Plan Overview
Why is having disability insurance important?
If you are unable to work due to a covered illness or injury, disability insurance can help pay your most important expenses. These include: mortgage or rent, car payments, food, child care/tuition and utilities.
- Short-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income during a disability which could last up to 26 weeks.
- Long-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income during a disability that is expected to last for an extended period of time, typically longer than 90 days.
While many people think that disabilities are typically caused by accidents, the majority of long-term absences are actually due to illness.1 A good rule of thumb is to protect 60-80% of your after-tax income. This will help you meet your most important financial needs.
Both plans offer:
- Direct payments: Receive a portion of your salary paid directly to you if you are unable to work after satisfying the initial elimination period. Short-term disability benefits pay weekly, while long-term disability benefits pay monthly.
- Easy claims filing: Report claims online or by phone.
- Competitive rates: This group coverage is offered only through your employer. LTD, option 3, premiums are paid by your employer.
Special Considerations for Short-Term Disability Insurance: If you work in a state with state-mandated disability or paid medical leave benefits (“State Benefits”)*, 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.
Short-Term Disability
| Option A | Option B | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | All full-time employees working not less than 30 hours/week; seasonal employees hired prior to July 1, 2015 with 24 months of service and certified by his or her appointing authority to work at least 1,450 hours per fiscal year (July-June); or deemed eligible by applicable federal law, state law, or action of the State Insurance Committee. |
|
| % of Gross Annual Base Salary2 Paid Weekly | 60% of salary paid weekly |
|
| Maximum Weekly Benefit | Up to $2,500 |
|
| Minimum Weekly Benefit3 | $25 | |
| Elimination Period | 14 calendar days | 30 calendar days |
| Maximum Benefit Period | 26 weeks | |
| Evidence of Insurability4 | Guaranteed issue (no health questions asked) for new hires who enroll within 30 days of eligibility date. A full Statement of Health is required for new applicants and for current participants in Option B electing Option A during the 2026 Annual Enrollment period. |
|
| Benefit Pre-existing Condition5 | Benefits are not excluded due to a pre-existing condition. | |
Long-Term Disability
| Option 1 – Premiums Paid by Employee |
Option 2 – Premiums Paid by Employee | Option 3 – Premiums Paid by State for Central State Government and State Higher Education Employees | Option 4 – Premiums Paid by Employee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | All employees working not less than 30 hours/week; seasonal employees hired prior to July 1, 2015, with 24 months of service and certified by their appointing authority to work at least 1,450 hours per fiscal year (July-June); or deemed eligible by applicable federal law, state law or action of the State Insurance Committee. |
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| % of Gross Annual Base Salary2 Paid Monthly | 60% of salary paid monthly | 63% of salary paid monthly | ||
| Maximum Monthly Benefit | Up to $7,500 per month (covers annual salary of $150,000) | Up to $10,000 per month (covers annual salary of $190,476.24) | ||
| Minimum Monthly Benefit3 | Greater of 10% of benefit or $100 per month² | |||
| Elimination Period | 90 calendar days | 180 calendar days | 90 calendar days | 180 calendar days |
| Own Occupation | 24 months | 24 months | 36 months | 36 months |
| Maximum Benefit Period | Disabled prior to age 65, benefits end at Social Security normal retirement age. Disabled at age 65, benefits end after 24 months; age 66, 21 months; age 67, 18 months; age 68, 15 months; age 69+, after 12 months |
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| Evidence of Insurability | Guaranteed issue (no health questions asked) |
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| Benefit Pre-existing Condition5 | Benefits are not payable for a disability that results from a pre-existing condition if member has been actively at work for less than 12 consecutive months after disability insurance became effective. |
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* 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 1/3/28).
1 Council for Disability Income Awareness. "Disability Statistics." https://thecdia.org/disability-statistics/. Accessed April 2025.
2 For 2026 Annual Enrollment period, annual salary will be based on your salary as of Sept. 1, 2025. Coverage, if approved by MetLife, will be effective Jan. 1, 2025. If additional medical review is required, your effective date could be later than Jan. 1, 2025.
3 The Minimum Weekly Benefit will not apply if you are receiving 100% of Your Predisability Salary under the Policyholder’s paid leave policy, which includes annual, sick and comp time.
4 MetLife will review your information and evaluate your request for coverage based upon your answers to the health questions, MetLife’s underwriting rules and other information you authorize us to review. In certain cases, MetLife may request additional information to evaluate your request for coverage.
5 Pre-existing Condition means a Sickness or accidental injury for which you: 1) received medical treatment, consultation, care or services; or took prescribed medication or had medications prescribed; in the 3 months before Your insurance under the certificate takes effect.
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.
MetLife Group Disability Income Insurance is issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166, under Policy Form GPNP23-2T DI.