What is long-term disability insurance?
Long-term disability insurance is a form of insurance that covers a portion of your income (usually 50-70%) when you are significantly injured or seriously ill. When you cannot work for an extended period of time, a long-term disability plan can help cover a portion of your salary.
Understanding Long Term Disability in Canada
All Canadian workers are covered by CPP, with premiums deducted from a worker’s wages and remitted by the employer. Many workers also have private long-term disability insurance such as Manulife, which is usually paid for by the employer as part of a benefits package, but can be purchased separately by self-employed people.
One of the primary questions you have to ask before applying for these benefits is whether you qualify; you must be categorized as disabled so that you can no longer work as a result of injury or chronically illness. Some of the cases that meet this criterion are:
- dementia;
- post-traumatic stress disorder;
- back problems;
- cancer;
- chronic pain;
- severe arthritis;
- depression;
- heart conditions; and
- lung diseases
Notably, the benefits offered by the government of Canada vary from province to province.
What You Need to Prove in a Long-Term Disability Claim
After you have demonstrated that you qualify for long-term disability, you will then have to prove that your condition is so severe that you cannot work. If you were working, you will have to show that you can no longer find employment that takes into account your condition, even if you have special accommodations made for your particular case. While this is a critical step in showing that you are disabled, it is often difficult to prove on your own. The Ontario Disability Support Program has published a list of disabilities that can qualify for the use of provincial benefits.
Calculating Long Term Disability Benefits
If you find that you qualify for long-term benefits, you must immediately establish what your exact entitlements under the program are. This will be determined by different factors including the amount of money that you have contributed, the duration of time worked and your overall financial need. Since each case is unique, you should discuss your options with a long-term disability attorney before taking a step forward.
When Your Long Term Disability Claim is Denied
It is common for people to be denied benefits claims for various reasons. On certain occasions, you do not meet the criteria or you have failed to provide adequate information, or your medical records do not contain sufficient evidence to back up your claim. Consequently, you could experience a level of difficulty in getting the benefits you seek, though you actually deserve. Luckily, receiving a no-decision is not the end of your claim as you can always appeal. If you find yourself in such a situation, do not take chances anymore. Consider hiring a disability claims attorney to take over your matter.
Why You Need a Long Term Disability Attorney
Do not waste time going through all the trouble only to have your application rejected at some point due to technicalities that you can avoid. From the onset, you need to understand that insurance companies can easily oppose your application. Similarly, government agencies have countless pages of rules and regulations capable of slowing down and ultimately prevent claims from being paid. Fortunately, there are professionals with the required skills and experience to handle all aspects of your claim, even if it means pursuing it through the court system.