Employer's Income Protection Insurance and UNUM health Assessment

[redkingbaboon]

I'm in the same boat as you with Unum, been told that I have to deal with foc myself, never received a formal rejection letter and had to phone my supervisor before I found out that Unum had turned down my final appeal with them. I have been waiting 10 months for that decision with only my partners wage coming in.

 

Seems the larger company has no idea how it works with Unum as they have just passed the buck on to me. Told me either I come back to work or I will have to leave or be sacked. They are just giving me a week before I have a recorded meeting with them to decide if I'm going back.

can they just sack me?, force me back into work? even though it's still with them going to the foc.

 

Where do I stand if lost job and foc rules that Unum should be paying me employers income protection money?

Nightmare

Edited September 6, 2013 by honeybee13

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG. I'm sorry to hear you're having problems.

 

I'll leave the guys to comment on the employment aspects of this, I just wanted to ask a couple of things about your appeal with Unum. Did your employer submit evidence from your GP or specialist about your state of health?

 

By FOC, do you mean the ombudsman please?

 

My best, HB

[redkingbaboon]

Thanks for reply,

Yes my employer submitted new evidence from my Gp and specialists.

At the last appeal Unum requested an independent medical, I saw this report and it categorically said that I can not work. Unum still said no.

My company's HR feel at a loss as all the compiled evidence was staked my way.

Sorry yes I mean the Ombudsmanicon

[honeybee13]

That's awful, I know how you feel.

 

I'll ask someone who knows more than I do and post again if we come up with anything. For now, I think the fos could be your best avenue, but I know it isn't usually quick. As the policy is in your employer's name, have they agreed to approaching the fos?

 

I don't understand how Unum can contradict the independent report they asked for. Did you see a statement of their reasons?

 

Hopefully the guys will be along later to comment on your employment questions.

 

HB

Edited September 6, 2013 by honeybee13
Extra comments.

[redkingbaboon]

Thanks HB

Well guess I'm going to have to apply for ESA again, had this before when I had to appeal a few years ago. That appeal was overturned at the first appeal. The following year had another assessment and all went ok. Then two years later they have decided that I'm fit for work.

[honeybee13]

My company's HR feel at a loss as all the compiled evidence was staked my way.

 

Thank you for the extra info. Do HR administer the Unum scheme, or is there a consultancy firm involved?

 

HB

[redkingbaboon]

I have no idea regarding if HR administer the Unum scheme, or is there a consultancy firm involved, The person I deal with is out of office tlll Monday.

[Surfer01]

With my wife the company arranged and paid for her to be seen by a specialist. This was to ascertain what sort of job she could do. A few months later we got the UNUM application form and at that point we had no idea who or what UNUM did. Anyway with the help of the HR we completed the form and sent along the specialist's report and payment was approved almost straight away. Maybe it is worth asking UNUM if they can recommend a specialist to do a report. It may cost anything up to £300, but you are then paid by UNUM every month until you retire.

[redkingbaboon]

Thanks for the reply but I'm at the end of the appeal process.

Just spoken to legal advise, since the contact is with my employer and not myself with Unum, I can not force my employer to go to Ombudsman I could ask but he said would be a waste of time.

Because Unum has stopped paying out my work can then use "Capability dismissal" and there is nothing I can do about it.

What do you lot think?

[honeybee13]

Hello again.

 

I'm sorry to repeat myself, but can you spell out why the claim was declined by Unum please?

 

HB