Before beginning, please consider the following:

• Request a long term disability (LTD) application if medical absence from work is anticipated to be longer term.
• If unsure – consult physician about whether to apply for LTD benefits.
• Complete and submit LTD application paperwork in a timely manner.
• Participate in medical treatment as prescribed by your physician.
• Report a change in medical status when able to return to work – either with or without accommodation.
• Provide updated information to employer and Canada Life, etc.
• Cooperate with employer, Canada Life, Civil Service Superannuation Board (CSSB), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), etc.
• Cooperates fully in rehabilitation programs and subsequent employment.

• Communicates with employee during their sick leave about their length of absence and their ability to work.
• Requests medical to substantiate the absence for use of sick leave.
• Determine employee workplace needs – consider long term disability (LTD) benefits and an application to the employee if medically required workplace absence is certified by physician and longer-term absence from work is anticipated.
• Engages with human resources and/or supportive employment for support and advise on employee’s sick leave or medical needs.
• Responds to questions from employees regarding LTD.
• Refers employees to human resources and/or supportive employment when required.
• Maintain periodic contact with employee – be open to opportunities for returning to work.
• Advise human resources business partner (HRBP), supportive employment consultant (SEC)/disability specialist of any changes to status for returning to work.

Long term disability (LTD) Application Process

• LTD plan administrator - manages LTD office.
• Handles employee eligibility inquires - confirms employee eligibility for LTD benefits (according to plan eligibility requirements).
• Communicates with employee (claimant).
• Submits LTD application to Canada Life to adjudicate the claim and provides employee data and completed claim application forms required for claims processing.
• Liaises with employee, employer, human resources business partner (HRBP), supportive employment consultant (SEC), Civil Service Superannuation Board (CSSB), etc.
• Interfaces with Canada Life case manager on claim status.

Rehabilitation Employment (Return-to-Work) Process

• Ensures rehabilitation programs are implemented.
• Recommends rehabilitation programs in conjunction with Canada Life.
• In conjunction with Canada Life, contacts employees receiving LTD benefits to facilitate rehabilitative opportunities.
• Obtains and facilitates employee’s rehabilitation limitations as well as potential employment opportunities.
• Consults with the employee’s home department or HRBP to seek rehabilitation opportunities.
• Identifies any required employment aids to assist employees to commence rehabilitation.
• Individualizes rehabilitation programs to meet the needs and requirements of the disabled employee in conjunction with the availability of suitable employment.
• Monitors employee’s progress and follows up on employee concerns or problems.
• Coordinates with employer/HRBP on rehabilitation employment start dates.
• Provides updates to all parties concerned.

• Provides medical assessment, consultation and treatment to the employee.
• Completes part 3 (Attending Physician Statement) of long term disability (LTD) application form.
• Provides written clearance and recommendations for returning to work – inclusive of any functional limitations or restrictions that may apply.

• Receives complete claim application package with signed authorization from the disability management specialist.
• Sets up claim in Canada Life system and assign to a case manager.
• Case manager adjudicates claim and communicates a claim decision to the employee and long term disability (LTD) office.

• Receives medical certificates, Work Abilities Form or medical questionnaires, which indicate that the employee will be off work for four (4) months or longer due to their medical condition.
• Receives and responds to employee eligibility inquiries.
• Receives and responds to manager/supervisor inquiries.
• If eligible, supportive employment consultant (SEC) to make request to pay and benefits to process a long term disability (LTD) application for the employee.
• Endeavor to continually identify methods of improvement and practices available to ensure timeliness on the LTD application process.

• Acts as point of contact for managers/supervisors and employees in the disability management process.
• Directs managers and supervisors to supportive employment consultant (SEC) and pay and benefits consultant on the long term disability (LTD) application.
• Coordinates with Disability Management Specialist on rehabilitation employment start dates.
• Communicates with disability management specialist and provides updates.

• Updates employee information as required.
• Contacts supportive employment when asked by employees about the long term disability (LTD) plan.
• Calculates when sick leave will be exhausted (which may or may not impact effective date).
• When authorized, places employee on a sick leave no pay – LTD pending action.
• Upon direction from the disability management specialist and/or supportive employment, completes part 1 of the LTD application and sends to the LTD office with a copy provided to supportive employment and human resource business partners (HRBP).
• Sends remainder of the application package to the employee, including forms, LTD information package, Canada Life Consent Form, and Service Canada Consent Forms A and B.

• Implements and interprets policies, terms and conditions of the long term disability (LTD) plan.
• Makes changes to the administrative process as required.
• Engages consultants for LTD actuarial valuation reports and plan reviews.
• Reviews and approves adjudicator’s reports on annual costs and rate renewals.
• Audits annual ongoing adjudication charges.
• Reviews and approves plan salary adjustments for plan members on claim.
• Communicates decisions and changes to stakeholders.
• Contract negotiations with Canada Life.
• Contract administration.
• Legislation/regulatory amendments.

There is no short-term disability program other than the use of available sick leave credits. Accrued sick leave credits are used for medical absence from work when approved by your employer.

Accumulated sick leave credits must be exhausted or 120 calendar days must have passed, whichever is the greater, before the long term disability (LTD) plan benefits commence. This period is referred to as the elimination period.

Employees with insufficient banked sick leave may apply for the Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits which can provide up to 26 weeks of financial assistance if you can’t work for medical reasons.

More information can be found in the in the LTD plan general information package.

Your questions will also be answered through AskPSC. Employees with accessibility needs, can contact AskPSC by phone at 204-945-9060 or 1-844-844-2521.

If you are experiencing a medical condition that prevents you from working and the medical leave required from work is anticipated to be four (4) months or longer - and you have met the eligibility requirements for the LTD benefit, an LTD application should be requested.

Your pay and benefits consultant will send you the LTD application package with instructions for completion by mail to your residence or can also be emailed to you at your request. This package will include forms required from you and your doctor that you will need to send to the LTD office directly. The application process also includes applying for other disability benefits from the Canada Pension Plan and the Civil Service Superannuation Board. Information on how to do so is included in the package sent to you by the pay and benefits consultant.

Yes, you must start your LTD application within six (6) months from when your medical absence from work began.

Canada Life’s service standard is to review the claim information and conduct a telephone interview with you within two weeks of receiving the completed claim application. From there, the timeline can be variable depending on whether or not the elimination period (waiting period) has been completed and if additional medical information is required for assessment.

Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits or Employment and Income Assistance (EIA)

A) Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits - Service Canada

When your employer paid sick leave benefits end, your pay and benefits consultant will issue a Record of Employment (ROE) to Service Canada so that an application can be made for Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits. Do not wait for the ROE before applying for benefits. Delaying your application may result in loss of benefits. You may be able to receive EI sickness benefits for up to 26 weeks subject to meeting Service Canada’s eligibility requirements. Visit the Government of Canada’s EI Sickness Benefits page for more information.

Please note, should your LTD benefit application be accepted and there is an overlap of benefits paid to you by EI sickness benefits and LTD, the benefits paid during the same period of LTD benefits will need to be paid back to EI sickness benefits.

B) Employment and Income Assistance (EIA)

You may qualify for Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) if you are 18 years of age or older, you have a mental of physical disability that is likely to last more than 90 days and this disability keeps you from earning enough money to pay for your or your family’s basic needs. See the Employment and Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities page on the Manitoba government website.

Please note that you must let EI sickness benefits, EIA and LTD know of any benefits you receive from all disability or illness related programs as you may not be entitled to receive more than one benefit at the same time.

If you require assistance with Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits or Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) appeals, please contact the Community Unemployed Help Centre (CUHC) at 204-942-6556.

A claim decision from WCB is required before making application for LTD benefits however, in situations were a claim decision from WCB will be significantly delayed, an application for LTD benefits can be requested as long as the other conditions for application are met.

Should the WCB claim be accepted at a later date, the LTD claim would close, and any LTD wage loss benefits paid during the period of time loss accepted by WCB would need to be paid back to Canada Life.

If you have questions in addition to the information package available online, contact the LTD office at ltd@gov.mb.ca or call 204-945-0235.