Long-Term Disability Benefits in Ontario

When you are facing a major health crisis, the financial impacts can easily turn an already challenging situation into a catastrophic one, particularly if you cannot work.

It could be an illness or an injury that has afflicted you. Perhaps you were hurt in a car accident or you have contracted leukemia. While you are still recovering, you may have limited mobility, decreased physical strength and stamina, or a weaker memory than previously, for example. Your treatment may require a lengthy hospital stay. You may be affected by mental health issues, on their own or in combination with physical ailments.

Any of these factors could prevent you from performing your job duties. Even if you are later fully “healed”, the impacts of the stress could linger for many years afterwards. Pressing financial obligations, which rarely ease up due to somebody’s health problems, only add to your stress. Indeed, your spending may well increase because of your medical issues, for example if you need to pay someone to help care for your children while recovering.

Under these circumstances, long-term disability (LTD) insurance may provide the income that will support your ongoing survival. You may have LTD coverage as part of your employee group benefits package. Usually, these benefits take effect after other sources of coverage, such as Employment Insurance (EI) or short-term disability, have run out. If medically necessary, LTD benefits can last until retirement age.

Statistics Canada found that in Ontario, 28% of people aged 15 and older had at least one disability in 2022. This was 3.9 percentage points more than the 2017 figure. Although the countrywide average increase was higher, at 4.7 points, the prevalence of disability is clearly rising in Canada’s most populous province.

Preszler Injury Lawyers has worked extensively with clients pursuing LTD claims. We can help you in all aspects of your claims process. This could involve communicating and negotiating with your insurer, filling out paperwork, calculating the size of your claim, arranging medical exams, replying to a denial of claim, disputing benefits being cut off, and arguing for you in court. We are committed to ensuring you receive fair compensation, whether in the form of ongoing benefit payments or a lump sum.

Although insurance companies constantly assure customers that the claims process will be smooth when selling policies, this is often not the case when you actually need the benefits. Expect insurers to carefully check your claim for any irregularities that could be used as a reason to reject it, such as missing documentation or a pre-existing medical problem.

What disabilities does my LTD policy cover?

Commonly covered illnesses and injuries include but are not limited to:

• AIDS/HIV
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Cancer
• Chronic fatigue, pain, or stress
• Concussions
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Hearing and eyesight loss
• Heart attack or stroke
• Herniated discs
• Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Lupus
• Lyme disease
• Mental health and psychological disorders
• Migraines
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neurological disorders
• Paralysis
• Panic attacks
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Respiratory problems
• Spinal injuries (bone and/or tissue)

Just because your condition is not on this list does not mean you are not entitled to LTD benefits. If you wish, Preszler Injury Lawyers will examine your policy in detail to see whether you should receive compensation.

Which cities do we serve in Ontario?

Set up a free initial consultation with Preszler Injury Lawyers

Preszler Injury Lawyers is eager to hear more about your claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more limited your legal options for recovery will be. If you would like more information, call us at 1-844-791-8202 or contact us using our online form. We can set up a free consultation and have our lawyers give you honest, professional advice on how to proceed. We look forward to your call.