SSDI backpay caused $75k LTD overpayment - negotiating settlement with insurance company?
Just found out I owe my Long Term Disability insurance company about $75,000 after getting approved for SSDI. The retroactive payment from Social Security triggered this huge 'overpayment' since my LTD policy reduced benefits dollar-for-dollar with SSDI. They've offered a payment plan where I can choose the monthly amount, and I've started with $950/month which will take me over 6 years to pay off! Has anyone successfully negotiated a lump sum settlement for less than the full amount? I've heard rumors that some insurance companies will accept 60-70% of the total if paid all at once, but I'm hesitant to drain my savings without knowing if this actually works. How do you even approach that conversation? What's a reasonable percentage to offer without insulting them and ruining my chances?
23 comments


Chris Elmeda
Yes, this is absolutely negotiable! When I received my SSDI backpay in 2022, I owed my LTD carrier about $42,000. I called and simply asked if they would accept a lump sum settlement at a reduced amount. They initially offered a 15% reduction, but I countered with 40% off. We eventually settled at 30% reduction - I paid about $29,400 instead of the full amount. The key is to have the lump sum ready to transfer immediately once they agree. They value getting funds now rather than waiting years, especially since some people eventually stop paying.
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Annabel Kimball
•That's really encouraging! Did you negotiate directly or use a lawyer? I'm nervous about the conversation since it's such a large amount. Also, did they require any specific documentation about your financial situation to justify the reduction?
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Jean Claude
my cousin got a 50% reduction last year but they made him sign something saying he couldn't ever apply for benefits with them again. be careful what your agreeing to
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Charity Cohan
•This is critical advice. Insurance companies often include clauses in these settlements that waive future rights or benefits. Get EVERYTHING in writing and possibly have an attorney review before signing any settlement. I've seen cases where people didn't realize they were signing away important protections.
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Josef Tearle
DONT NEGOTIATE!! Pay what you owe!!!!! You signed a contract with them and they paid you when you needed it. This attitude of trying to get out of legit debts is whats wrong with society today.
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Shelby Bauman
•This is actually a normal business practice. Insurance companies themselves routinely negotiate settlements with providers and claimants. They factor potential settlements into their business model. It's not about "getting out of debts" but finding a mutually beneficial arrangement - they get immediate funds rather than risking non-payment over years. The same companies will absolutely negotiate when it benefits them.
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Quinn Herbert
I negotiated my LTD overpayment down by 35% after my SSDI approval last year. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call the recovery unit directly (not the general customer service) 2. Emphasize that you're offering immediate payment vs. years of collections 3. Mention that your financial situation remains precarious despite SSDI approval 4. Start with offering 50-60% of the total amount 5. Have documentation of any ongoing medical expenses that impact your ability to pay The key is being persistent but professional. My first rep said no reductions were possible, but when I called back a week later, I got someone who was authorized to negotiate. These companies have settlement authority built into their processes - it's just a matter of reaching the right person.
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Annabel Kimball
•This is incredibly helpful! I'll definitely try reaching the recovery unit directly. Did you put your offer in writing after the phone call or was it all handled verbally until the final agreement?
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Salim Nasir
im in a similar situtaion but mine is only 23k. following this to see what people say.
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Hazel Garcia
•Even at 23k you should definitely try negotiating! I've worked with several clients who successfully negotiated LTD overpayments. Just make sure you're dealing with the correct department - sometimes the regular claim handlers say no reductions are possible, but the recovery/collections department has different authority.
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Charity Cohan
This is very common with SSDI approvals. The LTD overpayment occurs because most policies contain an "offset provision" that reduces your LTD payment by the amount of any SSDI benefits. Since SSDI approvals often come with substantial backpay, this creates the large overpayment. Regarding settlement: Yes, insurance companies regularly accept reduced lump sums. The typical range I've seen is 20-40% reduction, depending on: - Your documented financial hardship - How long the payment plan would otherwise take - Your likelihood of maintaining payments - The specific company (some are more flexible than others) If you have the funds available, I'd recommend starting with an offer around 65% of the total. Have it ready in writing, emphasizing that you're offering guaranteed immediate payment instead of uncertain long-term collections. Include basic documentation of any financial hardship if applicable.
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Annabel Kimball
•Thank you for explaining this so clearly! I've been confused about why this happened, but the offset provision makes sense now. I'll prepare a written offer as you suggested. Should I also mention that continuing the $950/month payments might become difficult for me at some point, or would that come across as threatening to default?
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Hazel Garcia
FYI - Getting through to someone with authority to actually negotiate these settlements at insurance companies can be extremely difficult. I spent WEEKS trying to reach the right person at my LTD carrier when I was in your situation. I eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at the insurance company's settlement department. They have a system that navigates the phone trees and waits on hold for you, then calls you when a representative is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU With the right person, I was able to negotiate my overpayment down by 32%. Don't accept the first offer - they expect negotiation.
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Annabel Kimball
•Thanks for the tip! I've been calling the main customer service line and getting nowhere - they just keep telling me to talk to my claims manager who never answers. I'll check out that service. Did they transfer you to a specific department when you finally got through?
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Jean Claude
wait did u say ur paying $950 a month and it will take 6 years?? thats almost $70k! i thought u said u owe $60k?? check their math!!!
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Annabel Kimball
•Crap, you're right! I need to double-check their calculation. The initial letter said approximately $75k, but I haven't received an itemized statement showing exactly how they calculated it. I'm going to request that immediately. Thank you for catching this!
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Chris Elmeda
I forgot to mention in my earlier comment - make sure you understand how the LTD company calculated the overpayment. They should only be counting the overlap period when you received both SSDI and full LTD payments. I've seen companies try to claim overpayment for periods before your LTD even started, which is incorrect. Ask for an itemized statement showing each month's calculation.
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Annabel Kimball
•I just called and requested this! They're sending me an itemized statement next week. The representative mentioned something about including dependent benefits in the calculation, but my kids never received any SSDI benefits related to my claim. This makes me think I really need to scrutinize their math.
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Salim Nasir
One time i had to deal with social security office for like 3 weeks trying to get them to fix a mistake on my record... never again!!! They kept transfering me to different departments and nobody knew anything.
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Shelby Bauman
•While that's frustrating, this thread is about negotiating with private LTD insurance companies after receiving SSDI, not about problems with the Social Security Administration itself. Those are separate issues with different approaches to resolution.
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Quinn Herbert
Another important tip: If you negotiate a settlement, get a "Payment in Full" settlement letter BEFORE sending any money. The letter should clearly state that your payment constitutes complete satisfaction of the debt with no further obligation. I've seen cases where people paid the negotiated amount but the company later claimed it was just a "partial payment" because the paperwork wasn't clear.
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Annabel Kimball
•Excellent point! I'll definitely make sure to get this in writing first. Would an email confirmation be sufficient, or should I ask for a formal letter on company letterhead?
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Eleanor Foster
•I'd strongly recommend getting a formal letter on company letterhead rather than just an email. Email can be harder to enforce legally if there are disputes later. The formal settlement letter should include specific language like "upon receipt of $X, [Company Name] agrees this payment constitutes full and final settlement of all claims related to account #[your account number], with no further amounts owed." Keep the original letter with your important documents - you may need it for tax purposes too since forgiven debt can sometimes be taxable.
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