Do you need some weeks off from your work due to some disability? Then, you should try long-term disability claims.
In Alberta, the long-term disability helped many citizens survive in this tough world. However, most people keep wondering how to apply for long-term disability benefits.
In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the LTD benefits claiming procedure. So, let’s get started!
What is a Long-Term Disability in Alberta?
You will find many meanings of long-term disability, but it usually means an injury or illness that stops you from working for a long time.
In long-term disability, you need to be 17 weeks off your work. Also, you can refer to disability benefits plans and programs with eligibility criteria as long-term disabilities.
Eligibility Determination
When the adjudicator concludes that an employee’s bodily injury or sickness results in a disability, and the disability lasts for the duration of the elimination period, the employee is entitled for benefits commencing immediately after the elimination period.
An employee will not be entitled for benefits due beyond the elimination period for the following reasons:
1. A disability caused by involvement in the commission of a crime
2. A disability incurred as a result of a conflict act
3. A deliberate self-inflicted injury or sickness
4. Any period in which the employee is not under the constant supervision of a physician or is not following the therapy prescribed by a physician
5. confinement in a jail or other such institution
Read More: Who Qualifies for Legal Aid in Alberta
7 Steps to Apply for Long Term Disability in Alberta?
There are 7 steps to apply for LTD in Alberta. Let’s look into how they work!
Step 1: Figure out your program or plan
You will get many programs and plans for disability benefits in Alberta. However, each comes with different eligibility criteria, so you can’t choose any of these benefits.
It would be best to figure out the programs or plans you’re eligible for and then move on with the claim. There are high chances of qualifying for more than one benefit.
Some common disability programs and plans are:
- Employer’s sick pay
- Benefits for EI (employment insurance) sickness
- Benefits for short term disability
- Benefits for long term disability
- Disability of Canada pension plan
- Tax credit disability
- Benefits for workers compensation
- Benefits for veterans affairs Canada disability
- Programs for income support
- Benefits for provincial disability
Step 2: Find your doctor support
Before going for sick leave and getting disability benefits, it is important to find your doctor’s support. You will face many problems if you don’t get proper doctor support. Usually, an employer doesn’t approve leaves without a doctor’s approval.
If you take leave without approval, the employer can terminate you. However, you won’t receive any disability benefits program or plan payments if your doctor disagrees with supporting you. Therefore, it is essential to have your doctor’s support.
Step 3: Choose your transitions
After getting doctor’s support, you can move on to choose your transitions- employment to sick leave. The transitioning period is very important to protect your workplace pensions, medical plan, and job.
It is obvious to have disagreements with your employer regarding going a sick leave. Sometimes, you will find employers not granting disabled or ill employees.
In such cases, a doctor needs to write a short note confirming that the employee is ill or disabled. Additionally, it might be a reason for taking leave or having a poor performance from work.
On the other hand, some offer a “severance package” or pressure employees to resign. Most patients agree and sign the deal, but you will lose your long-term benefit claim if you accept the severance package. The severance package will offer you a very low amount compared to the benefit claim.
Additionally, it wouldn’t be wise for employment retirement. Employers use this technique to avoid insurance plans. You should definitely avoid signing such employment retirement agreements.
Step 4: Get your forms
After your doctor’s support and the employer agrees, you can get your application forms. The disability benefits have many application forms, and all the forms require different procedures to process the disability claim.
Some forms are list down below:
- Long-term and short-term disability benefits
- Canada Pension Plan Disability
- Veterans Affairs Canada Disability
- Provincial Disability Support Programs
- Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits
- Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
- Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Step 5: Fill out your forms
Next, you need to fill out your forms with proper documents and information. While you claim a disability, you might need to fill out around 2-3 forms. In most cases, the additional forms are for medical documentation and reports. Additionally, an employer must complete a short- or long-term disability and workers’ compensation form in some disability programs or plans.
Being a victim, it is your responsibility to do the documentations properly. Eventually, your employer form and doctor report will be verified after completing everything.
If your doctor fills out the form, there is a chance of him forgetting one of your medical conditions. As a result, your employer would give incomplete and inaccurate documentation of your work.
Most victims do poor work while they try making the disability claims, resulting in getting denied. Your claim representative would decide rejection and approval based on your qualified documents and information. Therefore, your reality is very vital for your disability benefit application.
Step 6: Submit your forms
After filling out your applications, you must send them to the disability program or plan. For that place, you will receive your claim advisor, adjudicator, or representative- someone who will review your documents.
In deeper cases, your representative asks to write or call you to clear out your provided information. You should always provide all the requested information and cooperate with the claim representative. It would help you in the long run when you are honest and open to your representative.
Step 7: Wait for your claim decisions
After you are done with all these steps, you need to wait for your claim representative to decide on your disability benefits. Therefore, they will reject or approve your claim benefits accordingly.
Usually, the representative will decide within 30days, but the time might be more in some cases. If you are on hold for months, you should take the necessary steps to figure out the problems because there is something wrong with your application.
Final Words
In conclusion, it is easy to apply for long-term disability in Alberta. If you are the victim, you need to complete and submit your application with enough authentic resources.
Therefore, in such cases, you can seek help from the professionals as they would leave no stones unturned to help you get the best benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions that you might come up with while learning about the LTD disability benefits and claims.
What conditions qualify for long-term disability?
You will find many long-term disabilities. According to the medical conditions, some long-term disabilities are brain injuries, back injuries, fractures, degenerative disc disease, mental health problems, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome etc.
How much do you get for long-term disability in Alberta?
In long-term disability programs and plans, you will receive a replacement of about 60-70% normal income. However, the programs and plans differ from each other. Some companies allow two years of disability benefits for employees who are ill or disabled.
How do you get a long-term disability claim?
Long-term disability claims are a tough and long process to receive. There are 7 steps to getting a long-term disability claim – figuring out a program, finding doctor support, choosing a transition, getting application forms, filling out application forms, submitting the forms, and waiting for claim decisions.
What qualifies for long-term disability in Canada?
Most citizens under 65 years can receive long-term disability benefits because they suffer from issues that require quitting jobs. Additionally, some people also receive pension plans for 4-6 years, and some also made contributions in the plan over 3-6 years.
When should I apply for long-term disability?
It is necessary to apply for long-term disability as soon as possible. If a doctor determines your issue to be very serious, they will stop you from working. However, you can stop working within the time limit is around 3 months or less.