Your Short Term Disability Coverage
Short Term Disability benefits bring you financial peace of mind while you’re off work for a temporary illness or injury, so you can focus on getting well.
Are You Unable to Work Due to Illness or Injury?
- If the illness or injury is work-related, inform your employer immediately.
- See a doctor within the first 7 days of you being unable to work.
- Contact the UA Local 67 Benefits team as soon as you determine that you will be unable to work for more than a few days.
- Apply for Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits.
Short Term Disability (STD) Benefit Details
What is a “Short Term Disability”?
Typically, a disability is defined as an illness or injury that prevents you from working for an extended period of time. You may be eligible for the UA Local 67 Benefits STD benefit if you cannot work due to an illness or injury that is expected to extend beyond the Short Term Disability (STD) Waiting Period and the period that EI Sickness Benefits are payable.
STD Benefit Waiting Period
The STD Waiting Period is the earliest date that you could start receiving STD Benefits after your claim is approved (subject to the other requirements outlined below).
Reason for Inability to Work
Injury
Hospitalization or Day Surgery
Sickness
STD Waiting Period
0 days
0 days
7 days
Benefit Amount
Your STD benefit is equal to the maximum weekly payment under the Employment Insurance Act (EI), as of the first day you missed work due to the illness/injury.
STD benefits are paid weekly by our STD insurer, Canada Life. If your STD claim is for a partial week, your benefit will be pro-rated at 1/5 of the weekly benefit for each day your claim is approved.
When STD Will Start
Your STD Benefits are integrated with the Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits. This means that you must first apply for EI Sickness Benefits before you can collect STD benefits. STD benefits are not payable for periods that are payable by EI.
If your STD claim is approved by Canada Life (i.e., you meet the medical definitions of disability), your STD Benefits will begin after one of the following conditions is met:
- EI Sickness benefits are exhausted (i.e., you’ve reached the maximum weeks) and you are still unable to work, or
- EI declined your EI Sickness benefits claim (i.e., you’re not eligible) and you’ve completed the STD Waiting Period.
Note that while you are receiving EI Sickness Benefits (and therefore not yet receiving STD benefits), you may be eligible for Supplementary Unemployment Benefits (SUB) top-up.
Duration of STD Benefits
When your STD claim is approved, benefits are paid for up to 26 weeks.
Your STD claim will close if:
- Your medical condition no longer meets the plan’s definition of disability,
- You do not meet all the requirements of the STD plan, or
- You retire.
If you are still unable to work at the end of the 26-week STD period, you may qualify for Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits.
Important Things to Know
- To be eligible for STD benefits, you must:
- Be an active regular member of the UA Local 67 Benefits Welfare Plan on the first day that you miss work due to your illness or injury,
- See a doctor in the first 7 days of your illness/injury, and
- Remain in regular contact with the Canada Life Case Manager throughout your claim.
- You must notify the UA Local 67 Benefits team as soon as you become sick/injured and determine that you will be unable to work for more than a few days.
- If your illness or injury is work-related, inform your employer immediately.
- Any STD benefits you receive are taxable income, as your employer covers the cost for this benefit.
Applying for Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits
To apply for EI Sickness benefits (a prerequisite to making an STD claim), visit the Government of Ontario’s website at EI Sickness Benefits.
Important: Apply as soon as possible after you stop working; delays of more than 4 weeks may result in lost benefits.
If You Don’t Have Enough Hours to Qualify for EI
You must still apply for EI Sickness benefits, even if you believe you do not have enough hours to qualify. Canada Life requires your EI Sickness denial letter to review your claim or start your Short Term Disability benefits. If your EI Sickness claim is denied due to lack of hours, you will not be penalized. Your STD plan provides coverage from the first day of your injury or hospitalization, provided you have seen a doctor, or after 7 days due to disease if you visited a doctor.
Applying for Short Term Disability Benefits
To initiate your STD claim, contact UA Local 67 Benefits. We’ll provide you with our Disability Guide and walk you through the required steps.
Important: Late claims may result in delayed or denied payments. Canada Life is not liable for claims submitted more than 6 months after the end of your STD Waiting Period.
Your Short Term Disability Partner: Canada Life
Canada Life will keep you informed of the status of your claim.
Canada Life provides progress updates to UA Local 67 Benefits regarding your restrictions and limitations, and potential return-to-work plans – without sharing personal medical details.
Confidentiality: Your medical information is kept confidential and is not shared with your employer or union.
Have Questions About Short Term Disability?
Contact your UA Local 67 Benefits team for more information.