Long Term Disability Claims Specialist I

MetLife; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 41,600 - 60,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off

Job summary

MetLife is seeking a Long-Term Disability Claims Specialist I to evaluate long-term disability claims, gather medical information, and deliver timely decisions according to plan provisions and service standards.

You will manage a caseload, communicate with claimants and professionals, and develop strong claims evaluation and critical thinking skills in a fast-paced, growth-focused environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent and ability to work within commuting distance.
• Experience in customer service and claim support with clear communication.
• Strong critical thinking, analysis, investigation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication with a collaborative approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead thorough disability claim evaluations by gathering, reviewing, and interpreting medical, occupational, financial information to support sound decisions.
• Create clear, accurate claim documentation and recommended decisions aligned with plan provisions and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee an assigned caseload of pending and active disability claims with timely follow-up in a fast-paced environment.
• Provide proactive communication with claimants, representatives, customers, attorneys, and other stakeholders by delivering updates and gathering information.
• Develop action plans, assess return-to-work potential, and address escalated issues using appropriate resolution strategies.
• Coordinate with physicians, attorneys, and consultants to obtain information for well-supported decisions.

Skills

Customer service

Claim review

Critical thinking

Communication

Organizational skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

On MetLife’s Global Customer Service and Operations (GCSO) team, customer care is built on trust, empathy, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Whether guiding customers through life’s important moments, solving challenges, or simplifying processes with innovative technology, you’ll help deliver a differentiated experience grounded in operational excellence. Backed by a collaborative team, you’ll play a vital role in strengthening the way we care and advocate for millions worldwide. Here, making a real difference isn’t just a goal - it’s what we do, one conversation at a time.

The Opportunity

The Long-Term Disability Claims Specialist I is responsible for evaluating long term disability claims, gathering and analyzing medical, and delivering timely claim decisions in accordance with plan provisions, and service standards across the United States. Guided by our purpose – always with you building a more confident future – and our New Frontier strategy focused on stronger growth, attractive returns and all-weather performance, this is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact for customers during important moments in their lives. In this role, you will develop strong claim evaluation, customer communication, and critical thinking skills while working in a fast-paced environment that offers growth, increasing decision‑making authority, and progression toward a Long-Term Disability Claims Specialist II role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead thorough and balanced disability claim evaluations by gathering, reviewing, and interpreting medical, occupational, financial, and other relevant information to support sound claim decisions.
• Create clear, accurate, and timely claim documentation, correspondence, and recommended decisions that align with plan provisions, service expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee an assigned caseload of pending and active disability claims, ensuring timely follow-up, consistent progress, and effective management of priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Manage proactive communication with claimants, representatives, customers, attorneys, brokers, and family members by providing updates, explaining claim decisions, and gathering critical claim information.
• Develop action plans, identify return-to-work potential, and address inconsistencies or escalated issues by applying critical thinking and appropriate claim resolution strategies.
• Coordinate with internal and external resources, including physicians, attorneys, and clinical or vocational consultants, to obtain information needed for thorough, reasonable, and well‑supported claim decisions.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma and the ability to work within a commutable distance of the posted site to support effective onboarding, training, and role readiness.
• Customer service and claim support experience with the ability to gather information, communicate clearly, and help drive timely, informed disability claim decisions.
• Critical thinking, analysis, investigation, and problem‑solving skills with a disciplined, organized work style to assess claim details, prioritize caseloads, and develop appropriate next steps.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills paired with a customer‑focused, proactive, and collaborative approach to working with claimants, partners, and internal stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience in disability claims

Benefits We Offer

The expected salary range for this position is $41,600 - $60,500. This role may also be eligible for annual short‑term incentive compensation and stock‑based long‑term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms. Our U.S. benefits address holistic well‑being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no‑cost short‑and long‑term disability. We also provide company‑paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!

MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug‑free workplace.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.