What Conditions Qualify for Disability Benefits with Group Insurance?

Nearly 500,000 eligible Canadians rightfully qualify for disability benefits and do not know it. That is because many group insurers in Canada will accept premium payments and advertise their services but will not advertise how or when qualifying events could trigger a disability claim.

There are numerous conditions that could qualify you for both long-term and short-term disability benefits, many of which do not require permanent disability. Wondering if you or a friend qualify for disability, keep reading.

“Qualifying Conditions” in Canada

Canadian disability benefits are owed to residents, regardless of province, who are unable to perform day-to-day activities such as work. The length of time you will receive benefits, along with amounts, are tied to the underlying condition prohibiting you from gainful employment.

Each contract for disability benefits defines the meaning of “disability” and may have time periods for qualifying.

Most workplaces offer disability insurance, although one may opt to purchase their own policy from an approved life and health insurance agent.

Doctor’s Support

If your doctor does not support your condition, the likelihood is that your insurer and employer will not, either. That does not mean you will be automatically disqualified, it just means you will need to convince your doctor with a lawyer’s assistance.

To qualify for disability, your condition should be documented, with a treatment plan in place to help you overcome whatever condition, injury, mental illness, or sickness has brought you down.

Once you have your primary caregiver’s approval, you will need to follow procedures to apply for whichever benefit types fit your situation.

Each application:

• has its own requirements,
• its own list of qualifying conditions,
• and benefit amounts.

Should you need assistance with your application, you should stop and retain a disability benefits lawyer.

Do You Qualify for Disability Benefits?

From EI Sickness Benefit to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits, numerous disability programs exist to help persons unable to fend for themselves after an injury, or when sickness will put them out of commission for years. Determining eligible “events,” or conditions, will be different with each application.

For example, CPP requires potential benefactors to have:

• paid in to the Plan for a specified number of years,
• be under 65,
• and have a severe or prolonged sickness or injury which prevents them from returning to work.

The Ontario Disability Support Program offers cash benefits to eligible persons who are disabled but has less stringent requirements.

To qualify for disability benefits, a debilitating sickness or injury must be present. However, there is no specific “list” of approved injuries as all can have long-term complications. Same with mental illnesses. The important takeaway from this piece is knowing you probably qualify for one of Canada’s disability insurance programs, especially if your group insurance premiums are paid to-date, and you cannot return to work for the unforeseen future.

A disability lawyer can help those seeking disability benefits working with group insurance, have been injured at work, or have fallen mentally ill with no timetable for return. Reaching out to a disability lawyer can get your application started today.