Long term disability

The qualifying period for long term disability varies depending on your collective agreement or terms of employment, but it is usually four or five months. The absence and disability management team member assigned to your case will assess your circumstances at 90 days (three months) of absence to determine if you require a long term disability application.

The long term disability application will be sent to you by an absence and disability management claims representative, usually by email. The application consists of three parts:

1. A claimant statement, which you complete.
2. An attending physician statement, which your doctor completes. 
3. An employer statement, which your absence and disability management claims representative completes.

You must submit all three statements to Canada Life in order for your long term disability claim to be assessed.

Long term disability claims pay 70 per cent of pre-disability earnings, and are paid on a monthly basis. The long term disability benefit paid to you is taxable. When you complete your application, you will also complete two tax forms.

• Maintain contact with the workplace:
  • Follow up with your manager on a regular basis to keep them updated on your status, and whether you are able to return to work.
  • Your manager can also keep you updated on any changes in the department.
• Maintain contact with your assigned absence and disability management team member:
  • Follow up with your absence and disability management team member to provide updates on your medical status.
  • Your absence and disability management team member can help ensure you have all the supports required to assist you in your recovery.
• See your treating physician regularly:
  • The insurance company requires that you are in regular contact with the physician who is primarily treating your condition. 
  • Canada Life may ask for periodic written medical updates, and it will be your responsibility to ensure your treating physician is providing these medical updates.
• Log in to myFHinfo at least once per month while you are out of the workplace
  • myFHinfo has important information regarding your health and welfare benefits (such as extended health, MSP and dental benefits). You may also see notifications from the benefits department which should be reviewed regularly.
  • If you have difficulty logging on to myFHinfo, contact Service Desk at 604-585-5544. 

Initially, while on an approved sick leave and long term disability claim, your position is held for you. The length of time your job is held varies depending on your collective agreement or terms of employment, but typically your job will be held between 19 and 24 months while on an long term disability claim. 

Your position may be posted temporarily by your department, on a relief basis, while you are away.

If you are unable to return to your previous role due to permanent medical limitations or restrictions related to your illness or injury, you may be eligible for a medical accommodation. If eligible, you must participate in Fraser Health's work accommodation process which will assist in identifying potential options for returning to work in a job that you are both capable and qualified to perform. Contact your assigned absence and disability management team member for more information regarding this.

Upon your return, if your job becomes unavailable to you due to department changes, your absence and disability management team member or your union representative (if applicable) will be able to help you understand the available options for you to return to work.

• Group Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long Term Disability: your coverage will continue while you are on a long term disability claim. Fraser Health will continue to pay the Group Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment contributions and will provide you with an annual T4 as these are taxable benefits.
• Dental and/or Extended Health: your coverage will continue if you choose to pay 50 per cent of the contributions. This decision must be made at the time your long term disability claim is accepted and contributions must be paid to Fraser Health monthly, in advance. For more information, contact the benefits department. 
• Medical Services Plan: as of January 1, 2020, Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums were eliminated, therefore, your coverage under MSP should not be impacted while on long term disability. Note, as a BC resident, you will still need to maintain your MSP account obligations, such as updating your MSP account due to address change. 
• Municipal Pension Plan and Public Service Pension Plan: if you are a member of one of these pension plans, your period of disability will still be considered “pensionable service” but neither you nor Fraser Health will have to make contributions.
• Vacation: Unpaid leaves over 20 days each year do not earn vacation credits. Therefore, if you are on long term disability, you do not earn vacation credits. Employees with a vacation bank only earn vacation credits on coded hours, such as:
  • worked hours (i.e. regular, workload, relief)
  • non-worked hours (i.e. sick, vacation)
  • unpaid hours in your leave of absence (LOA) bank 

In general, you are responsible for paying for doctor's notes. If the Long Term Disability provider, Canada Life, is requesting a medical update from your treating physician, they may pay your doctor for the information. If your doctor requests a higher fee above what Canada Life is offering to pay, you are responsible for paying your doctor for the remainder of the fee.

Multiple factors may impact who pays for medical treatments. You may have funding available through your Medical Services Plan, Pacific Blue Cross, Canada Life, or your employer.

If you have questions about paying for medical treatments, contact your assigned absence and disability management team member.

If you had pre-scheduled and pre-approved vacation prior to your sick leave starting, advise your absence and disability management team member of the dates of your vacation. Certain types of coding (such as vacation coding) may not be permitted while off work on sick leave, or while on a long term disability claim. You may be able to go on your vacation, but vacation coding may not be allowed.

If you are on an accepted long term disability claim, you will need to tell your case manager about your pre-approved vacation. There may be an impact to your claim payments during the period of time you are away on vacation.

Certain types of coding (such as vacation coding) may not be permitted while on a long term disability claim. More information can be found in your collective agreement or your terms of employment. You may also want to follow up with your union representative for more information.

Review our considerations while off work page for further information.

A member from the absence and disability management team will contact you to guide you through the process. 

Any of the following people may also reach out to you:

• Enhanced Disability Management Program (EDMP) representative. This person is a union representative and works with Fraser Health's absence and disability management team to support you in your return to work plans. 
• Your long term disability case manager from Canada Life. 
• A rehabilitation consultant from Canada Life – they may assist you and the long term disability case manager to coordinate rehabilitation and return to work activities. 
• Your manager and/or other members of your team/unit/department. 

• Our team works closely with you and your union (if applicable), insurance providers, health care professionals and the department to support you in your recovery. We offer:
  • Referral to early intervention services and/or the Enhanced Disability Management Program, which may include access to treatment, diagnostics and/or consultations. 
  • Recovery planning
  • Recovering at work programs
  • Work accommodation