Unum short-term disability (STD) is group insurance, usually offered through your employer, that can pay a portion of your income while you’re out of work because of a covered injury, sickness, or childbirth. Depending on your plan, it may replace about 50% to 70% of your pay for several weeks up to a year, after a waiting period. It’s different from the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which protects your job but doesn’t pay you, so many people on medical leave need both.
Key takeaways
- Unum describes its group short-term disability coverage as paying up to 50% to 70% of salary, depending on the plan, for a maximum benefit period that can range from 9 to 52 weeks.
- Your employer’s plan sets the details, including the waiting period, the percentage paid, and how long benefits last, so your plan documents are the final word.
- File as early as you can, and ask your provider to complete any medical paperwork promptly, since incomplete medical information can delay a claim.
What is Unum short-term disability?
Unum short-term disability is an insurance benefit that replaces part of your income while a covered medical condition keeps you from working. Unum’s employee disability page describes it as coverage that helps while you’re temporarily out of work.
Most people get Unum STD through a workplace benefits plan. Your employer chooses the plan design, so two people with Unum coverage at different companies can have very different benefits. MyFMLA is an independent medical certification service and is not affiliated with Unum, so questions about your specific policy should go to Unum or your human resources (HR) department.
Before filing, it helps to understand what your plan is likely to pay and when payments start.
How much does Unum short-term disability pay, and for how long?
Unum STD typically pays a percentage of your pay for a set number of weeks, after a short waiting period. The exact figures come from your employer’s plan.
According to Unum’s descriptions of its group disability coverage and its employee benefits page:
- Percentage of pay: Depending on the plan, you could receive up to 50% to 70% of your salary.
- Waiting period (elimination period): This is the number of days that must pass before you’re eligible for benefits, and you must meet the plan’s definition of disability during that time.
- Maximum benefit period: Your employer sets how long benefits can continue, and Unum lists a range of 9 to 52 weeks.
- Payment schedule: STD benefits are generally paid weekly.
- Offsets: Benefits may be reduced if you receive income from other sources, such as other insurance, retirement, or government programs, including workers’ compensation.
Since every plan differs, look up your elimination period and benefit percentage in your plan summary or ask HR. Knowing those two numbers helps you budget for the gap before the first payment arrives.
What does Unum short-term disability cover?
Unum STD covers time off for a qualifying, non-work-related injury or illness, including childbirth. Unum lists pregnancy, injuries, joint disorders, digestive issues, and cancer among common reasons for claims.
A few coverage details are worth knowing:
- Pregnancy and childbirth: Unum states that most claims for an uncomplicated delivery are approved for six weeks, and some employers offer eight weeks for a cesarean delivery. These periods include the elimination period, so a seven-day waiting period would leave five weeks of paid benefits.
- Pregnancy complications: These are treated like any other sickness under the plan.
- Work-related injuries: Unum’s group plans generally exclude occupational sickness or injury, since workers’ compensation usually covers those.
Mental health conditions may be covered under some plans, but coverage terms and limits vary. Check your policy wording or ask Unum directly. Once you know your condition is likely covered, the next step is filing the claim.
How do you file a Unum short-term disability claim?
You can usually file a Unum STD claim online, through the MyUnum app, or by phone. Unum’s claims page says the web portal or app is the fastest way to file, and the guided process can take less than 20 minutes.
- Check with HR first. Confirm your plan details, and for disability benefits, ask whether you can file by phone. If you can’t file online, Unum’s customer support line is 866-679-3054 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET), and claims information can also be faxed, according to its contact page.
- Gather your information. Unum may ask for your name, address, employer information, job title, and regularly scheduled work hours, plus your absence dates and expected return-to-work date.
- File the claim. Register for a MyUnum account if you don’t have one, then complete the guided claim. You can upload medical records or other documents from your phone.
- Make sure your provider responds. Unum will need medical information that supports your inability to work. Ask your provider’s office to complete any requested paperwork quickly and accurately.
- Set up direct deposit. Unum says this can get benefits to you up to a week faster than a paper check.
- Watch for requests and decisions. Respond quickly to any request for more information so your claim keeps moving.
If your regular provider can’t complete your disability and leave paperwork in time, a board-certified physician can evaluate you for FMLA and short-term disability certification in a secure video visit. You must be physically located in your state at the time of the visit.
How is Unum short-term disability different from FMLA?
Unum STD and FMLA solve two different problems. FMLA provides job-protected leave but doesn’t replace income. Short-term disability may replace part of your income but doesn’t, by itself, protect your job. Many people need both.
The Department of Labor states that FMLA gives eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period, with group health coverage continued. Under the federal FMLA regulations, leave under a disability plan can count as FMLA leave if it’s for a serious health condition, so the two can run at the same time. Because disability benefits are paid, neither you nor your employer can require you to substitute paid leave during that time, though you may agree to use paid leave to top up a partial benefit where state law allows.
In practice, this means you may file two separate requests: an FMLA request with your employer or leave administrator, and a disability claim with Unum. Each may need its own medical certification, and for FMLA you generally get at least 15 calendar days to return yours. The MyFMLA guide to FMLA and short-term disability explains how the two usually work together, and the guide to FMLA forms and how to complete them covers the paperwork on the FMLA side.
If you live in a state with its own disability insurance program, that program may also apply. For example, the MyFMLA guide to California State Disability Insurance explains how that state’s program works.
What if your Unum claim is denied?
If Unum denies your claim, you generally have the right to a written explanation and an appeal. Most employer-sponsored disability plans are governed by federal benefits law (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA), which sets minimum claim and appeal rules.
According to the federal claims procedure regulation and the Department of Labor’s claims procedure FAQs, plans covered by ERISA must generally:
- Decide your claim within 45 days, with up to two 30-day extensions for reasons beyond the plan’s control.
- Give you at least 180 days after a denial to file an appeal.
- Decide the appeal within 45 days, in most cases.
- Provide copies of relevant documents free of charge on request.
- Explain any disagreement with your treating providers’ views in the denial notice.
Government employee plans aren’t covered by these rules. Read your denial letter closely, note the appeal deadline, and consider asking your provider for updated records that address the reason for denial. For legal questions about your rights, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration or an attorney can help.
Common reasons Unum claims get delayed
Many delays come down to missing or unclear information. Claims can stall when medical paperwork arrives late, when the documented restrictions don’t match your job duties, or when dates on the employer, employee, and provider forms don’t line up. Filing late in the waiting period can also push back your first payment. Keeping copies of everything you submit, and checking your MyUnum account for requests, can help you catch problems early.
When to seek medical attention
Your health matters more than any claim deadline. Contact your health care provider if your symptoms get worse, a new symptom appears, or your recovery is taking longer than expected, since your provider may need to update your restrictions.
This is not an emergency service. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, or another emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you’re having thoughts of suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Unum short-term disability last?
It depends on your employer’s plan. Unum lists maximum benefit periods ranging from 9 to 52 weeks, and benefits start only after the elimination period ends. Your plan summary shows your exact benefit period.
Does Unum short-term disability cover pregnancy?
Yes, childbirth is a covered reason under Unum’s group STD plans. Unum says most uncomplicated delivery claims are approved for six weeks, with some employers offering eight weeks for a cesarean delivery, including the elimination period.
Does Unum short-term disability cover mental health conditions?
Some plans may cover mental health conditions, but terms and limits vary by policy. Check your plan documents or ask Unum. If you’re also requesting job-protected leave, the MyFMLA guide to taking FMLA for mental health explains what certification involves.
Can you get Unum short-term disability and FMLA at the same time?
Often, yes. Federal FMLA rules allow leave under a disability plan to count as FMLA leave when it’s for a serious health condition, so the two can run together. You’ll usually file the FMLA request with your employer and the disability claim with Unum.
Does medical documentation mean Unum will approve the claim?
No. Medical documentation supports your claim, but Unum decides whether you meet your plan’s definition of disability. It does not guarantee approval.
Get help with your disability and FMLA paperwork
If your own provider can’t complete your short-term disability or FMLA paperwork before your deadline, a board-certified MyFMLA physician can evaluate your condition in a secure video visit, and comprehensive requests are typically completed within 1 to 3 business days after the appointment when all required information is available. Start your evaluation; current pricing is shown on the booking page, and MyFMLA is not affiliated with Unum.
Sources
- Unum. Accessed October 31, 2026. Disability Insurance for Employees. https://www.unum.com/employees/Benefits/disability-insurance
- Unum. Accessed October 31, 2026. Group Disability Insurance Policies & Coverage. https://www.unum.com/employers/employee-benefits/disability-insurance
- Unum. Accessed October 31, 2026. File a Claim. https://www.unum.com/employees/file-a-claim
- Unum. Accessed October 31, 2026. Contact Us. https://www.unum.com/support/employees/contact-us
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Revised March 2025. Fact Sheet #28: The Family and Medical Leave Act. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/28-fmla
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 31, 2026. Family and Medical Leave Act. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Accessed October 31, 2026. 29 CFR 825.207: Substitution of paid leave. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/825.207
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Accessed October 31, 2026. 29 CFR 2560.503-1: Claims procedure. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/2560.503-1
- U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Accessed October 31, 2026. Benefit Claims Procedure Regulation FAQs. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/benefit-claims-procedure-regulation
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 31, 2026. Fact Sheet #28G: Medical Certification under the Family and Medical Leave Act. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/28g-fmla-serious-health-condition
Medical documentation supports your request but does not guarantee approval. Final decisions are made by your employer, insurance carrier, leave administrator, school, or applicable state program.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
This is not an emergency service. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
