- Toronto Office
90 Adelaide Street West
Suite 200
Toronto, ON M5H 3V9
- London Office
380 Wellington Street
Tower B, 6th Floor
London, ON N6A 5B5 - Ottawa Office
116 Albert Street
Suite 200
Ottawa, ON K1P 5G3
What Is A Waiting Period?
Most long term disability (LTD) policies do not pay benefits for weeks or months after you become disabled. This may be called a waiting period, an elimination period, or a qualifying period. You are not eligible to receive benefits until after this time frame has passed. The waiting period varies, but is often 17 weeks, 3 months, six months, and sometimes even a year.
Why Do I Have To Wait?
Long term disability insurance is a special type of contract that contains various terms and conditions. One of terms of the contract is the waiting period, and may be relatively long or short depending on the policy that was purchased by you or your employer. Typically a policy with a longer waiting period would cost less, because the insurance company would have to pay less claims and for shorter durations.
What Do I Do For Income During The Waiting Period?
If you have short term disability (STD) benefits coverage, often the maximum duration of STD coincides with the waiting period for LTD. In other situations, you may be entitled to paid sick leave, Employment Insurance, or other benefits for a portion or all of the LTD waiting period.
Can I apply for LTD Before The End Of The Waiting Period?
Yes! You do not have to wait before you file an LTD claim. In most cases you should file your claim for long term disability benefits as soon as you reasonably anticipate being disabled for an extended period. It often takes weeks for the appropriate forms to be completed and submitted. It is common for additional information requests, such as detailed medical records and reports. These can take months to obtain, so it is best to get started early to avoid an even longer delay for payment of benefits.
In addition, if you wait too long to apply, there may an exclusion in the policy for late filed claims. You never want to give an insurance company an excuse or justification to deny your claim. If your claim is denied, you should contact a long term disability lawyer.
I Have More Questions About Long Term Disability
Contact Michael Jordan for fast, free, no obligation legal advice. All calls and form submissions go directly to Michael, so there is no need to book a consultation.
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| About The Author Michael Jordan is a long term disability lawyer with more than 17 years experience litigating all types of insurance claims. He is a founding partner of the Bay Street firm Jordan Honickman Barristers. Michael represents clients across all of Ontario, with satellite offices in Ottawa and London. Email: mjordan@jhbarristers.com Direct Cell: 416-460-6823 |
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