Disability & Absence Services
A disability can completely change every aspect of your life, but that shouldn’t mean that it threatens your financial stability.
Administering disability, absence, or leave management programs can be challenging and time consuming for any business. Whether your company is large or small, count on us to deliver the right solution and minimize administration for your organization.
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Disability Calculator™ MetLife Disability Calculator (disabilityonlinecalc.com)
Log in to MyBenefits Disability & Absence Services | Business and Brokers | MetLife
Employer Information MetOnline - Common Access (metlife.com)
How to File a Claim
What Are My Options?
Disability or leave protection may vary depending on your situation. Ask your employer or review our product details below.
Our Products
Short Term Disability (STD)
If pregnant, injured, suffering from depression, or diagnosed with an illness
Long Term Disability (LTD)
May help maintain your standard of living while recovering from a chronic disability:
Paid Family & Medical Leave
Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML), Paid Family Leave (PFL), and temporary Disability Insurance (DI)
Coverage Calculator
Not sure how much Disability Insurance coverage you need? Use this calculator to find out.
Paid Leave Trends
See up-to-date details outlining each state's Paid Family & Medical Leave trends and laws.
If you can't earn your paycheck due to a short-term situation, here's a coverage solution that may help financially support you.
- Weekly payments: receive a portion of your salary for three months to a year, depending on your policy.
- Competitive group rates only offered through your employer
Special Considerations:
If you work in a state with state-mandated disability or paid medical leave benefits (“State Benefits”)1, you should carefully consider whether to enroll for this coverage. If you are eligible for State Benefits, you must apply if required by state law. If permitted, your STD benefit will be reduced by State Benefits or other government benefits that apply. Depending on your compensation, the amount of the State Benefit, and other factors, you may only receive the minimum weekly benefit. You should consider, based on your individual circumstances, whether you need additional coverage beyond the State Benefit.
1 These jurisdictions include, but may not be limited to, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington (and Delaware and Minnesota as of 1/1/26, Maine as of 5/1/26, and Maryland as of 7/1/26).
Long Term Disability through your employer can help you stay afloat and pay your expenses if you find yourself out of work due to a chronic condition.
- Covers essential living expenses: Can help pay for food, clothing, utilities, a mortgage, car payments, and more.
- Direct monthly payments: Receive a portion of your salary paid directly to you each month if you’re unable to work (after the initial waiting period).
These programs allow workers to request a wage replacement benefit if they are sick, hurt, or unable to work due to a family matter.
FAQs:
The definition of disability will vary depending on your employer’s plan. Some policies consider you disabled when you’re unable to perform your job duties, while others pay only if you’re unable to perform in any job suitable for you based on your training, education, and experience. Other policies require that you not be gainfully employed while you’re collecting benefits or that you are unable to earn a certain percentage of your predisability income because of injury or sickness.
There are some policies that will pay you a portion of your total disability monthly benefit amount if you have lost a part of your income due to a disability. Other policies and plans may include a rehabilitation provision that requires you to take part in a vocational rehabilitation program in order to continue to receive benefits.
Keep in mind that many policies and plans have exclusions and limitations and may not fully cover certain disabilities and pre-existing conditions. Benefits differ from company to company, so speak with your benefits administrator for your workplace’s complete plan details.
Benefits may begin after you have met an elimination period — a plan-defined period of time, starting with the date you are disabled from work and the number of days you must continue to be disabled until benefits may begin. Most group long term disability plans have an elimination period of 90 days or 180 days. Under most group plans, generally the employer selects the elimination period.
When you choose disability coverage, consider how long you can manage without a paycheck. If you have significant savings, you may be willing to choose a longer elimination period. Typically, the longer the elimination period, the lower the premium.
With most group disability plans, the employer selects the maximum duration of benefits. The most frequently offered maximum benefit periods are two years, five years, and to age 65. Policies with shorter maximum benefit periods typically have lower premiums. Speak to your benefits administrator for your plan’s length of coverage.
Disability coverage that replaces at least 60 percent of your after-tax income is generally recommended.
To estimate the benefit amount you would need if you became disabled, ask yourself how much monthly income would cover your living expenses. Household expenses may include mortgage, car payments, groceries, and childcare. Consider all these factors to help you come up with an appropriate amount.
The MetLife Disability CalculatorTM is another handy resource you can use to estimate the amount of disability insurance income you would need to help maintain your current standard of living.
Special Considerations:
If you work in a state with state-mandated disability or paid medical leave benefits (“State Benefits”)1, you should carefully consider whether to enroll for this coverage. If you are eligible for State Benefits, you must apply if required by state law. If permitted, your STD benefit will be reduced by State Benefits or other government benefits that apply. Depending on your compensation, the amount of the State Benefit, and other factors, you may only receive the minimum weekly benefit. You should consider, based on your individual circumstances, whether you need additional coverage beyond the State Benefit.
Social Security disability benefits may be available to eligible individuals who experience a disability that is expected to last longer than one year (in addition to other requirements). Social Security disability benefits are not intended for temporary conditions. You should also note that Social Security's disability rules are different from those of other government or private programs. For more information on Social Security disability benefits eligibility, visit the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov. Paid Family and Medical Leave and/or state disability benefits may also be available depending on your work state.
Check with your benefits administrator to find out if your company offers group disability insurance and if you are eligible. If so, your benefits administrator can provide you with plan details.
You may need written proof of your disability from your treatment provider(s) to be approved for a claim. You may also need to provide additional medical records concerning the details of your disability. Your insurer may also want you examined at their cost and/or may require financial information from you. Please see your company’s benefits administrator for details.
MetLife offers various ways to submit your claim based on your plan, including online, mail, phone, and fax options. You can count on MetLife to provide caring, compassionate, and accurate claims service if and when you experience a disability.
How to file a claim online STD_How-to-file-a-claim_FINAL_Web-ONLY.pdf (metlife.com)
How to file a claim by phone STD_How-to-file-a-claim_FINAL_Phone-ONLY.pdf (metlife.com)
How to file using a claim form STD_File-Claim_PaperONLY.pdf (metlife.com)
Disability paper claim form guide Disability paper claim form guide
Tips for Employers for paper claims STD paper claims: Important tips for employers (metlife.com)
How to file a claim for paid family and medical leave (PFML) benefits – claim forms for PFML can vary based on work state and employer. Please contact your employer’s human resource department or Benefit Administrator and ask for this document to ensure you complete the right form.
NEXT STEPS
Contact your employer for more information.
The disability paper claim form guide is the correct guide, but it titled "find a dental provider"- please update the name.
Our Services
Absence Management Solutions (AMS)
Keeping track of employee absences can be a challenge. MetLife makes the process easy for your employees and eases the impact
ADA Workforce Solutions
OurteamhelpsyounavigateADArequirements
Wellbeing Programs
Wellbeing programs and services can help reduce absenteeism
With our comprehensive disability and absence solutions, you and your employees feel confident and covered.
- Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Certain State Family and Medical Leave Laws
- Certain Non-FML State Leave Laws
- Company Sponsored Leaves
Managing employee requests under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) can be complex and confusing.
To help manage ADA, we offer
Employee Assistance Program
Return to Work: We are committed to helping our customers support their employees’ return to health and transition back to the workplace after a leave of absence or disability. MetLife will partner with you and your employees to develop or enhance your organization’s return to work best practices.
Paid Leave Trends
We help you stay on top of PFML requirements by state no matter where you or your employees are located.
Helping Your Employees
MetLife is committed to providing tools on our Return to Health Innovation Hub that can help keep your workforce healthy and working.
There When You Need Us
As a leader in disability and leave management, we’re continually enhancing our offerings to meet the market’s ever-changing needs.
Did you know
66% of employees with disability insurance feel protected in the event of unexpected expenses and more confident in investing for their future.
I want information specifically for…
1 While disabled and receiving monthly benefits, employees may receive up to 100% of predisability earnings, including work earnings, monthly benefit, Rehabilitation Incentives, and other income benefits. The 12-month period starts when benefits begin.
2 Please see contract for details.
3 Some restrictions may apply to the EAP services. Please contact your MetLife representative for details.
4 MetLife’s Employee Benefit Trends Study, 2018.
Availability of products and services is based on MetLife’s guidelines, group size, underwriting and state requirements. Like most insurance policies and benefit programs, insurance policies and benefit programs offered by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and its affiliates contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions of benefits, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact MetLife for complete details.
If you have employees who work in a state with state-mandated disability or paid medical leave benefits (“State Benefits”), they should carefully consider whether to enroll for this coverage. In California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington (and Connecticut starting 1/1/22, Oregon starting 1/1/23, and Colorado starting 1/1/24), if eligible, employees must apply for State Benefits. Your employees’ STD benefit will be reduced by State Benefits or other government benefits that apply. Depending on your employees’ compensation, the amount of the State Benefit, and other factors, they may only receive the minimum weekly benefit. Your employees should consider, based on their individual circumstances, whether they need additional coverage beyond the State Benefit.
The information presented in this website is not legal advice and should not be relied upon or construed as legal advice. It is not permissible for MetLife or its employees or agents to give legal advice. The information in this website is for general informational purposes only and does not purport to be complete or to cover every situation. You must consult with your own legal advisors to determine how these laws will affect you.
METLIFE’S SHORT TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE IS A LIMITED BENEFIT GROUP INSURANCE POLICY. The policy or its provisions may vary or be unavailable in some states. Short Term Disability policies offered by MetLife may include a preexisting condition exclusion. MetLife offers Short Term Disability on both an Attained Age and an Issue Age basis. Attained Age rates are based on specified age bands and will increase when a Covered Person reaches a new age band. MetLife’s Issue Age Short Term Disability is guaranteed renewable, and premium rates are based on age at the time of the initial coverage effective date and will not increase due to age; premium rates for increases in coverage will be based on the covered person’s age at the time of that increase’s effective date. Rates are subject to change for MetLife’s Issue Age Short Term Disability on a class-wide basis. For complete details of coverage and availability, please contact MetLife. Benefits are underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, New York.
Like most group disability insurance policies, MetLife policies contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. Ask your MetLife group representative for complete costs and details.
These policies provide disability income insurance only. For policies issued in New York, they do NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical, or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Insurance Department. The expected benefit ratio for these policies is at least 50%. This ratio is the portion of future premiums that MetLife expects to return as benefits when averaged over all people with the applicable policy.