What You
Should Know About Long Term Disability in Ontario
With
one in
seven Ontarians living with a disability, it’s important to be informed about
long-term disability in Ontario. Many people have long-term disability coverage
through work or private insurance plans.
Long Term
Disability Coverage
You may not even know you have long-term disability (LTD) coverage in
Ontario until you need it. It’s usually bundled with short-term disability
coverage, which often covers the first six months of a leave. This coverage is
intended to replace lost income if you’re off due to an illness or sickness. An
illness that’s included in one policy may be exempted from another, so it’s
important to know your LTD coverage.
Claims are sometimes denied because
of the vague language used in most policies. A policy will require a person to
be "totally disabled” to claim benefits but there is no uniform description of
what that means. That leads to disputes with insurance companies and requires
the enlistment of a Long Term Disability Ontario lawyer whose job it is to get people
the benefits they deserve. The non-uniform terminology can be especially
challenging for those who don’t have a visible disability, such as a person
with a
mood
disorder.
If you’re unable to do your job, LTD will pay benefits for up to two
years. At that point, you may have to show evidence that you can’t do any job
before your benefits continue. This is often the point where people run into
trouble and need the help of a lawyer. The insurance company is eager to prove
that the claimant no longer needs coverage and may even require a visit to a
doctor of the insurance company’s choice.
Canada
Pension Plan Disability Benefit
The
CPP
Disability Benefit is available to Canadians who are suffering from a
long-term disability or illness that prevents them from working. To be
eligible, you have to be under 65 years of age, have a severe and prolonged
disability and have contributed a minimum amount to CPP the previous year, for
a minimum number of years.
In order to avoid losing months of your benefit, it’s important to
apply as soon as you become unable to work or are diagnosed with a terminal
condition. If you are terminally ill, your completed application will be
reviewed within 48 hours.
How a Long
Term Disability Ontario Lawyer Can Help
An experienced long-term disability law firm can help level the playing
field when you’re dealing with a large insurance company. Your lawyer is used
to dealing with large insurers who have a vested interest in denying your
claim.
Sometimes a claim is denied because the insurance company hired
investigators to take surveillance video that refutes your claims. Something as
simple as picking up your morning paper can be used against you if you have a
back injury. The problem with such a video is that it doesn’t show the pain you
may be in later or the hours spent recuperating (possibly while reading that
paper). Your lawyer can help put the act in perspective and show your true
pain.
If you’re filing for long term disability in Ontario, it’s important to
contact a lawyer who can help your claim.