How To Take Leave
How to take leave
Watch the video for a step-by-step overview on taking leave for disability or a state mandated offering.
Need to take a leave of absence?
Follow these steps
If you're injured or sick, are welcoming a new child into your family, find yourself caring for a family member, or have military family responsibilities, you might need to step back from work for a while. We’re here to help make your leave and transition back to work as successful and worry-free as possible.
Here's how to file a claim so you can take the time you need while receiving financial support.
Your To-Do List
Send us supporting documentation
Talk to your Claims Specialist
Step 1: File your claim
Talk to your manager
Whether you require Short Term Disability or Long Term Disability benefits or are seeking support through the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), caregiver leave, or a paid or unpaid state leave plan, please let your manager know as soon as possible when you plan to take your leave.
File a claim
MetLife’s MyBenefits portal makes it easy to submit a claim, upload necessary documentation and track the claim’s status. You’ll need your Employee ID number to register. You can also call our Leave of Absence Reporting Line: (855) 229-7304 Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 11 pm ET. After you file, we’ll give you a reference number to help you track and manage your claim.
Send us supporting documentation
After you file, we’ll mail you a packet with several documents customized just for you. In addition to information to help you understand your leave and benefits, your packet may include guidance on supporting documentation we need to process your claim. You can send any information to us at cignaclaims@metlife.com. Please make sure your claim number is in the subject line and email.
If you’re taking medical leave, your packet may include a Medical Authorization form. This allows your healthcare provider to speak with us and provide us the information we need to manage your claim. Sign and return this form to us and give a copy to your healthcare provider.
You can use MyBenefits to easily submit forms and supporting documents.
Step 2: Get a decision
After you submit your claim, we’ll assign a Claims Specialist to review your documents, confirm that your claim is set up correctly, and support you through the leave process.
- We’ll also check for any additional programs you may be eligible for, including those that protect your job and supplement your pay while on leave.
- When more than one disability or absence policy applies to your leave, we’ll automatically evaluate your request to ensure all benefits available are evaluated and applied.
- We will always call you if we deny your claim.
While we process your claim, Here’s what you should do:
Talk to your Claims Specialist
Your Claims Specialist will reach out within two days after your leave start date or filing date, whichever comes last, to walk you through the claims and leave process and talk through your benefits. Keep an eye out for their call or email. If we’re able to make a quick approval, they may reach out after your claim is approved.
Track your claim online
Get real-time claim updates at MyBenefits or on the MetLife App, which you can download from the App Store or Google Play. We recommend signing up for text alerts so you can get real-time updates about your claim and coordinate with us throughout your leave and return to work. You can do this in the Communication Preferences page of your MyBenefits profile.
Step 3: Get ongoing support while on leave
Reach out with questions
We’ll stay in touch with you and your manager while you’re on leave. If you have questions in the meantime, we’re here to help. Contact us through MyBenefits, call your Claims Specialist, or call MetLife at 1-855-229-7304 Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm ET. Your Claims Specialist will give you their extension in your first phone call together and you can also find it in your decision letter if your claim is approved.
Let us know if things change
We’ll periodically contact you and, if relevant, your healthcare provider(s) to evaluate your status, treatment plan and return to work plan. If your situation evolves or things don’t go according to plan, we’ll work with you and your healthcare provider to understand what additional leave you might need.
If you need additional leave, please provide updated information supporting that need from your healthcare provider.
Claim extensions require close communication between you, MetLife, your manager and your healthcare provider. We’ll be there to help facilitate.
Step 4: Return to work
Confirm your return to work
Ready to return to work? Let your manager know your expected return to work date and inform your Claims Specialist when you’re back so they can close your claim.
Return to Work release forms can be emailed to cignaclaims@metlife.com, uploaded to MyBenefits, or faxed to MetLife at 1-800-230-9531. We’ll reach out a week before your return to work to confirm your plans.
If needed, work with us on a return to work plan
If your provider lists any healthcare-related restrictions, your Claims Specialist will evaluate these, confirm with your manager that they can accommodate them, and discuss your options with you.
We recommend signing up for email and text alerts so you can get real-time updates about your claim and coordinate with us throughout your leave and return to work. You can do this in the Communication Preferences page of your MyBenefits profile.
What if I need to…
Extend my leave
If your situation evolves or things don’t go according to plan, we’ll work with you and your healthcare provider to understand what additional leave you might need. Claim extensions require close communication between you, MetLife, your employer and your healthcare provider. We’ll be there to help facilitate.
If you need to take disability for longer than 26 weeks in a rolling 12-month period, you will transition to Long Term Disability (LTD). MetLife will support you through that. Here’s what that process looks like:
- MetLife will start discussing a transition to Long Term Disability (LTD) with you and assist you with initiating that claim at your request. MetLife begins this process early to allow time to gather information and provide you with a seamless transition.
- Once we start the process, a new LTD Claims Specialist will send you an acknowledgement packet of information including required paperwork to complete. They will call you to introduce themselves and explain the LTD process, the contents of the packet, and the timeline for when they need information to process the transition.
- MetLife will use the medical information from your Short Term Disability (STD) claim, but the eligibility standards for STD and LTD are different. MetLife will reach out to your provider(s) for any additional medical information we need to support an LTD claim.
- After 30 days from the acknowledgement packet being sent, the LTD Claims Specialist will follow up to confirm you’ve received it and continue their initial decision phase.
- Once we decide your LTD claim, MetLife will notify your manager at The Cigna Group of the decision.
Appeal a decision
We will call you and provide written communication if your claim is denied. This will include rationale for the decision and applicable appeal information. If your Short Term Disability or Long Term Disability claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. You have 180 days to appeal the denial. You must do so in writing and provide any additional information to support your claim. If your denial is overturned, the claim will be reinstated and approved. MetLife will send the updated decision to your manager at The Cigna Group.
Adjust my workplace environment
When you return to work from disability leave, your healthcare provider may recommend changes to your work environment so that you can continue to perform your job duties. This is called a workplace accommodation. Have your provider include these recommendations on your Return to Work release form. Your Claims Specialist will work directly with your manager at The Cigna Group to navigate these requests.