If you’ve suffered an injury or have developed a physical or mental condition that is so severe that you are no longer able to work, long-term disability benefits can help support you financially while you receive treatment.
Applying for LTD benefits can seem overwhelming, and many people who are faced with a disabling condition often have similar questions about the process. You’ll find answers to common long-term disability questions below, but it’s always best to book a free consultation with one of the leading LTD lawyers in Toronto for answers regarding your specific case.
What are Long-Term Disability (LTD) Benefits?
Long-term disability benefits are payments made to a person insured under a long-term disability policy that provides monthly income replacement (usually a percentage of their regular wages) when an insured can no longer work because of a disability.
LTD policies are often part of a benefits package employers offer their workers, although they can also be included in a group benefits plan or as a stand-alone policy someone (generally an independent contractor or self-employed person) buys for themselves.
How Severe Does My Disability Have to be to Qualify for LTD Benefits?
The definition of a disability can vary depending on the wording of a specific policy. A general definition is that a disabling condition, whether physical or mental, prevents you from the capability of performing the fundamental tasks or duties of the work you were doing before developing the disability. This is generally referred to as a “total disability” regarding your “own occupation.”
A disability does not have to be work-related to qualify for long-term disability benefits.
When Can I Apply for Long-Term Disability Benefits?
Every policy has its own rules about applying for long-term disability benefits. However, most, if not all, LTD policies have a “waiting period,” “qualifying period,” or “elimination period” (or a similar-sounding term) that you must wait before you can apply for long-term disability benefits. The waiting period can be anywhere from 60 to 150 days or longer, and you must be disabled and off work for the duration of the waiting period when applying for LTD benefits.
What Does it Take for an LTD Application to Get Approved?
When completing an application for long-term disability benefits, you and your treating physician must provide the insurance company with evidence that proves your disability and that demonstrates specifically how your condition prevents you from completing your work.
It’s a good idea to meet with your doctor when they are filling out their portion of your LTD claim to ensure that they include this information and provide all the documentation available to support their opinions.
Insurance companies prefer “objective” evidence such as x-rays and blood tests; however, if your medical condition can’t be verified through those means, this does not mean that you don’t qualify for LTD benefits. Conditions including chronic pain and mental illness are among the most common in Canada and do not appear on diagnostic images or in blood tests. These “invisible illnesses,” however, are legitimate and usually covered by LTD policies.
With that said, however, despite providing them with enough evidence to support a claim, insurance companies routinely deny legitimate claims for long-term disability benefits.
What Should I Do If My LTD Claim is Denied?
Speak to a disability lawyer right away. Insurance companies are in business to make money and, unfortunately, will often only pay claims when threatened with legal action by a long-term disability lawyer.
