QUALIFYING FOR LTD

The Plan provides you with the safety net of income replacement if you are unable to work for a prolonged period of time because of an illness or injury. 

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To qualify, you must:

• be a member of the Plan

• be under the care of a health care provider

• have your disability medically supported

• be totally disabled from your own occupation during the qualifying period

• remain totally disabled from your own occupation for a period of 24 months after the qualifying period; this changes after those 24 months are up - see "Change of Definition" below

            o   "Your own occupation" means the type of work you do (such as welding, computer repair, or teaching), not the specific

                  job you were doing with your employer

 

For claimants with a date of disability as of or after June 1, 2025

The qualifying period means:

• for full-time employees - 100 consecutive work days you are unable to work or perform the essential duties of your own occupation because of illness or injury or the expiry of sick leave, whichever is greater 

• for part-time employees - 20 consecutive weeks you are unable to work or perform the essential duties of your own occupation because of your illness or injury or the expiry of sick leave, whichever is greater 

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Change of Definition

The definition of disability changes once the qualifying period and the 24 months are up.  Under the new definition, you are disabled if you are unable to work in any occupation that you are able - or may become able - to perform based on your education, training, and experience that pays not less than 75% of your pre-disability earnings. The availability of work will not be considered in assessing disability.

 

For claimants with a date of disability prior to June 1, 2025

The qualifying period means:

• for full-time employees - 100 consecutive work days you are unable to work or perform regular duties because of illness or injury

• for part-time employees - 20 consecutive calendar weeks you are unable to work or perform regular duties because of your illness or injury​

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​Change of Definition

The definition of disability changes once the qualifying period and the 24 months are up.  Under the new definition, you are disabled if you are unable to work in any occupation that you are able - or may become able - to perform based on your education, training, and experience that pays not less than 75% of the current rate of pay for the position, class, and step you held before your disability.​

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