MetLife Disability Lawsuit: Is There a Settlement? (October 2026)
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Short answer: as of October 2026 there is no MetLife disability class action settlement in the U.S., no fund and no claim form. A MetLife disability lawsuit today is almost always one person suing over one denied claim under ERISA. The “MetLife settlement” in the news is a Canadian life-insurance case, approved September 8, 2026 — it does not cover disability benefits.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What People Mean by a MetLife Disability Lawsuit
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company sells group and individual disability insurance, mostly through employers. When it denies or cuts off long-term disability benefits, the dispute usually becomes a lawsuit under ERISA, the federal law governing employee benefit plans — one claimant, one plan, one denial. Typical complaints allege that MetLife ignored treating doctors, relied on file reviews, or ended benefits when the policy switched from “own occupation” to “any occupation.” One example drew coverage in June 2026: a former Sidley Austin equity partner sued Metropolitan Life in the Northern District of Illinois, alleging it wrongly denied disability benefits after she became disabled from Covid-19. That is an allegation in a single case; MetLife has not been found liable.
Case Details
Four separate things share the name. 1. Individual ERISA suits — filed in federal court under 29 U.S.C. §1132(a)(1)(B); each is decided on its own claim file. 2. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Glenn, No. 06-923 — the U.S. Supreme Court held on June 19, 2008 that an insurer which both decides and pays claims has a conflict of interest that courts may weigh. Claimants still cite it against MetLife. 3. Julian v. MetLife, Inc., No. 1:17-cv-00957 (S.D.N.Y.) — an overtime case by MetLife’s own LTD claim specialists, not by policyholders; the parties reported a settlement in February 2022. 4. The Sun Life/MetLife class action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice — about universal life policies sold by MetLife in Canada from 1987 to 1998, not disability.
Status: No Disability Class Settlement
Which Case, If Any, Applies to You
You had MetLife disability coverage through work and were denied or cut off: no class covers you. Your rights run through ERISA’s claims rule — you generally get at least 180 days from the denial letter to file the internal appeal, and missing it usually ends the case. See our long-term disability lawyer guide.
You bought an individual MetLife disability policy yourself: ERISA likely does not apply, so state insurance law and possibly bad-faith claims do.
You held a MetLife universal life policy in Canada from that era: you may be in the Sun Life/MetLife class. Watch the class counsel website.
You worked as a MetLife LTD claim specialist: the Julian overtime case was reported settled in February 2022.
What a MetLife Disability Case Pays
MetLife Disability Litigation Timeline
- 1
June 19, 2008 — Supreme Court Decides Glenn
In a dispute over a Sears long-term disability plan, the Court holds that MetLife’s dual role of deciding and paying claims is a conflict of interest courts may weigh.
- 2
February 2017 — Claim Specialists Sue
MetLife LTD claim specialists file Julian v. MetLife in New York federal court, alleging they were reclassified in November 2013 and denied overtime.
- 3
February 2022 — Overtime Case Settles
The claim specialists and MetLife report a settlement of the $50 million suit. Terms were not reported in the coverage we found.
- 4
April 30, 2026 — Sun Life Announces Deal
Sun Life reaches a settlement in principle over MetLife-issued life policies in Canada, worth up to $213.5 million in Canadian dollars.
- 5
June 2026 — New Individual ERISA Suit
A former Sidley Austin partner sues Metropolitan Life in the Northern District of Illinois over denied disability benefits after Covid-19, per Bloomberg Law.
- 6
September 8, 2026 — Canadian Settlement Approved
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approves the Sun Life/MetLife settlement; class counsel lists October 8, 2026 as the effective date. Still no U.S. disability class settlement as of October 2026.
Three Things to Watch For
The gap between “MetLife settlement” headlines and the absence of any disability fund is where these show up:
“Claim your MetLife disability settlement”
No such fund exists for U.S. disability claimants as of October 2026. A form asking for your Social Security number, policy number or bank details to “release your share” is collecting data, not filing a claim.
Canadian settlement notices sent to U.S. readers
The Sun Life/MetLife deal covers certain universal life policies sold in Canada. Class counsel’s September 18, 2026 update says details on eligibility and how to apply will be posted in November, and the deal concerns life insurance, not disability — treat an unsolicited call promising disability money from it as a red flag.
Guides that cite a 2026 class action with no case name
Some web guides describe 2026 MetLife disability class actions without a court, docket number or administrator. If a page cannot name the case, do not let it set your appeal timing — the 180-day ERISA clock keeps running.
MetLife Disability Lawsuit — Questions People Ask
Is there a MetLife disability settlement I can file a claim in?
No. As of October 5, 2026 there is no MetLife disability settlement in the U.S. with a fund, administrator or claim form. Disputes over denied MetLife disability benefits are resolved claim by claim, through the plan appeal and, if necessary, an individual ERISA lawsuit.
What is the MetLife settlement in the news?
A Canadian class action against Sun Life over universal life policies that MetLife sold in Canada from 1987 to 1998. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved it on September 8, 2026. It is worth up to $213.5 million in Canadian dollars and has nothing to do with disability insurance.
Can I sue MetLife for denying my long-term disability claim?
Usually yes, but only after the plan’s internal appeal if your coverage came through an employer. ERISA’s claims rule gives at least 180 days from the denial to appeal. The court generally decides on the claim file built during that appeal, so the appeal is where your medical evidence has to go.
How long does MetLife have to decide my disability claim?
Under the federal claims rule, a plan must decide a disability claim within 45 days of receiving it, extendable by up to 30 days and then by another 30 days if it notifies you in writing and explains why. Before denying an appeal it must also give you, free of charge, any new evidence it relied on.
What did the Supreme Court decide in MetLife v. Glenn?
On June 19, 2008, the Court held that an insurer which both evaluates and pays disability claims has a conflict of interest that judges may weigh when reviewing a denial. In that case MetLife had encouraged the claimant to seek Social Security disability, took an offset from her award, then found she could do sedentary work.
Did MetLife settle a lawsuit with its disability claims staff?
Yes, per reporting from February 2022. Julian v. MetLife (S.D.N.Y. No. 1:17-cv-00957) alleged that LTD claim specialists were reclassified in November 2013 and denied overtime, seeking over $50 million. It was a wage case for employees, not a payout to policyholders.
Does an individual MetLife policy work differently?
Often. Policies you bought yourself, and many government or church plans, are generally outside ERISA. State insurance law then applies, which can allow a jury and bad-faith damages. Your policy and how you got it decide which rules apply.
What should I do right now if MetLife denied my claim?
Write down the date on the denial letter and count 180 days. Request your complete claim file in writing — the rule lets you get claim documents free of charge. Get your treating doctors to address the specific reasons MetLife gave. Use the payout calculator only for real, open settlements.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
Related Consumer Brand Lawsuits
Long-Term Disability Lawyer
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The Standard Disability Denials
Same ERISA rules applied to another large group disability insurer
Insurance Bad Faith
When an individual policy outside ERISA opens state-law claims
Open Class Action Settlements
Settlements currently accepting claims, with deadlines