If you need to file a short term disability (STD) claim (employee’s own medical leave) or a Family Medical Leave (FML), contact the MetLife Leave of Absence Reporting Line at 1-866-268-8224.

Claim intake and data gathering

• Inform local Human resources and your manager of your leave of absence
• Notify MetLife if you’re expected to be out greater than the plan waiting period to initiate your STD claim*

— you will be given a claim number at the end of the call. You may call or initiate your claim through the MyBenefits website at www.metlife.com/mybenefits.

• During the waiting period, you may utilize any accrued vacation, earned floating holidays, or designated sick days (if applicable).
• MetLife may contact you for additional details about you, your job, your condition and your treatment plan and
• MetLife will then mail an Acknowledgement Package to you with important information that requires

*If your absence qualifies under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), an FML absence will be filed on your behalf when you file a disability claim with MetLife. To consider your leave, MetLife will review medical documentation obtained as part of the disability claims process.

Initial review and decision

• You will be notified of the initial decision via phone and letter to inform you of your claim and/or leave
• After your disability claim has been approved, payment of disability benefits for Short Term Disability (STD) is through the normal payroll processing schedule.
• You can check the status of your claim and/or leave by visiting metlife.com/mybenefits.
• MetLife will keep you informed on the status of your claim and will be in touch if any additional information that is needed.
• MetLife will discuss your Return to Work options with you and help determine an expected return to work

Ongoing evaluation

• MetLife will periodically contact you and your health care provider(s) to evaluate your status, treatment plan and functional abilities.
• MetLife will contact you by phone and send a letter to inform you of changes in claim status, such as an extension or closure.
• If you continue to remain disabled after 26 weeks*** of STD, you may be eligible for Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits. Should this occur, MetLife will automatically refer your STD claim for an LTD claim
• You will be contacted to discuss your claim and if you are expected to remain disabled, the appropriate information and forms will be mailed to you to initiate your LTD claim**; if applicable, LTD forms will be mailed after approximately 18 weeks of STD.
• Within this packet, you will find a directory of resources that may be useful to you while on leave and/or during your return to work coordination.

**If you have an existing LTD claim, you will be asked to provide ongoing proof of disability on at least an annual basis, if not more often depending on claim circumstances. Ongoing claim management may be completed more frequently should claim circumstances change. This means that MetLife will periodically request that you provide updated medical information from your health care provider(s) and other information for ongoing medical management and vocational assessment.

***52 weeks for Dow Jones Newspaper and Mail Deliverers

Return to work

• Contact MetLife and local Human Resources when you are released to return to work in any Your physician’s release to work statement should clearly identify the date you are able to return to work, and note any work restrictions that are applicable as of your return to work date.
• You must return a copy of the form to your manager and The form can be sent to MetLife by fax to 1-800-230-9531, uploaded to www.metlife.com/mybenefits or emailed to NewsCorpclaims@metlife.com.
  • If there are no restrictions on your return to work, contact your manager and confirm the date you will return, per the date indicated on your release.
  • If you are released to work with any restrictions or limitations contact MetLife. Your return to work may be temporarily delayed if your release to work statement is unclear or more information is needed from your physician. MetLife will reach out to local Human Resources to confirm whether your restrictions can be accommodated and may also need to contact your physician for additional information if unable to immediately determine a return to work decision. Local Human Resources will notify you if your restrictions can be accommodated and confirm your return to work date.
• In the event your anticipated return to work date changes, please contact local Human Resources and MetLife to advise them of the date change.

If your claim is denied

• MetLife will contact you by phone and send a letter to explain why your claim was denied and provide information about how you may file an appeal. MetLife will also notify News Corp of your claim
• Your appeal must be received by MetLife within 180 days from the date of your decision letter and sent to:

MetLife Disability

P.O. Box 14592

Lexington, KY 40512-4592

Fax: 1-844-380-0569 or

Email: DisabilityAppeals@metlife.com

For more information, click here.

What is disability benefits coverage?

The purpose of disability benefits is to provide income protection for eligible employees during pregnancy or periods of extended, serious illness or injury.

Regardless of the number of periods of disability and whether the course of the disabilities are related, an employee will receive a maximum of 26 weeks* of STD benefit payments. Disabilities that last longer than 26 weeks* may qualify for long term disability (LTD).

*52 weeks for Dow Jones Newspaper and Mail Deliverers

When do disability benefits begin?

If approved, Short Term Disability benefits will begin after completion of the plan waiting period for your respective business unit.

If an absence from work is due to pregnancy and your business unit has a Paid Parental Leave, your Short Term Disability claim will continue and a Paid Parental Leave will be approved to run alongside it.

What if I work in New York?

MetLife administers the NYDBL for News Corp. As such, MetLife will create a NYDBL claim on your behalf. If you are also eligible for Short Term Disability benefits, the payment will be made directly to you through News Corp payroll. If you are not eligible for Short Term Disability, MetLife will send the NYDBL check directly to you.

What if I no longer need my claim?

If you decide to cancel or postpone your leave, please contact MetLife immediately to make the appropriate adjustment to your claim. Notifying MetLife timely will prevent potential impact to your pay.

Can I report an absence in advance (ex. scheduled surgery)?

Yes, an absence can be reported in advance. The medical documentation can be on file, HOWEVER, the claim will not be approved until the actual absence. This means that your claim will be in a PENDING status until the reported event or absence has occurred. Shortly after the scheduled absence date, you/your physician will be contacted by MetLife to confirm the absence.

How does long term disability work?

If an employee remains disabled following exhaustion of STD benefits, he/she may be eligible for LTD benefits. Should this occur, MetLife will automatically refer the STD claim for an LTD claim review. You will be contacted by MetLife, and if you are expected to remain disabled, the appropriate information and forms will be mailed to initiate a claim.

If an LTD claim is approved, MetLife will periodically request updated information from the health care provider(s) and other information for ongoing medical management and vocational assessment.

How can I provide information to MetLife? There are several ways for you to forward information. For all communications to MetLife, you must include your

name and associated claim number(s). Documents can be provided to MetLife via:

• The internet at: metlife.com/mybenefits
• Fax to: 1-800-230-9531
• Email to: NewsCorpclaims@MetLife.com

MetLife US Mobile app is now available to use to track the status of your disability claim. Download it on the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

Who can I contact for assistance?

MetLife – Customer Service Center – 1-866-268-8224