UNUM Disability Claim Denials Attorney

Professional UNUM Disability Claim Denial Attorneys Serving Clients in the USA

When a severe injury or debilitating illness forces you out of work, your long-term disability policy, often administered by UNUM (formerly UnumProvident), should be your reliable safety net. As one of the largest disability insurers in the nation, UNUM is responsible for countless policies, yet its reputation for aggressively denying valid claims is well-known within the legal community. Receiving a denial letter is a shock that can shatter your financial security and emotional well-being. It is the company’s first line of defense against paying benefits.

If you are facing a claim denial from UNUM, your immediate need is not just a lawyer, but an attorney whose practice is exclusively dedicated to challenging the nation’s largest insurance companies. At Eric Buchanan & Associates, we have spent decades concentrating our efforts and resources on disability and insurance law. We understand the specific, complex tactics employed by UNUM to protect their financial interests, and we bring a battle-tested strategy and an authoritative knowledge of federal law to every case we accept. Your fight against UNUM requires specialized experience, and that is precisely what our firm delivers.

Deciphering UNUM’s Denial Strategy: The Power of Specific Knowledge

UNUM’s claim denial process is a systematic, well-documented procedure designed to build a legal record that favors the insurer. They rarely deny a claim simply because you are not disabled. Instead, they focus on technical deficiencies, medical record gaps, or biased interpretations of your functional limitations. Without an attorney who recognizes and knows how to counter these specific maneuvers, you risk losing your benefits permanently.

Our extensive experience in UNUM denial cases reveals common, predictable patterns we are prepared to dismantle:

The Non-Examining Peer Review: UNUM routinely relies on doctors they contract with, often referred to as “peer reviewers,” who never physically examine you. These doctors review only your file, frequently discounting the opinions of your own treating specialists who know your condition best, claiming your symptoms are “not supported by objective evidence.” We counteract this by securing specialized Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs), detailed narrative reports from your physicians, and expert vocational analysis that leaves no room for ambiguous interpretation.
Surveillance and Social Media Monitoring: The insurer often employs private investigators and scours your social media for any activity that can be misrepresented to suggest you are capable of working. We guide our clients on proper conduct and prepare the medical and legal file to preemptively address and neutralize these often-misleading findings.
Defining the Policy Terms: Whether your policy defines disability as being unable to perform your “Own Occupation” or “Any Occupation,” UNUM attorneys will seek the narrowest possible reading of the policy language. We meticulously analyze your policy and the vocational requirements of your specific job to establish irrefutable evidence of your occupational limitations.

Why Choose Us—UNUM Disability Claim Denials Representation You Can Trust

Unparalleled, Specialized ERISA Expertise Against UNUM: We are a boutique law firm that focuses exclusively on challenging disability insurance claim denials, particularly those issued by major carriers like UNUM. Our deep expertise in the highly specialized Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is crucial, as this law governs most UNUM group policies and defines the complex legal landscape we use to fight your denial.
Nationally Recognized Attorneys Who Understand UNUM’s Tactics: Our attorneys are seen as leaders in this field. We don’t just know ERISA; we know UNUM’s specific denial playbook, including their reliance on non-examining peer review doctors and biased vocational reports. We are frequently invited to teach other lawyers how to successfully navigate these insurance tactics.
Proven Success in Changing Disability Law & UNUM Practices: Our success is measurable. We haven’t just won individual cases against UNUM; we have secured landmark legal decisions that have resulted in improved disability insurance laws for claimants across the country, influencing how major insurers must treat their policyholders. We don’t just practice the law; we help shape it.
Strategically Build Your Critical UNUM ERISA Administrative Record: The most crucial stage of an ERISA claim is the administrative appeal. We urge you to hire us before this stage because the evidence the court can review is closed after UNUM issues a final denial. Our expertise lies in knowing exactly how to properly develop and build this administrative record to defeat UNUM’s denial arguments and give you the best chance of success in federal court.
Maintain High Ethical and Client Trust in Tough Fights: Fighting UNUM requires unwavering professionalism and dedication. Our firm holds a Superb (10/10) rating on Avvo and is recognized by esteemed attorney peer-review organizations like Martindale-Hubbell. These high ethical and legal ability ratings from both our clients and our peers demonstrate the professional standing you can trust when facing a major insurance company.
We Align Our Interests with Yours Through a Contingency Fee Structure: We believe in the strength of your case against UNUM and are willing to invest our resources into it. We work on a contingency basis, meaning in most cases, you pay us no attorney fees unless we successfully recover benefits for you. We don’t get paid unless you do.
National Representation for UNUM Denials: UNUM operates nationwide, and so do we. While many firms are limited to practicing in a single state or district, we represent clients all across the country, bringing our specialized expertise directly to your UNUM denial case, regardless of your location.

The Critical Role of ERISA: Our Authority in Federal Law

For the vast majority of disability policies provided through an employer, the governing law is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This federal statute creates a demanding, unique legal landscape that severely restricts a policyholder’s rights and limits the evidence a court can consider. ERISA is not just another law; it is a complex, highly specialized area of practice that only attorneys who dedicate their careers to it can truly master.

The Administrative Appeal is Your Single Most Important Opportunity

Under ERISA, the administrative appeal process is not a negotiation. It is the phase where the official legal record (the Administrative Record) for your case is built. If your case proceeds to federal court, the judge’s review is often limited only to the documents and evidence contained within this record. If you submit new, crucial evidence for the first time in litigation, a federal court may refuse to consider it.

Our legal authority in ERISA mandates that we treat the administrative appeal as a meticulous process of legal preparation. We don’t just send a letter of disagreement. We construct a comprehensive, compelling record that:

Directly rebuts every single point of medical or vocational disagreement raised in UNUM’s denial letter.
Incorporates legally compliant documentation, including affidavits and detailed medical reports that meet the high standards of federal court review.
Establishes an overwhelming evidentiary advantage that either persuades UNUM to approve the claim on appeal or ensures the record is robust enough for a successful federal lawsuit.

Meet Attorney Eric L. Buchanan

Eric L. Buchanan is the President and Partner of Eric Buchanan & Associates, a recognized national authority specializing in complex UNUM disability claim denials. His expertise is built on his background as a decorated U.S. Navy officer and naval aviator, coupled with his academic success as a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law. He holds the highest peer ratings, teaches other attorneys nationwide, and has achieved landmark legal decisions that improve disability laws. The firm’s commitment to its clients is reflected in its national representation capabilities, ensuring clients across the country receive specialized, results-driven legal counsel focused on strategically developing the critical administrative record for maximum success.

A Trusted Path to Resolution

Your decision to hire a lawyer should be based on confidence in their ability to achieve results in your specific situation. Eric Buchanan & Associates is proud of its long-standing experience fighting disability insurance giants. This is not a generalized practice area for us. It is our sole focus and commitment.

If you are fighting UNUM, you need a firm that knows how they think, how they document, and how to beat them in court. Do not try to navigate the complex ERISA and UNUM processes alone. By working with our dedicated legal team, you gain a partner committed to securing the benefits you earned and the peace of mind you deserve. Contact Eric Buchanan & Associates today to put our decades of focused experience and specialized legal authority to work for you.

UNUM Disability Claim Denial FAQ’s

What are the most common reasons UNUM denies claims, even when my own doctor supports me?

UNUM often employs systematic denial strategies rather than simply disagreeing with your doctor. The most common reasons we see right now are:

Lack of "Objective Medical Evidence": UNUM frequently denies claims for subjective conditions like chronic pain, chronic fatigue, or cognitive issues by arguing the medical file lacks "objective" proof (like X-rays or MRIs). They often disregard detailed reports from your treating physicians.
Reliance on Biased Reviews: UNUM pays for non-examining peer review doctors or vocational experts who review your file but never examine you. These reviewers are known to issue opinions that favor the insurer, often concluding that you can perform some type of sedentary work.
Inconsistencies in Activity: They use surveillance (private investigators or social media monitoring) to find brief moments of activity, which are then used to allege inconsistency between your reported limitations and your actions, often taking activities entirely out of context.

My policy is through my employer. Why is the appeal so critical, and what is the 180-day deadline?

For most employer-sponsored disability plans, your claim is governed by a complex federal law called ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act).

The Criticality of the Appeal: Under ERISA, the administrative appeal is your single most important opportunity. A federal court’s review of any later lawsuit will be primarily limited to the evidence you submit during this administrative appeal phase. If you fail to include crucial medical or vocational evidence now, you are usually barred from introducing it later in court.
The 180-Day Deadline: You typically have only 180 days from the date you receive your denial letter to submit a comprehensive and legally robust administrative appeal. Missing this deadline is often fatal to your case, which is why contacting an attorney immediately is essential.

How long will the UNUM appeal process take, and what happens next if the appeal is denied?

The appeal process has mandated timeframes, but the total duration varies:

Appeal Timeline: Once your appeal is submitted, UNUM generally has 45 days to review the claim and issue a decision. They are allowed one 45-day extension if they state a need for further information, meaning the total review time is usually between 45 and 90 days.
Next Steps After Denial: If UNUM denies your appeal (upholding their original denial), you have generally exhausted the administrative remedies required by ERISA. The next step is usually filing a Federal Lawsuit against UNUM. By this point, all the critical evidence needed for court should already be included in the administrative file we prepared.

Can I handle the UNUM appeal myself, or do I really need an attorney?

While you can file the appeal yourself, doing so is highly discouraged for ERISA-governed UNUM claims.

The Risk: A pro se (self-filed) appeal usually fails because it doesn't contain the specific legal arguments, vocational evidence, and expertly crafted medical narrative required to overcome UNUM’s specific denial tactics and the high standard of review imposed by ERISA courts.
The Attorney Advantage: An experienced UNUM disability attorney knows exactly which pieces of evidence (like detailed physician statements, functional capacity evaluations, or vocational assessments) are required to build a legally compliant and compelling administrative record that is ready for federal litigation, giving you the best chance of securing your benefits.