Allsup Applauds SSA for Move Toward Electronic Transmission of Medical Records for Disability ApplicAllsup, a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities, today commended the Social Security Administration for announcing it will begin receiving medical records for some disability applicants electronically next year.
Time is Money When People Wait Too Long to Apply for Social Security Disability BenefitsAllsup, nation's leading disability representation services company, explains the repercussions and risks of waiting to file for SSDI.
Getting Your Social Security Disability Benefits Can Be Easier With A Professional On Your SideAllsup outlines most common reasons people choose to get representation when they apply for SSDI, a complex but worthwhile benefit for people with long-term disabilities.
ADA Amendments Act Deadline Fast ApproachingPresident Bush’s September 25th, 2008 signing of the ADA Amendments Act reversed years of court decisions favoring employers in disputes over disability discrimination. "The realm of 'the disabled' is about to be significantly enlarged," says employment law attorney and former Coca-Cola Enterprises general counsel John Phillips. The new law goes into effect January 1.
What Will a McCain or Obama Presidency Mean for Social Security Disability?The 2008 Presidential election has focused around many topics. Social Security Disability (SSI and SSDI) was not one of those topics. A Social Security Attorney weighs in on where each administration might lead the Social Security Disability system.
Beware of Ten Mistakes after Social Security Denies Disability Benefits People applying for SSDI should not give up and start over after they've been denied disability benefits; Allsup explains the most common missteps following SSDI denial
People with Disabilities Seek Ways to Manage Higher Healthcare CostsAllsup explains some of the options available to people with disabilities when facing increasing healthcare costs, including added benefits of Social Security Disability Insurance.
Past Earnings Play Role in Determining SSDI BenefitsApplicants for Social Security Disability Insurance Should Know Their Income History; Allsup Answers Common Benefits Questions
Disaboom Offers Jobs to Social Network Community Members Premiere Online Community for people living with or touched by disability employs Disaboom Community Members in newly launched sales force. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 67 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed, making them the largest unemployed population in America. To create employment opportunities for this population, Disaboom, the largest online community designed for people touched by disabilities, has taken a unique step by hiring its own online community members.
Unum adds innovative benefit to support working parentsCompany will contribute to 529 plan for new children of employees
Unum No. 1 in sales, enrollment for Group Long Term Care Unum continues to lead industry in growing employer-sponsored group market
Duane Lee has joined Buck Consultants as a Principal in the firm's Pittsburgh officeLee joins Buck from Hewitt Associates, where he served as Principal and Health Management Consulting Actuary. Prior to that, he spent 19 years with Buck.
Jerry Reiff Joins OCI as Director of Client ServicesJerry Reiff Joins Premier Healthcare Benefits Data Management Provider OCI as Director of Client Services
Lynda Fleury selected for ISE Southeast Award 2008Unum and Home Depot IT executives honored for achievements in information security
Integrated Benefits Institute Accepting 2007 Employer Benchmark Data Reliable, source-protected data enables employers to make key business decisions on benefits programs
Unum Group Announces $350 Million Accelerated Share RepurchaseUnum Group (NYSE: UNM) announced today that it repurchased approximately $350 million of its outstanding common stock from Morgan Stanley using an accelerated share repurchase agreement.
Second Annual CompTIA Creating Futures Charity Golf Classic Set for August 4The CompTIA Educational Foundation announced today that its Second Annual Creating Futures Charity Golf Classic will be held Monday, August 4, in Orlando, Fla.
Foley new chairman of Council for Disability Awareness boardJoseph R. Foley, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Unum Group, has been appointed as the new chairman of the board of directors for The Council for Disability Awareness (CDA).
More Employers to offer Workers Financial Incentives for Healthy BehaviorTop Programs Integrate Health Management With Business Objectives, Watson
Wyatt/National Business Group on Health Survey Finds
Greater Ann Arbor Society for Human Resource Management Unum’s annual Landscape of Long Term Care looks at sales trends in group market
Long Term Care Information by Video; LTC Financial Partners Takes Leadership RoleOffering 3 of Top Ten "Hits" on Google Video
Long-Term Disability MainNATIONAL BUSINESS GROUP ON HEALTH HONORS BEST EMPLOYERS FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES 41 Employers Recognized for Promoting Healthy Workplaces
Mercer's 2007 Guide to Social Security and Medicare now available35th edition provides simple explanations with easy-reference tables
DisabilityWORK.com LaunchesHelping employers reach untapped worker pool.
CalChamber Highlights New Requirements for 2007 Worksite PostersMinimum Wage Increase and Paid Family Leave Drive Changes
Executive Summary: Disabilities in the WorkplaceIn an unexpected and alarming trend for U.S. employers and government policymakers, disability rates for adults in their prime working years have risen sharply in the past two decades, a 2004 RAND Corp. study shows.
Executive Summary: Benefit TrendsIn the United States, voluntary benefits are assuming a more important role, providing new ways to address workers' needs as well as opportunities for companies to boost retention and loyalty.
Executive Summary:The AIDS EpidemicThe AIDS epidemic marked its 25th anniversary in 2006, but there is little reason to celebrate the grim milestone. Globally the spread of HIV/AIDS remains a major health issue, and efforts to impede it have met with mixed success.
Executive Summary:Diversity And InclusionAs companies strive to hire the best employees in an increasingly diverse workforce, the idea of "inclusion" has become a business imperative.
Survey Finds 84% of Organizations Subject to FMLA Offer Some Type of Paid Family and Medical Leave75% of Organizations Find Handling Intermittent Family and Medical Leave Challenging
Tidewater, VA HVAC Company Expands Offering More JobsLocal Tidewater, VA HVAC company has grown and is now hiring. Job openings include: installation mechanic, service technician, sales people and administrative people.
ARAG® Helps More than Ten Million Aetna Members Easily Secure Their FuturesARAG®, a leading legal services provider, announced today an enhanced business relationship that enables Aetna Group Life policyholders to simplify their lives with direct access to legal resources.
Addressing Disabilities Along the Job SearchAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 50 million people across the nation have some level of disability. For many of these people, finding a job, keeping it and being paid well can be challenging. Michael Farr and Daniel J. Ryan, Ph.D., believe many job seekers with disabilities would be more successful in their job search if they knew when and how to appropriately discuss a disability.
Web site improvements offer employees and claimants faster, easier and more convenient access to personal benefits information.Lincoln Employer Markets today announced it has enhanced its Group Protection customer self-service Web site.
Time For Action, Time For Change - An Employer´s SymposiumStrategic Employment Solutions (SES) is hosting its third annual employer conference on October 13th, 2006 for companies interested in a labour pool that is diverse, talented and highly retainable - Persons With Disabilities.
NATIONAL BUSINESS GROUP ON HEALTH ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONSFOR EMPLOYERS TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND SAFETYBusiness Group Also Releases Position Paper on Health Care Reform
unumprovident buyers study forEcasts the future of employee benefitsCritical illness, accident and other supplemental insurance products drive industry growth
Lincoln Financial Group Creates Employer Markets DivisionKey distribution leadership in place; focused on segment synergies.
The disability disconnect: workersill-prepared to manage disruption in incomeUnumProvident research points to lack of knowledge about financial risk
New HR Tool Set to Transform Employee Benefit Education and EnrollmentTHE NAVIGATORTM FROM NAVITECH SETS COURSE FOR IMPROVED BENEFITS COMMUNICATIONS
unumprovident´s new disability product HELPS answer industry demand for employee choiceUnumProvident, (NYSE: UNM) the leading provider of income protection insurance in the United States and the United Kingdom, announces its newest and most flexible disability product offering - Select income protection insurance.
unumprovident´s new disability product HELPS answer industry demand for employee choiceUnumProvident, (NYSE: UNM) the leading provider of income protection insurance in the United States and the United Kingdom, announces its newest and most flexible disability product offering - Select income protection insurance.
Lincoln Employer Markets Announces New Head of Sales for its Intermediary ChannelIndustry Veteran Paul Swanson Assumes Head of Sales Duties
Industry Leaders UnumProvident, Matria Healthcare Launch Disease Management PartnershipUnumProvident (NYSE: UNM) today announced it has joined with Matria Healthcare (NASDAQ: MATR) to create a new disability and disease management partnership aimed at helping employers combat rising healthcare costs and improve workforce productivity.
Business Health Services (BHS), a leading national provider of behavioral risk management solutions, has launched a rebranding campaign that commences with the debut of its new website, www.bhssolutions.com.The new website more closely reflects BHS' application of behavioral risk management strategy-a contemporary approach to bottom-line cost savings that involves identifying and preventing the risks associated with mental health and behavioral problems on the job
The Principal Financial Group Enhances Individual Disability Income InsuranceOptional riders offer greater flexibility and more choices
UnumProvident´s New Enrollment PlatformHelps Employees Make Informed Benefits Choices
New ´Advantage Plan´ offers employers more benefit choices and cost savings.Based on employers´ need to control the cost of employee benefits while still providing quality plans to help recruit and retain top talent, Lincoln Financial Group recently introduced the new Advantage Plan to provide more options for its group long-term disability clients.
SCI Companies Enables Businesses to Offer Customized Disability Benefits to EmployeesSCI, a national leading Professional Employer Organization (PEO), announced today that effective immediately, it is adding employer-paid short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance plans to its existing voluntary benefits offerings through Jefferson Pilot Financial.
UNUMPROVIDENT RESEARCH POINTS TO VALUE OF INTEGRATED CLAIM MANAGEMENT"Today´s employers often face complicated health and productivity challenges," says Kenneth Mitchell, Ph.D, vice president of return to work program development.
UnumProvident retains LEAD in disability insurance marketplaceIn 2005, the company maintained more than $3.9 billion in premium for existing group and individual cases and generated approximately $267 million of new sales.
COLONIAL SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE JUMPS IN NATIONAL WORKSITE SALES RANKINGSHigher sales lead to record-setting premium processing and use of
Colonial´s E-services for benefits management
UWC -- STRATEGIC SERVICES ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND WORKERS' COMPENSATIONAnnouncing the 2006 Edition Highlights of State Unemployment Compensation Laws
The Principal Financial Group Enhances Employer Reporting for Disability ClaimsNew reporting capabilities aimed to save time and money
The Middlesex County Chamber of CommerceSaving Great Employees:
Challenges of and Solutions for
Addiction in the Workplace
Reed Group, Ltd. Announces Formation of Reed Group Asia Pacific in Australia"Reed Group is extremely pleased and excited to announce Reed Group Asia Pacific, comprising a team of experienced, regional insurance and workers compensation executives.
CANCER IS NUMBER ONE REASONFor the fifth consecutive year, cancer was the leading cause of long-term absence from work for Americans in 2005, according UnumProvident (NYSE: UNM), the leading provider of disability income protection insurance.
Marquis Companies Selects Unicru Solution for HealthcarePremier long-term care provider first to implement industry-tailored system for hiring facility staff
Jefferson Pilot Financial Unveils "Paycheck Plus" Voluntary Income Protection BenefitsSimplified Insurance Plan Features Four Lines of Coverage in Single Group Rate
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOUNDATION (PWDF) ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF 2006 EDITION DVD AND VHS EDITION OF TRAINING VIDEOBalanced material providing education and support for employees with psychiatric disabilities and for employers
UnumProvident Declares Dividend for quarter of $0.075 per sharelargest provider of group and individual disability income protection insurance in the United States and United Kingdom
UnumProvident Study Shows Healthcare Workers Experience Higher Rates of DisabilityLost time from injuries and illnesses significantly higher than other industries.
Top causes disability absence for 2004For the fourth consecutive year, cancer is the leading cause of long-term absence from work (more than 90 days) for working-age Americans.
Managerial Inquiries About Worker Lifting Restrictions Limited-This article presents presents a hypothetical of a common ADA compliance question, cutting through the legal jargon to give professionals practical answers to solve their problems.
Employee Assistance Programs Can Provide Important Benefits-MetLife research indicates depression and stress highest among call center and white-collar employees.
Chronic Pain: The New Workers' Comp-The effects of workers´ compensation take a debilitating toll on the pain sufferer, their families and their loved ones and on the economy.
MetLife Research : Top 5 Workplace Disabilities-Lower back disorders top the list.
Save Money (and Heartache) with a Drug-Free Workplace Policy-What entitles many employers to save money on workers'' comp?
EEOC Official Recommends Liberal Accommodations Policy-Employers should consider adopting a liberal accommodations policy, granting accommodations that are easy to provide regardless of whether employees have disabilities.
A Review of the ADA''s Interactive Process-Participate in an interactive process to assess any possible reasonable accommodation for the physical or mental impairment.
Which Job Functions Are Really ''Essential''?-Essential functions are the basic job duties that form the core of the position - the duties that are central to performing the most basic function of the job.
An ADA Primer-Laws and regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act can be confusing.
MetLife Survey Reveals Employees May Be Unprepared In The Event Of A Disability-Women in particular are at risk.
Employer''s Bar On Assistance Animal At Work Upheld-An employer that refused to let a worker with a hearing impairment bring an assistance animal to work after others complained about the dog did not violate the ADA.
Direct Threat Should Be Shown When Denying Reinstatement-The U.S. Supreme Court´s ruling that employers are permitted to keep workers with disabilities out of jobs that would directly endanger their health should be coordinated with workers´ compensation reinstatement provisions.
Cancer Tops List of Most Frequent Causes of Long-Term Disability Claims in 2001-Top 5 lists for long-term disability and short-term disability before age 65.
Reassignment As Reasonable Accommodation-Employers are barred from discriminating against a "qualified individual with a disability who can perform the essential functions of the position that such individual holds or desires".
Brief: When a Disability Isn't a Disability-A short article to help make the Americans with Disabilities Act a little less confusing.
Using the Power of Disability Integration to Manage Employee Absences-Too many employers today still don´t track their sick time or disability absences and don´t know how much it is costing them.
Accessibility Auditing for Section 508-To accommodate the needs of disabled federal workers, federal agencies are required to integrate accessibility into all Electronic Information Technology.
Considering Long-term Care as a Benefit Option?A discussion of the advantages of long-term care benefits.
The Legal Bermuda Triangle: Avoiding Employee Lawsuits when ADA, FMLA, and WC CollideThis report explains how ADA, FMLA, and Workers' Compensation laws interact to protect you from costly lawsuits.
How Well Do Your Particular Hiring Practices Comply With ADA?Your hiring procedures -- application forms, interview techniques, examinations, and job descriptions -- all can leave you vulnerable to ADA liability if you don''t have a clear sense of your obligations.
Individuals may not sue states under ADA in federal courtPatricia Garrett sued the University of Alabama at Birmingham in federal district court for demoting her due to her breast cancer, a violation, she claimed, of the ADA. Garrett´s case was consolidated for appeal with the ADA claim of Milton Ash, who sued the Alabama Department of Youth Services for failure to accommodate his asthma.
Supreme Court will clarify Americans with Disabilities Act in next termThough no dates have been scheduled, both cases will be argued and decided in the next term, which begins in October 2001.
FAQ-Can we demote an employee?Frequently asked ask@hr.com question regarding demoting an employee.
Interactive process urged even when it seems futileEmployers should engage in the interactive process for identifying a reasonable accommodation even if they are confident at the outset that no accommodation is possible.
New Freedom Initiative Announced / New Contractor Responsibility Rule Blocked1) President Bush sent a proposal to Congress on February 1, 2001 outlining a government program that will help those with disabilities gain greater access to the workplace.
2) The new rule required federal contracting officers to consider a prospective contractor''s adherence to labor and employment laws.
New California State Law Quietly Changes the Definition of DisabilityCalifornia Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) has been recently amended to expand the definition of disabled beyond that currently applied by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Disability definition expanded by California statuteEmployers that are unaware of the recently expanded definition of disability in California''s anti-discrimination law are in for "a surprise land mine," warned Julianne Broyles, director of insurance and employee relations for the California Chamber of Commerce. The new law (A.B. 2222), which takes effect Jan. 1, requires employers in California to determine if individuals have disabilities without considering whether they use mitigating measures.
106th Congress ends: Minimum Wage, Ergonomics Standard UnsettledThe final omnibus-spending bill (H.R. 4577) passed both House and Senate, but left several important issues for the 107th Congress to take up when it meets on January 3, 2001
6th Circuit Finds Carpal Tunnel Syndrome A Protected DisabilityIn deciding that the employee was a protected individual under the ADA, the Court indicated that the employee''s carpal tunnel and corresponding restrictions were "analogous to having missing, damaged or deformed limbs that prevent her from doing the tasks associated with certain types of manual assembly line jobs, manual product handling jobs and manual building trade jobs . . .."
When Is A Disability A Disability Under The Americans With Disabilities Act?Legally speaking, the Supreme Court has set appropriate limits on who should be protected under the ADA and has restricted the group of individuals likely to be successful with an ADA claim. Practically speaking, however, the decisions should not change the manner in which you, as the employer, comply with the employment provisions of the ADA.
Silence Is Golden: telling co-workers about a reasonable accommodationOne employee''s reasonable accommodation looks like "special treatment" to other workers. How do you maintain morale without violating the confidentiality provisions of the ADA?
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issues new enforcement guidelinesThe EEOC issued a new section of its Compliance Manual on October 3, 2000, providing the first comprehensive analysis of the some of the most important employee benefits issues under the anti-discrimination laws.
ADA versus affirmative action: Who wins?What if you have a qualified disabled employee who needs to be reassigned to a vacant position, but you also have a minority employee who is better qualified for the open position?
How should you respond to requests for reasonable accommodations?Sometimes it''s hard to know exactly what your duty is when trying to help disabled employees fit into the workplace. What should you do when an employee requests a reasonable accommodation?
Smokers Have a DisabilityHeavily addicted smokers have a disability that must be accomodated, arbitrator rules.