims include:

• Congestive heart failure (“CHF”): This condition reduces your heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, leading to fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling.

• Coronary artery disease (“CAD”): Blocked arteries can cause chest pain (angina) and increase your risk of heart attack.

• Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms can cause dizziness, fainting, and palpitations, which may be dangerous in many work settings.

• Cardiomyopathy: A disease of the heart muscle that weakens your heart’s ability to function properly.

• Post-heart attack limitations: Even after recovery, you may be unable to tolerate the physical or emotional demands of your job.

Symptoms of heart disease can interfere with basic job functions, such as:

• Shortness of breath: You may become winded doing routine tasks or even sitting for long periods.

• Fatigue: Many people with heart disease struggle to stay alert and productive for a full workday.

• Chest pain or pressure: This can be triggered by exertion or stress and may require immediate rest or medical attention.

• Exercise intolerance: Physical activity, even light, may no longer be sustainable in your daily routine.

• Anxiety about physical strain: Fear of triggering a cardiac event can increase stress and limit your confidence in the workplace.

To support a long term disability claim based on heart disease, you’ll need thorough medical documentation, including cardiology reports, stress test results, imaging (like echocardiograms or angiograms), and physician statements that explain your work restrictions.

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”) can also be helpful in demonstrating your physical limitations, such as reduced endurance or lifting capacity. If your symptoms cause mental fatigue or cognitive issues due to reduced oxygenation, a neuropsychological evaluation may further support your case. These assessments provide concrete evidence of how your condition impacts your ability to work and can strengthen your claim for long term disability benefits.

6.   Stroke

A stroke can have life-altering effects that often make it difficult or impossible to return to work, leading many people to file for long term disability. Even if you survive the initial event and make significant progress in recovery, the lasting physical, cognitive, and emotional effects can interfere with your ability to perform your job consistently and safely.

The impact of a stroke varies widely depending on the area of the brain affected, but common long term effects include:

• Muscle weakness or paralysis: You may experience partial paralysis or reduced strength on one side of your body, which can affect your ability to walk, lift, or use your hands.

• Speech and language difficulties: Aphasia or slurred speech can interfere with communication, especially in roles that require frequent interaction or clear verbal expression.

• Cognitive impairments: You may have trouble with memory, attention, problem-solving, or processing information quickly, all of which are essential in many professions.

• Visual disturbances: Changes in vision or visual field loss can affect reading, driving, or working with screens.

• Fatigue: Many stroke survivors experience ongoing exhaustion that limits endurance and productivity.

• Emotional changes: Depression, anxiety, or mood swings are common and can affect your ability to function in a workplace setting.

To qualify for long term disability benefits after a stroke, your medical records should include documentation from your neurologist, imaging such as MRIs or CT scans, and evidence of your ongoing symptoms and limitations.

Additional evaluations can also be critical in proving your claim. A neuropsychological evaluation can assess how your stroke has affected your cognitive abilities, while a Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”) can measure your physical stamina, mobility, and ability to perform work-related tasks. These objective tests help demonstrate how your condition impacts your day-to-day function and reinforce the legitimacy of your long term disability claim.

7.   Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (“MS”) is a common reason people file for long term disability, as it often causes unpredictable and progressive symptoms that interfere with work. MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, damaging the protective covering of nerves and disrupting communication between the brain and body. The symptoms can vary widely from person to person, but many people find that continuing to work becomes increasingly difficult over time.

Common MS symptoms that can interfere with your ability to work include:

• Chronic fatigue: One of the most debilitating symptoms, fatigue in MS is not relieved by rest and can make it hard to sustain a full workday.

• Muscle weakness and coordination problems: Difficulty walking, standing, or using your hands may limit both physical and sedentary job tasks.

• Numbness and tingling: These sensations can make typing, writing, or fine motor tasks difficult.

• Cognitive dysfunction: Many people living with MS experience “brain fog,” including trouble with memory, concentration, word-finding, and processing speed.

• Vision problems: Blurred vision, double vision, or optic neuritis can interfere with screen work, reading, or driving.

• Bladder or bowel dysfunction: These symptoms can be unpredictable and disruptive in a workplace environment.

• Heat sensitivity: Increases in body temperature can temporarily worsen MS symptoms, making it hard to tolerate certain work environments.

Because MS symptoms can be intermittent and invisible to others, insurers often question the severity of the condition. To support a long term disability claim, it’s important to provide consistent medical documentation from your neurologist, MRI reports, and clinical notes describing your disease progression and limitations.

To further support your MS claim, you may consider undergoing a Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”). The FCE can objectively measure your physical tolerance and stamina. If you suffer from cognitive impairment, a neuropsychological evaluation can document any cognitive deficits caused by MS. These tests provide concrete evidence of how your condition impacts your ability to work and can be instrumental in securing long term disability benefits.

8.   Chronic Pain and/or Chronic Fatigue:

Chronic pain and chronic fatigue are leading reasons people file for long term disability, especially when these symptoms are persistent, poorly controlled, and interfere with the ability to work. These conditions can arise from a variety of underlying diagnoses—such as fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (“ME”/“CFS”), complex regional pain syndrome (“CRPS”), or post-viral syndromes—but they often share the same outcome: unpredictable, debilitating symptoms that make full-time employment unsustainable.

Chronic pain can affect multiple areas of the body and is often described as burning, aching, stabbing, or throbbing. Chronic fatigue, on the other hand, is not simply being tired—it’s a deep, unrelenting exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest. Together, these symptoms may prevent you from maintaining a consistent schedule, meeting productivity expectations, or safely performing physical and cognitive tasks.

Common work-related limitations include:

• Inability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods: Pain and fatigue may worsen with prolonged activity or static postures.

• Difficulty concentrating (“brain fog”): Fatigue and pain can make it hard to focus, follow instructions, or make decisions.

• Frequent breaks or rest periods: You may need to lie down, change positions, or pause often, which many jobs cannot accommodate.

• Unpredictable symptom flare-ups: Good days and bad days may make regular attendance impossible.

• Medication side effects: Pain and fatigue medications may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or slowed thinking that interferes with job performance.

Proving a disability claim based on chronic pain or fatigue can be challenging because symptoms are largely subjective and not always visible on imaging or lab tests. That’s why objective evaluations are critical. A Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”) can document your endurance, strength, and ability to perform tasks over time, often revealing how quickly symptoms flare with exertion. A neuropsychological evaluation may also be helpful if your condition affects memory, attention, or processing speed. These assessments provide valuable evidence to show how chronic pain or fatigue limits your ability to work and support your claim for long term disability benefits.

9.   Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders are a significant reason people file for long term disability, as these conditions often affect the brain, spinal cord, or nerves in ways that impair movement, coordination, cognition, or communication. Whether progressive or unpredictable, neurological disorders can interfere with both physical and mental job functions, making it difficult to maintain steady, reliable employment.

Common neurological disorders that lead to long term disability claims include:

• Epilepsy: Uncontrolled seizures can make it unsafe to work in environments where concentration, physical safety, or machinery is involved.

• Parkinson’s disease: This progressive disorder causes tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems, which can interfere with both desk and physical jobs.

• Peripheral neuropathy: Often caused by diabetes or autoimmune conditions, this disorder can result in burning pain, numbness, and difficulty using hands or feet.

• Migraines and other chronic headache disorders: Severe, recurring headaches can cause light sensitivity, nausea, and brain fog that interfere with productivity.

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”): A progressive disease that severely weakens muscles and eventually affects speech, breathing, and mobility.

Symptoms that commonly limit work ability include:

• Muscle weakness or tremors: These can make it difficult to perform fine motor tasks, walk safely, or maintain posture.

• Coordination and balance issues: Falling or stumbling may pose risks in many workplace environments.

• Cognitive dysfunction: Memory loss, slow processing, or impaired judgment can make complex or fast-paced tasks unsafe or inefficient.

• Speech or communication difficulties: Neurological disorders may impair your ability to speak clearly or process language.

• Sensory impairments: Vision, hearing, or touch may be affected, limiting your ability to interact with computers or equipment.

To support a long term disability claim based on a neurological condition, you’ll need medical records from your neurologist, diagnostic tests such as MRIs or EEGs, and detailed notes about your symptoms and progression.

Additional evaluations can be especially helpful. A Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”) can document how neurological symptoms affect your physical stamina and motor skills, while a neuropsychological evaluation can assess the cognitive and emotional impacts of your condition. These objective tests are often essential in proving the severity of your limitations and securing long term disability benefits.

10.               Vision or Hearing Impairments

Vision and hearing impairments are valid and often overlooked reasons people file for long term disability. These sensory impairments can make it difficult or impossible to perform essential job functions—especially in roles that require communication, reading, computer work, or situational awareness. Whether caused by injury, illness, or a progressive condition, the loss of sight or hearing can significantly reduce your ability to work safely and effectively.

Common causes of vision impairment that lead to long term disability include:

• Macular degeneration: A progressive eye disease that affects central vision, making reading or recognizing faces difficult.

• Glaucoma: This condition damages the optic nerve and can lead to tunnel vision or complete vision loss.

• Diabetic retinopathy: High blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina, leading to blurry vision and potential blindness.

• Retinal detachment or degeneration: These conditions can result in sudden vision loss or long-term impairment.

• Optic neuritis: Often linked to neurological conditions like MS, this causes painful vision loss and color desaturation.

Hearing loss or impairment may be caused by:

• Sensorineural hearing loss: Often permanent, caused by aging, noise exposure, or inner ear damage.

• Conductive hearing loss: Involves problems with the ear canal or middle ear that affect sound transmission.

• Tinnitus: Persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, which can interfere with concentration and hearing.

• Meniere’s disease: A disorder that causes vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus, often making it unsafe to work.

These impairments may lead to work-related challenges such as:

• Inability to read or interpret information: Especially problematic in office settings or detail-oriented roles.

• Communication barriers: Hearing loss can make phone calls, meetings, or verbal instructions difficult to manage.

• Difficulty using computers or technology: Many jobs rely heavily on visual displays or auditory alerts.

• Safety risks: Jobs that involve driving, operating machinery, or responding to environmental cues may become hazardous.

• Cognitive fatigue: Compensating for sensory loss can lead to mental exhaustion, slower processing, and decreased productivity.

To support a long term disability claim for vision or hearing loss, you’ll need detailed medical records from an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or audiologist, including diagnostic testing like visual field exams, retinal imaging, or audiograms.

The Experienced Team at The Maddox Firm

At The Maddox Firm, we understand how overwhelming it can be to file a long term disability claim—especially when you're managing a serious medical condition. Insurance companies don’t make the process easy. They often demand extensive documentation, question your credibility, or deny claims based on flawed assumptions or biased reviews. That’s where we come in.

Our experienced legal team helps you build a strong claim from the start by:

• Examining your policy: We review the fine print of your disability insurance policy to identify key definitions, deadlines, and requirements that could affect your claim.

• Gathering the Right Evidence: We work with your doctors to obtain detailed medical records, narrative letters, and supporting evaluations such as Functional Capacity Evaluations (“FCEs”) or neuropsychological assessments.

• Handling Communications: We manage correspondence with your insurance company so you don’t have to, reducing your stress and protecting you from missteps.

• Anticipating Insurer Tactics: We know the red flags insurance companies look for and proactively address them before they become grounds for denial.

• Appealing Denials: If your claim is denied, we’ll fight back with a comprehensive appeal that challenges your insurer’s reasoning and reinforces the strength of your case.

A short term disability or long term disability claim can be a complicated process.  If you need help during the claims process, with appealing a claim denial, or with litigating a final adverse short term or long term disability decision, The Maddox Firm can help.  The experienced team at The Maddox Firm will examine your insurance policy, correspondence from your insurance company, medical records, and any other relevant documentation in order to give you personalized guidance on how we can help you win your short and/or long term disability claim.  Our New Jersey and New York long term disability attorneys help clients nationwide.

Contact us to help you file your claim, appeal, or litigation the right way.