Understanding Disability Benefits

To supplement your other sources of income if you’re living with a disability, the Government of Canada offers several programs:

Firstly, if you’ve lost your job, or are unable to work through no fault of your own and need short-term financial assistance, you may be entitled to receive Employment Insurance (EI). You may be eligible to get up to 15 weeks of EI sickness benefits if you’re unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine.

Secondly, the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits program  provides monthly payments for disability to people who have contributed to the plan during their working years. It’s considered a long-term disability benefits program. See: Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits for more details and to determine eligibility.

In addition, if you receive CPP disability and have children under 25 years of age, you might also be eligible for the CPP children’s benefits for dependents under 25. Read more here.

For veterans, if you’re on disability from your service in the Canadian Armed Forces or Merchant Navy, you may be eligible for disability benefits for veterans. For more details, see this article about Disability Benefits for Veterans.

In Ontario, the provincial government offers benefits and services through the WSIB (Workplace Safety & Insurance Board) as well as the ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program).

If you are ever injured or become ill because of your job, WSIB provides care and support you’re entitled to under Ontario’s workplace safety and insurance system. That includes benefits, as well as other support, such as return to work assistance. You can read more about WSIB benefits and services here.

See also: Why You Need a WSIB Lawyer

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services administers the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to help with your living expenses if you have a disability and become eligible to the program. The program offers both financial assistance, as well as other benefits and help.

See also: What Illnesses Are Covered Under the Disability Act?

On the other end, many Life Insurance companies also offer Disability Insurance Plans.

Many people receive insurance coverage for disability under a group health insurance plan subscribed to by their employer and sometimes by organizations such as professional associations for their members.

Some people might also have subscribed to private disability insurance through an individual health insurance plan. This can be done regardless of an existing group insurance coverage to complement or increase overall coverage in the event of disability.

In either case, the type of coverage depends on each plan, as well as eligibility, so it’s important to check your specific insurance policy’s terms for coverage as well as to what kind of benefits and support are made available.

Both short-term (“STD”) and long-term disability (“LTD”) coverage exists with private insurance plans. Long-term disability insurance (LTD) is an insurance policy that protects an employee from loss of income in the event that he or she is unable to work due to illness, injury, or accident for a long period of time.

Short-term disability benefits are paid for up to 52 weeks, after an initial period when you become unable to work, usually 14 days. It’s an insurance policy that protects an employee from loss of income in the case that he or she is temporarily unable to work due to illness, injury, or accident.

Short-term disability insurance does not protect against work-related accidents or injuries, as noted above, because these would be covered by workers’ compensation insurance offered by the WSIB.