At a glance
Losing someone you love can leave you juggling a lot at once, and benefits may be the last thing on your mind. You don’t need to know all of this today — or even this week. When you’re ready, the steps below walk you through what’s here for you and how to take the next step.
The 30-day rule.
If the person you lost was a covered dependent (a spouse, domestic partner, or child), that’s considered a qualifying life event, and you’ll need to update your benefits coverage within 30 days from the date of the loss. When you’re ready, log in to the LSC Benefits Center or call 888-681-2241 (Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. CT).
Help right away
You don’t have to carry this by yourself. Help is a phone call away, any hour of the day.
Call the EAP. Whatever you need right now — someone to talk to or simply help figuring out what to do next — the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), run by Carelon Wellbeing, is free, confidential, and available 24/7 for you and everyone in your household. You and your household members can receive six free visits per issue, per year. You don’t need to be enrolled in any Company benefits to use it.
If you need to talk to someone tonight, a licensed Virtual Behavioral Specialist is available 24/7 through Teladoc Health for $10 per visit — no advance appointment needed.
Filing a claim
Whenever you feel ready to take this step, here’s how.
Report the death. You or a member of your family can contact the LSC Benefits Center, which will pass the information to MetLife. This is also a good reminder to update your own beneficiary so the person who receives this benefit is who you want it to be.
File a claim. If your loved one was covered under Company life insurance, call MetLife at 888-447-8996, press 3 for life insurance, then press 2 to report a death.
Submit any applicable supplemental claims. If your loved one was enrolled in Accident, Critical Illness, or Hospital Indemnity Insurance, their passing may qualify for a benefit — review their coverage and file a claim if eligible.
Managing the estate
You shouldn’t have to face probate and estate paperwork alone, and you don’t have to. Your benefits include services built for exactly this, and some come with your life insurance at no extra cost.
Talk it through with someone who knows the answers. The EAP’s Legal & Financial Services can connect you to a confidential conversation with a legal or financial expert, plus you’ll receive discounts on services for whatever questions come up along the way.
Get your own documents in order, too. With Basic Life Insurance, you can easily prepare or update a will, living will, or power of attorney online anytime through MetLife’s willscenter.com. If you’re enrolled in Supplemental Life Insurance, you can also meet in person with an attorney to update these documents — just call MetLife Legal Plans at 800‑821‑6400.
Take care of essential legal planning. Having Basic Life Insurance gives you access to MetLife’s Digital Estate Planning tool, where you can prepare an Advance Health Care Directive, Durable Financial Power of Attorney, and other estate planning documents. If you have Supplemental Life Insurance, Estate Resolution Services offers unlimited attorney consultations and in‑court support. For both services, start by creating an account at legalplans.com/estateplanning.
Funeral discounts and planning. You don’t have to navigate this alone. With Basic Life Insurance, you can access Dignity Memorial’s network of funeral homes and cemeteries, receive guidance from a licensed counselor, and get discounted funeral services. Call 866‑853‑0954 or visit finalwishesplanning.com.
Grief support
However and whenever grief shows up for you, there’s support waiting.
Your EAP counseling is here for you. Every member of your household can receive up to six free sessions per issue, per year — in person or online, whatever feels right.
Or talk on your own schedule. Talkspace connects you with a licensed counselor from your phone or laptop, whenever and wherever works for you; dependents aged 13+ can use it too. (enter: LSC Communications)
Care for you and your family. In addition to the free EAP sessions, your Basic Life Insurance offers up to five free grief private counseling sessions — available face‑to‑face or over the phone — for you and your dependents. Reach LifeWorks, US Inc. 24/7 at 888‑319‑7819 or metlifegc.lifeworks.com (username: metlifeassist / password: support).
Updating your coverage
These steps do have a 30-day window, and while it may feel hard to focus on paperwork right now, taking care of it ensures your benefits reflect what’s changed.
Report the life event. Losing a covered spouse, domestic partner, or child allows you to update your medical, dental, and other coverage outside of Annual Enrollment. Log in to the LSC Benefits Center or call 888-681-2241 within 30 days — see Life Events for the full process.
Take a look at your beneficiaries. A loss often prompts people to check who is listed elsewhere — your Life & AD&D Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity, and HSA are each managed separately, so it’s worth checking all of them along with any other investment and insurance policies purchased outside of the Company.
Keep this handy through every step
Call the EAP or a Virtual Behavioral Specialist any time, day or night
Report the death and submit the life event by contacting the LSC Benefits Center within 30 days
Report a death and file a life insurance claim with MetLife,and if applicable, supplemental health insurance
Contact the EAP’s Legal & Financial Services team for expert guidance
Get your own wills, estate planning, and funeral arrangements in order via programs through MetLife life insurance
Use your six free EAP counseling sessions per issue, per year, through Talkspace, and five free grief counseling sessions through MetLife
Review and update your beneficiaries on life insurance, your 401(k), Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and your HSA
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