Unum Disability Claims
At BurnettDriskill, Attorneys, we routinely help claimants navigate Unum's short-term disability (“STD”) and long-term disability (“LTD”) claims, fighting aggressive denials to secure the income replacement benefits you deserve.
General Claims Process
We help people submit claims, which involves obtaining employee statements, attending physician statements, employer input, and medical records. After receiving all of the evidence, Unum is required to make a “timely” decision, but that’s no guarantee. They will often request more information, independent medical exams (“IMEs”), or secretly surveil you. If your claim is approved, benefits are designed to replace a portion of your earnings – usually 60%. If Unum denies your claim you usually have 180 days to submit an appeal period under ERISA regulations. These appeals are complicated and require comprehensive evidence to rebut Unum’s findings.
Unique Facts and Challenges
Unum has a notorious history of bad faith practices, stemming from the early 2000s "Unum/Provident Scandal," where investigations revealed deliberate tactics to deny valid claims for profit, leading to multimillion-dollar fines, settlements, and reassessments of hundreds of thousands of claims. Despite reforms, claimants continue to face selective review of records, reliance on biased in-house or contracted doctors, dismissal of treating physicians' opinions, demands for objective evidence on subjective symptoms (like pain or fatigue), surveillance, and abrupt terminations—even after years of payments. Mental health claims often face strict limitations (e.g., 24 months).
Our attorneys are experienced in countering these patterns through strong appeals and litigation. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your Unum claim or denial—we're here to level the playing field.
