Ninth Circuit Affirms District Court May Consider Social Security Administration Ruling That Was Not Before the Plan Administrator

In Perez v. Lincoln Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 1495 (9th Cir. Jan. 20, 2021), the Ninth Circuit held that a district court reviewing a denial of disability benefits under ERISA may consider a Social Security Administration ruling that was not part of the administrative record. Plaintiff Alicia Perez was covered under a group LTD plan provided by her employer, GEP Administrative Services and administered by Lincoln National Life Insurance Company ("Lincoln"). Perez made a claim...
By: Hinshaw & Culbertson - The LHD/ERISA Advisor

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