Your Long Term Disability Plan will provide you with a continuing source of income, even if a serious illness or injury keeps you from working.

What the plan covers

As an eligible employee, coverage is mandatory.

The first six months of your disability are covered by the Short Term Disability (STD) Plan. During this six-month period, you will be entitled to receive 100% of your regular salary. If a disability keeps you away from work for longer than six months, the LTD Plan will provide you with a regular income. Under the terms of the LTD Plan, you will receive a monthly non-taxable disability income equal to:

• 60% of the first $3,000 of your covered monthly earnings plus
• 45% of the balance of your covered monthly earnings.

The maximum monthly benefit payable is $5,325.

In all cases, payments continue until you are no longer totally disabled, as defined in the plan, retire, reach age 65, or die — whichever comes first.

Two examples of monthly LTD benefit calculation

Additional sources of income

The LTD Plan is intended to top up those disability benefits available to you elsewhere. As such, any benefits you receive from the LTD Plan will be reduced by:

• benefits payable from Workers' Compensation
• disability benefits under any other government program
• income replacement benefits payable under any Motor Vehicle Insurance Law, or Criminal Injuries Compensation Act
• wages or remuneration payable from any employer.

You must apply for disability benefits under whichever of the above plans might be appropriate. Please note that payments received from C/QPP are taxable.

In no case can the benefit you receive from all sources exceed 87% of your covered net earnings at the end of your six months of STD benefits.

Who pays

You pay the full cost of your LTD coverage through payroll deduction. Because you pay the full cost of this coverage, any disability benefits you receive under the LTD Plan are tax-free. Please refer to the Rate summary for information on costs.

Please note that your Group Life and Accident Insurance premium payments will be "waived" while you are eligible for benefit payments under the LTD Plan. In addition, your pension contributions will be paid by the University. You may keep your coverage under the Health and Dental Plans by continuing to pay your share of the cost.

Defining disability

You are considered disabled during the first 24 months of your LTD leave if the insurer determines that you are incapable of performing the essential duties of your own occupation. You must continue to be treated by a physician during this 24-month period.

After receiving LTD benefits for 24 months, you are considered disabled if the insurer determines you are incapable of performing any occupation for which you are reasonably suited (or could become suited) by education, training or experience.

Recurring disability

If you have a recurrence of the same or a related disability within six months after you return to work, it will be considered a continuation of your previous period of disability. As such, you will apply directly for LTD benefits. Medical proof of your disability will, once again, be required.

If you become disabled for a different cause -- or if you return to work for more than six consecutive months before becoming disabled again -- the process will start all over. You will apply first for benefits under the STD Plan before LTD payments resume.

Rehabilitative employment

One of the main objectives of the LTD Plan is to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible. Experience shows that rehabilitative employment is one of the best ways of doing just that.

Any LTD payments you receive will be reduced by 50% of the net income you earn through rehabilitative employment. Your total disability income from all sources, excluding individual insurance policies, can't exceed 100% of your net pre-disability earnings.

What the plan doesn't cover

You will not receive coverage under the LTD Plan for the following:

• any period during which you are not under the continuous care and treatment of a surgeon or licensed physician
• any disability arising from a self-inflicted injury or illness
• any disability arising from insurrection, war (declared or not) or the hostile actions of the armed forces of any country
• any disability arising from your participation in any riot or civil commotion
• any disability arising from committing or attempting to commit a criminal offence or provoking an assault.