Long Term Disability Benefits

Your disability benefits provide you with a continuing income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. To be eligible for benefits you must qualify by meeting the definition of disability under the contract. Your Long-Term Disability (LTD) Plan provides a percentage of your monthly earnings (depending on the option you select) after you have been totally disabled for the qualifying period of 13 weeks to a maximum of $10,000 per month.

You can choose coverage levels of either 50%, 60% or 60% plus a cost of living adjustment, all of which are non-taxable if you were to collect the coverage after becoming disabled. Members pay the cost of LTD premiums. Premiums are taken from your monthly paycheque and submitted by your employer along with the cost of your other group benefits. Because you pay the LTD premium, benefits paid out to you if you were to claim Long Term Disability are non-taxable. You continue to receive LTD benefits for as long as you remain totally disabled up to age 65 or retirement, whichever is earlier.

	Option 1	Option 2	Option 3
Benefit	50% of monthly earnings	60% of monthly earnings	60% of monthly earnings
Maximum Benefit	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000
Qualifying Period	13 weeks	13 weeks	13 weeks
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)	No	No	Yes (2%)
Termination Age	Age 65 or retirement	Age 65 or retirement	Age 65 or retirement

Note: Your earnings are defined as your regular base salary, plus 30% of your base salary if your employer provides a residence and 100% of your actual cash allowance, plus any cash utility allowance and cash housing allowance (but excluding any car allowance).

You will choose your LTD coverage option at each re-enrolment. If you elect Option 1 at any enrolment and then choose Option 2 or 3 at a future enrolment, evidence of insurability will be required. If you elect Option 2 or 3, evidence will not be required and you can move between Options 2 and 3 during future enrolments without having to provide evidence.