Canada’s Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD and LTD, respectively) programs provide employees with wage compensation enduring injuries or illnesses demanding significant time away from work.

Benefits can vary from employer to employer and between employer-provided plans and privately purchased ones offered by business groups, alumni associations, and insurance companies. Always consult your own plan before preparing a claim.

As the plans themselves vary, so too will the criteria for assistance:

• What forms must you prepare?
• What actions must your physician have taken for you to qualify?
• What is the waiting period prior to approval?
• What are the terms of length and amount paid?
• Will payouts be deducted from other available funds?

An STD claim requires a medically documented explanation of the condition and an expected return date. It is usual in the policies that in the first two years disability is decided following a condition to perform a previous occupation. “Total Disability” is defined as a complete inability lasting longer than two years to perform any given occupation. The terms of your policy and your medical conditions decide as to what benefits you are entitled to.

STD and LTD benefits can both expire and both can be cut off if your insurance company terminates you, if you gain income, or if you return to work. It’s important to hold on to all disability-benefit documentation and keep a physician up to date on the state of your condition, should a dispute arise.