Jose Ramirez, a former Time Warner Cable sales rep., has sued Unum for failure to pay disability insurance benefits from a group benefits plan that he was a member of while he still worked for Time Warner.

The disability claim began in March of 2008 when Ramirez started suffering from lower back pain. His back pain eventually got bad enough to immobilize him, which made doing his job — door-to-door sales — nearly impossible. By July 28th, 2008, Ramirez had to stop working altogether and ended up applying for disability benefits to UNUM. Doctors that examined Ramirez agreed that the man couldn’t work anymore because he had spondylsosis and spinal stenosis.

According to the terms of the disability plan, Ramirez was entitled to start receiving long-term disability benefits that made up about 60 percent of his monthly income until he was 65. The plan specified that being considered disabled means if “you are limited from performing each of the material duties of your regular occupation due to your sickness or injury and you have a 20 percent loss or more in your indexed income monthly income due to the same injury or sickness.”

Ramirez’s condition met the requirements for disability and he was supposed to be eligible, after a 26-week elimination period, to get disability benefits as long as he remained disabled. On April 3, 2009, Unum denied Ramirez’ claim after their own doctors determined that Ramirez’ condition wouldn’t restrict Ramirez’ ability to perform the duties of his job.

Ramirez appealed the decision in October, 2009. If you have been denied disability insurance benefits by Unum or its subsidiaries, contact disability insurance lawyer Greg Jones today. I am experienced at fighting disability insurance lawsuits and may be able to help you get the benefits that you are entitled to.