Originally Posted by
rickair7777
You're spinning semantics to somehow make a point which didn't need to be made.
The comment was OBVIOUSLY tongue in check, I wasn't seriously suggesting LTD as a career plan. In the context of the the discussion (guy's intent to hit the road for a year), LTD would almost certainly not be compatible with that, that's an obvious fact for anyone who knows how it works. I wasn't saying you couldn't go to vegas for the weekend, I was saying it might be hard to arrange for company or state-approved follow-up appts. in Prague, Timbuckthree, or wherever. If you think the company and/or state will pay you indefinite LTD with no obligation for any sort of follow up or accountability, we'll have to agree to disagree on that. It's not in their best interest to make it that easy, and some even require that you do office work.
I think at least a couple of majors farm the verification part out to Harvey Watt. Each condition/disability is probably handled differently. My friend has a progressive condition and as such there is no known cure or follow up required once you have the diagnosis. He gets paid, all the time off, and free travel till 65, but I know he'd rather give all that up for his seat back in the cockpit.
Understood though that when one starts this career, almost no one plans on going on LTD, but as I've had a couple of friends that didn't make it to 65 (one as young as 52) the details of our LTD became a reality before they ever expected it and thank goodness they have been happy with their $$$$ circumstances cause in those times you have other things to worry about.