The head of Pond Lehocky’s short- and long-term disability practice, Michael J. Parker, was published in Pennsylvania Law Weekly and on ALM’s law.com for sharing his expertise on how to access disability benefits due to COVID-19.
“In Pennsylvania, there are three disability benefits that could be available to an individual who is suffering from COVID-19,” Parker shared. “The benefits are: Social Security disability (SSD), long-term disability (LTD) and short-term disability (STD). The commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not have a state disability program that it offers to its citizens.”
Parker, who recently lost his grandmother to the virus, explained how the disease has varying degrees of effecting individuals. An individual’s access to disability benefits is dependent on different circumstances.
“Short-term disability and LTD benefits are benefits offered under an insurance policy. That policy could be through your employment or through a policy purchased on your own. Every insurance policy is not created equal,” Parker advised. “…so it is important for you to become familiar with the terms of the policy. Our office provides a free consultation on all disability claims, and we can explain clients’ rights under their insurance policies. We provide free representation to essential workers who contract COVID-19 while on the job and pass away from the virus. We are a law firm who represent hard-working Americans and are proud to continue fighting for those fighting the hardest battles during this pandemic.”
The entire article can be read here.
Parker has focused his practice on advocating for the disabled for almost fifteen years. He is a board-certified Social Security Disability Advocate by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, an American Bar Association accredited organization. In January of 2018, Parker spearheaded the formation of our Pond Lehocky’s Long-Term Disability Department. Parker has taken his passion for representing disabled individual and applied to helping disabled individuals who are wrongfully denied insurance benefits. He is very involved in the legal community and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Lackawanna County Bar Association, the Pike County Bar Association and the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives. He earned his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2001 and went on to receive his J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University in 2004.