Long Term Disability for Employees

Regular employees can qualify for long term disability if they: 

• Work in a position that is at least half-time.
• Have six months of active service.
• Have completed six months of Short Term Illness and Injury Plan (STIIP) benefits.
• Are under the regular care of a doctor.
• Have sufficient medical evidence to support their long term disability claim.

Because very specific conditions apply, please contact us for details about eligibility. 

Apply

Make an application at least eight weeks before your Short Term Illness and Injury Plan benefits end.

*IMPORTANT* You must submit all portions of your completed Long Term Disability Plan application, including the doctor's portion, within four weeks following the end of the Short Term Illness and Injury Plan period. If you fail to submit your application within that time, you will be presumed to have abandoned your claim. If you have not abandoned your claim, you must then demonstrate to the plan administrator that there were reasonable grounds for not having applied during the prescribed period.  

• Read the guide.
• Complete the employee's portion of the application.
• Get your doctor to complete the physician’s portion of the application and supply you with all available medical information—for example, test results, specialist reports and x-rays. These records will help expedite your application.

• E-mail, fax or mail the entire package to:

  Great West Life Assurance Company
  900 - 1075 West Georgia Street
  Vancouver, BC 
  V6E 4N4
  
  1-888-292-4111
  Fax: (604) 684-2399
  Email

Once all documentation has been submitted, contact Great West Life to check the status of your application.

Your Responsibilities

Employees on long term disability are required to:

• Make every effort to manage and recover from the illness or injury.
• Remain under the care of a doctor.
• Provide Great West Life with any requested information about their medical condition, treatment and possible return to work.
• Fully participate in recommended treatment programs.
• Participate in, and cooperate with, rehabilitation and return to work planning, when appropriate.
• Stay in contact with their supervisor and any other professionals involved such as an occupational health nurse or early intervention and return to work specialist.

Payments

Benefits are paid by direct deposit at the end of each month.

• Bargaining unit employees receive 70% of the first $2,300 of their regular monthly earnings plus 50% of earnings above $2,300.
• Excluded employees receive 70% of the first $2,600 of their regular monthly earnings plus 50% of earnings above $2,600. 

Please contact us to report any other income received as a result of illness or injury such as WorkSafe BC, ICBC, private insurance, EI, CPP, or Income Assistance. 

Other Benefits

While on long term disability, you will continue to be covered for:

• Group Life insurance
• Extended Health Care
• Dental Plan
• Medical Services Plan
• Health and well-being services such as short term counselling, 12 Weeks to Wellness, personal finance planning and many more. » Learn more
• Public Service Pension Plan. Pension contributions are not required while on long term disability, however, employees continue their membership and will be credited with pensionable service.

Excluded employees in a flexible benefits plan will continue to receive core benefits, but will be required to pay premiums for benefits in excess of core coverage.

Rehabilitation & Returning to Work

It’s been proven that employees who have an early and gradual return to work while they continue to get well enjoy a more complete recovery and have fewer long-term complications. Along with their supervisor, employees are encouraged to work as a team with an early intervention and return to work specialist and an occupational health nurse to achieve the best outcome possible. Modified job duties, reduced hours, retraining, and finding an alternate job are options that will be explored to facilitate a safe and timely return to work. 

Plan a trial period with your support team for a gradual return to work that allows for readjusting and building up endurance. Employees are paid for hours worked during the trial and will continue to receive long term disability benefits for hours not worked. Contact us with any questions about your pay.