There is no government FMLA fax number. FMLA paperwork, usually the medical certification on form WH-380-E (your own condition) or WH-380-F (a family member's), goes to your employer or the leave administrator your employer uses, not to the Department of Labor. Fax it to the number on your leave request letter, generally within 15 calendar days of the request. Two large administrators publish their numbers: Unum (800-447-2498) and MetLife (1-800-230-9531).

This guide covers who receives FMLA certification, the deadlines in the federal rules, the leave administrator fax numbers we could verify, and the mistakes that leave a certification "missing" on day 16.

  • The certification goes to your employer or its administrator, never to the DOL
  • 15 calendar days to return it after the request, and at least 7 days to fix gaps
  • Verified leave fax numbers for Unum and MetLife

Table of Contents

Who receives FMLA paperwork

The Family and Medical Leave Act lets eligible employees take job-protected leave for a serious health condition. Employers may ask for a certification from a health care provider to support the leave, and the certification goes back to whoever is managing the leave:

  • Your employer's HR or benefits team, at smaller employers or those that run leave in-house
  • A third-party leave administrator, such as Unum, MetLife, Sedgwick, Lincoln Financial, or The Hartford, at many larger employers

The Department of Labor publishes the optional forms but does not collect them. Faxing a WH-380 to the DOL does nothing for your leave.

Privacy is built into the rules. The DOL says the employer may contact your provider only through a human resources professional, a leave administrator, a management official, or another health care provider, and your direct supervisor may never contact your provider.

WH-380-E and WH-380-F

The DOL's two certification forms are:

  • WH-380-E: Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee's Serious Health Condition
  • WH-380-F: Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member's Serious Health Condition

Both are optional. The DOL says the FMLA does not require any particular form, and employers must accept a complete and sufficient certification in any format. In practice, leave administrators often send their own version, so use the form that came with your request if there is one.

The health care provider fills in the medical sections: the condition, when it started, how long it is expected to last, and the leave needed. Your part covers your details and, on WH-380-F, the family relationship and the care you will provide.

FMLA certification deadlines

These timelines come from the DOL's guidance on the FMLA regulations (29 CFR 825.305):

  • When the employer asks: usually at the time you give notice of the need for leave, or within five business days after. For unforeseen leave, within five business days after the leave begins.
  • Your deadline: at least 15 calendar days after the employer's request. The employer may allow longer, and more time is required when you cannot meet it despite diligent, good-faith efforts, for example because your provider is unavailable.
  • Fixing gaps: if the certification is incomplete or insufficient, the employer must tell you in writing what is missing and give you at least seven calendar days to cure it.
  • If you never send it: the employer can deny FMLA protection after the deadline until a complete certification arrives, and leave with no certification at all is not FMLA-protected.
  • Recertification: generally no more often than every 30 days and only in connection with an absence, with some exceptions, such as a request every six months for a long-term condition.

Verified leave administrator fax numbers

We publish a leave administrator's fax number only if the company publishes it on its own website or forms. Verified November 2026.

Leave administrator Fax number What it is for Source
Unum 800-447-2498 Faxing claims information (listed under "File a claim or request a leave"; allow 14 days for processing) unum.com contact page
MetLife 1-800-230-9531 Paper claim forms for short-term disability and paid leave; MetLife says to submit certifications once when a leave also qualifies for FMLA MetLife paid leave guide, MetLife STD guide
Sedgwick, Lincoln Financial, The Hartford Not listed These administrators route leave paperwork by employer and claim. Use the fax number on your claim acknowledgement letter or in your online claim portal -

MetLife's own short-term disability claim form also prints 1-800-230-9531 and says faxing speeds up receipt. Both MetLife guides add that when a leave qualifies for more than one MetLife-administered benefit, such as short-term disability and FMLA, you complete one claim form and submit authorizations and certifications only once.

The number on your letter wins

Leave administrators run separate intake for different employers, programs, and states. The fax number printed on your leave request letter, claim acknowledgement, or the cover page the administrator sent with the form is tied to your claim, and it can differ from any general number above.

If you have no letter:

  1. Log in to the administrator's claim portal, where upload is often faster than fax.
  2. Ask HR which administrator handles your leave and where certifications go.
  3. Call the administrator and ask for the fax number for medical certification on your claim number.

How to fax FMLA paperwork, step by step

  1. Read the request letter. Note the due date, the claim number, and the fax number.
  2. Give the form to your provider early. Busy offices can take a week or more.
  3. Check the completed form before sending: dates, the expected duration, the frequency of any intermittent leave, and the provider's signature.
  4. Add a cover sheet with your name, employer, claim number, and page count.
  5. Fax it to the number on your letter. You can send a fax online for $2.99, with no subscription and no account, which helps when the provider hands you the form instead of faxing it.
  6. Keep the confirmation and a copy of every page.

Why FMLA certifications get rejected

  • Blank or vague fields. "Unknown" for duration, or no frequency for intermittent leave, makes a certification insufficient.
  • Missing signature or date from the provider.
  • No claim number. Administrators match pages by claim number, and a certification without one can sit unassigned.
  • Sent to the wrong place. The DOL, a generic HR inbox, or an old administrator after your employer switched providers.
  • Sent late without warning. If your provider cannot finish in 15 days, tell your employer before the deadline and document your efforts.
  • Illegible pages. Handwritten provider notes in light ink can blur at fax resolution. Ask for dark ink or a typed form.

Faxing FMLA paperwork is simple once you know where it goes: your employer or its leave administrator, at the number on your letter, inside 15 calendar days, with your claim number on the cover.

Fax your FMLA paperwork now →

Frequently asked questions

What is the FMLA fax number?

There is no government FMLA fax number. FMLA certification goes to your employer or its leave administrator, not to the Department of Labor. Use the fax number on your leave request letter or claim acknowledgement.

How long do I have to return FMLA paperwork?

Under the Department of Labor's FMLA rules, the employer must give you at least 15 calendar days after its request to return the medical certification. If the certification is incomplete or insufficient, you get at least seven calendar days to fix it once the employer tells you in writing what is missing.

Can my doctor fax the FMLA form directly?

Usually, yes. Many leave administrators accept the certification from the provider's office. But the employee is responsible for making sure a complete certification arrives, so confirm it was sent and keep a copy.

What is the Unum fax number for leave paperwork?

Unum's contact page lists 800-447-2498 for faxing claims information, under its file a claim or request a leave section, and says to allow 14 days for processing. If your Unum letter lists a different fax, use that one.

What happens if I don't return the FMLA certification?

The Department of Labor says an employer can deny FMLA protection for the leave after the deadline passes until a complete certification is provided, and if no certification is ever produced, the leave is not FMLA-protected.

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