How to Filing Short-Term Disability Benefits at Coca-Cola Missouri

Collect all necessary personal and medical documentation while confirming your eligibility under Coca-Cola's specific Short-Term Disability plan administered by Lincoln Financial. Example: Locate your Coca-Cola employee ID, Social Security card, and current Lincoln Financial STD policy documents from your benefits packet, verify your employment status as either hourly non-union (66.67% weekly earnings up to $750 maximum, 0-day waiting period for hospitalization, 7-day for sickness) or salary non-union (100% weeks 1-8 for injury, weeks 2-8 for sickness, then 75% weeks 9-26), gather recent pay stubs showing your current earnings for benefit calculation purposes, collect your primary healthcare provider information including full name, practice address, phone number, and NPI number for Lincoln Financial's medical certification requirements, compile all relevant medical records from the past 12 months including lab results, imaging reports, treatment notes, and prescription history that support your disability claim, organize insurance cards including your primary health insurance, Coca-Cola employee benefits card, and any supplemental coverage information, and create a timeline of your medical condition including onset date, progression, treatments attempted, and current functional limitations that prevent you from performing your specific job duties at Coca-Cola.

Provide immediate notification to your direct supervisor and Coca-Cola HR department about your medical condition and inability to work, following company policy for disability leave notification. Example: Contact your direct supervisor within 24 hours of becoming aware that your medical condition will prevent you from working, providing basic information about the expected duration without disclosing specific medical details, call Coca-Cola HR Benefits department at the number provided in your employee handbook to formally report your disability claim and request STD forms, document the date, time, and person you spoke with during each notification call for your records, request written confirmation from HR acknowledging receipt of your disability notification and outlining next steps in the process, ask for your specific company code and any Coca-Cola-specific forms required beyond standard Lincoln Financial documentation, inquire about whether your STD claim can run concurrently with FMLA if applicable (particularly important if your condition may last longer than 26 weeks), verify your current benefits enrollment status and confirm that your STD coverage is active and when it became effective, and obtain contact information for Coca-Cola's designated benefits representative who will liaise with Lincoln Financial throughout your claim process to ensure seamless communication between all parties.

Access and complete the official Lincoln Financial Short-Term Disability claim application through Coca-Cola's designated benefits portal, ensuring all information is accurate and complete. Example: Log into My Lincoln Portal using company code 'COCACOLA' and your Social Security number to access the STD claim application, complete all required personal information sections including current address, emergency contact, and banking information for direct deposit of benefits, provide detailed job information including your specific role at Coca-Cola, daily work responsibilities, physical and mental demands of your position, work schedule, and date of last day worked, accurately describe your medical condition including onset date, diagnosis (if known), symptoms that prevent work performance, and expected duration of disability, upload digital copies of initial medical documentation including doctor's note stating inability to work and any diagnostic test results supporting your claim, designate your primary treating physician who will complete the medical certification portion and provide their complete contact information, review all information for accuracy before submission as errors can delay processing by several weeks, submit the completed application electronically through the portal and print confirmation receipt showing submission date and claim number, and set up account notifications to receive real-time updates on claim status, requests for additional information, and benefit payment processing throughout the duration of your claim.

Work directly with your treating physician to complete the medical certification requirements for Lincoln Financial, ensuring all documentation meets Coca-Cola STD plan specifications. Example: Schedule an appointment with your primary treating physician within 48 hours of submitting your STD claim to discuss the medical certification requirements and timeline, provide your doctor with the Lincoln Financial medical certification form that will be sent directly to their office or download from My Lincoln Portal, give your physician detailed information about your specific job duties at Coca-Cola including physical requirements (lifting, standing, computer work) and mental demands (decision-making, concentration, stress levels), discuss with your doctor the expected duration of your disability and whether you anticipate needing intermittent leave, return to work with restrictions, or full disability for the entire claim period, ensure your physician understands that Lincoln Financial requires specific medical evidence including objective findings, diagnostic test results, and functional capacity limitations rather than just subjective symptom reporting, request that your doctor complete and return the medical certification within 5 business days to avoid claim processing delays, and follow up with your physician's office to confirm they received the forms and understand the urgency of returning completed documentation to Lincoln Financial for timely benefit payments.

Compile and submit comprehensive medical evidence supporting your disability claim, including all relevant diagnostic tests, specialist reports, and treatment records that demonstrate your inability to perform job functions. Example: Gather all diagnostic test results from the past 12 months including blood work, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, cardiac studies, or psychological evaluations that support your medical condition and disability claim, collect reports from any medical specialists you've consulted including orthopedists, cardiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, or other relevant specialists who can verify your functional limitations, compile records of all treatments attempted including medications, physical therapy, surgical procedures, or other interventions that demonstrate the severity and persistence of your condition, document any hospitalizations or emergency room visits related to your disabling condition with discharge summaries and treatment notes, create a detailed symptom log showing how your condition affects your daily activities and ability to perform specific work tasks at Coca-Cola, obtain written statements from family members or friends who can attest to your functional limitations and changes in your ability to perform daily activities since your condition began, and organize all documentation chronologically with a cover letter summarizing your medical history and current functional status to provide Lincoln Financial with a clear picture of your disability claim's validity.

Actively track your claim progress through the Lincoln Financial system and promptly respond to any requests for additional information to prevent delays in benefit payments. Example: Check your My Lincoln Portal account daily for claim status updates, new messages from claims representatives, or requests for additional documentation, respond to any Lincoln Financial requests for additional information within 24-48 hours to prevent claim processing delays, maintain a log of all communications with Lincoln Financial including dates, representative names, phone call summaries, and any commitments made by either party, provide any additional medical records or documentation requested by the claims examiner promptly and in the format specified (electronic upload preferred), attend any independent medical examinations (IME) scheduled by Lincoln Financial as failure to attend can result in claim denial, keep detailed records of your ongoing medical treatment and any changes in your condition that could affect your disability status, communicate any return-to-work plans or functional capacity improvements to your claims representative immediately, and document any challenges or concerns with the claims process to discuss with Coca-Cola HR or legal counsel if necessary to ensure your rights are protected throughout the evaluation period.

Coordinate your return-to-work process with both Lincoln Financial and Coca-Cola HR to ensure smooth transition back to employment while protecting your rights and benefits. Example: Begin return-to-work discussions with your treating physician 2-3 weeks before your anticipated return date to obtain medical clearance and any work restrictions or accommodations needed, contact Lincoln Financial claims representative to discuss return-to-work timeline and any gradual return options available under your STD plan, communicate with Coca-Cola HR about your intended return date and any medical restrictions that might require workplace accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, request any necessary workplace accommodations in writing including modified duties, schedule changes, or ergonomic equipment that will enable you to perform your job safely, ensure your physician provides a detailed return-to-work note specifying any limitations, restrictions, or accommodations needed for successful reintegration, coordinate with Coca-Cola's occupational health department if required for fitness-for-duty evaluation or workplace assessment, document all return-to-work communications and agreements to protect against potential retaliation or discrimination, and maintain contact with Lincoln Financial for 30 days after return to work to address any issues that arise during the transition period and ensure your STD benefits are properly concluded.