MetLife LTD claim and appeal review
MetLife Long-Term Disability Lawyers
If MetLife denied your long-term disability claim, stopped benefits or calculated the monthly amount incorrectly, begin with the policy and the exact decision letter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company issues MetLife group disability coverage, but the plan documents identify the insurer and administrator for your claim. We compare the medical and job-duty record with the policy definition, examine any benefit offsets or calculation, and build the appeal around every stated reason.
- MetLife policy, denial and claim-file review
- Medical and occupational evidence built for the actual plan
- Free initial intake and consultation
Last reviewed
Why MetLife denies or terminates long-term disability benefits
No single reason applies to every MetLife claim. The policy, letter and complete file control. These issues appear in the cited decisions or MetLife's own product materials.
Treating evidence overlooked
In Zhou, the court found MetLife's initial denial reasonable on the record then available, but later reviews did not adequately consider treating clinicians' opinions and diagnoses. The claim was remanded for full and fair review.
Incomplete benefit calculation review
Landry concerned the amount of LTD benefits already being paid, not initial eligibility. The court required MetLife to review the claimant's appeal and income evidence under ERISA procedures.
Occupational definition and plan limits
MetLife group policies can have waiting periods, reductions, limitations and conditions for continued coverage. Read the employer's actual plan summary and certificate.
A paper review versus the full record
A reviewer's conclusion should be compared with the treating history, functional observations and the policy definition. Zhou illustrates how missing consideration in later reviews can require remand.
Own-occupation to any-occupation changes
MetLife's sample benefit schedule describes an own-occupation period followed by an any-occupation test. The actual certificate and job demands determine which definition applies and when.
Income offsets and the wrong monthly amount
A monthly payment may depend on covered earnings and offsets for other income. Landry shows why a documented challenge to the calculation deserves a full review.
Build a focused MetLife disability appeal
Most employer-sponsored long-term disability plans fall under ERISA. A claimant ordinarily must complete the plan's appeal before a benefits lawsuit, and courts often review the record built in that process. An individual policy may follow state-law rules instead.
We identify the legal insurer and administrator, read the MetLife policy and denial letter, obtain the claim file, and map every disputed reason to medical, occupational and payment evidence. We then evaluate the actual appeal deadline and available remedy.
Start a short, secure intake
Tell us your claim stage, state, contact details and letter date. Do not upload private records through this first form.
Confirm the issuer and policy
We read the insurer name, coverage type, disability definition, exclusions and appeal instructions in the MetLife documents.
Obtain and analyze the claim file
We compare reviewer opinions, correspondence, vocational findings and calculations with the records and job duties.
Develop the appeal evidence
We address each denial ground with specific medical and work-capacity proof, and document new evidence offered during review.
Consider litigation when appropriate
If the appeal remains denied, we assess the ERISA or policy remedy, venue and limitations period.
Estimate your MetLife disability appeal deadline
ERISA disability plans must generally give at least 180 days to appeal a denial. Enter when you received the MetLife letter for a rough estimate only. Your actual policy, letter and law control; ask us to verify the date.
This estimate is general information, not legal advice, and it may be wrong for you. It simply counts 180 calendar days from the date you enter. Your real deadline depends on your plan, your denial letter, when you actually received it, and the law that applies, and it may be earlier. Do not rely on this tool to decide when to act. Confirm your deadline with an attorney right away.
Estimate only. Not legal advice. Your actual deadline may be different, including earlier.
Have us confirm my deadlinePublic court decisions
MetLife disability decisions: what courts ordered
These public cases involve other claimants and law firms. Each turned on its own policy and record. A remand is further review, not a promised benefit award.
Zhou v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
807 F. Supp. 2d 458 (D. Md. 2011) · U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
The court found MetLife's initial denial reasonable on the record then available, but its later reviews did not adequately consider treating clinicians' records and diagnoses. It remanded for full and fair review, without ordering benefits outright.
Connect each material treating opinion to the plan's work-capacity test.
Landry v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41929 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 5, 2021) · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
The claimant was already receiving LTD benefits but challenged the monthly amount. The court concluded his letter qualified as an appeal and sent the calculation dispute to MetLife for a full and fair administrative review, without setting the correct amount itself.
A benefit-calculation challenge can require a documented appeal and income proof.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The court decisions described on this page involve other lawyers and claimants; they are not Feden Law Group results. A remand for further review does not itself award benefits.
Why bring a MetLife claim to Feden Law Group
Disability-benefits focus
We review LTD denials, administrative appeals and ERISA benefits litigation.
A policy-specific record
We connect the MetLife policy wording and denial reasons to medical, job-duty and income evidence.
Nationwide ERISA evaluation
We can evaluate employer-plan claims across the United States, subject to the governing plan, venue and licensing.
A clear first step
Use the short intake. We will explain whether we can help and arrange secure document sharing if needed.
MetLife long-term disability questions
MetLife denied my long-term disability claim. What should I do first?
Keep the denial letter and note when you received it. Request the full claim file and policy, check the appeal instructions, and seek advice before submitting an incomplete appeal. The actual plan and letter control your deadline.
Can I challenge MetLife’s paper review of my doctors?
A file review is not automatically improper, but the insurer must give the required review to material evidence. Zhou found the initial denial reasonable on its then-available record, but remanded after MetLife's later reviews failed to address important treating opinions adequately.
What if MetLife is paying less LTD than the policy promises?
Save the plan, pay records and MetLife calculation. In Landry, the court treated a claimant's request to correct his LTD amount as an appeal and required an administrative review.
Is MetLife always the insurer on my employer plan?
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company issues group LTD coverage, but MetLife's role can vary by plan. Confirm the insurer, administrator and appeal address in your actual documents.
How long do I have to appeal a MetLife LTD denial?
ERISA-governed disability plans generally must allow at least 180 days after receipt of a denial. An individual policy or exempt plan can follow different rules. Confirm the deadline in your own letter and plan; do not rely on this page's estimate.
Can I sue MetLife for long-term disability benefits?
For most employer plans governed by ERISA, the required administrative appeal ordinarily comes before a benefits suit. If the final denial remains, an ERISA action may be available. Individual and other non-ERISA policies can differ.
Does this MetLife intake form start an attorney-client relationship?
No. It starts a free initial review so we can decide whether we can help. Representation begins only with a written agreement. Please do not send medical records or sensitive identifiers through the first form.
Can Feden Law Group review my MetLife claim outside Pennsylvania?
We evaluate ERISA employer-plan disability claims nationwide. The plan, policy, venue and attorney licensing may affect representation; we will explain any limitation after reviewing your coverage.
Disability claims against other insurers
MetLife said no. That is not the final word.
Tell us where your claim stands. The review is free.
Feden Law Group PLLC · (267) 234-7465 · nfeden@fedenlawgroup.com
Attorney Advertising. Responsible attorney: Nicholas Feden.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The court decisions described on this page involve other lawyers and claimants; they are not Feden Law Group results. A remand for further review does not itself award benefits.
This page provides general information, not legal advice for your situation. Contacting us or submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send medical records, Social Security numbers, or other confidential documents until we confirm we can represent you.
MetLife and related names are trademarks of their owners. Feden Law Group PLLC is not affiliated with MetLife.