Description of Benefits

The plan pays you a weekly benefit for disability absences during which you are prevented from performing your usual job duties solely as a result of a Non-Occupational accidental bodily injury or disease, including pregnancy related conditions that commence while you are covered.  Your disability absence must commence while you are covered under the plan.   If you are laid off at the time your disability commences, the benefit period will not start until you are recalled to work.  This benefit does not apply to Dependents.

Period of Payment

This short-term disability wage replacement benefit is subject to a waiting period before payments commence.  The waiting period is 7 days for a sickness, 0 days for an accident, and 0 days if Hospitalized.   The maximum payment period considered by this wage replacement plan is 52 weeks

Benefit Amount

The amount of your weekly benefit is specified in the “SUMMARY OF BENEFITS” on this website.  No tax will be withheld from your cheques, but please note that all benefits are subject to Income Tax and you will receive a T4A for all paid amounts by the end of February of the following year.

Successive Disabilities

Successive disabilities separated by less than two weeks of active, full-time work will be considered one disability, unless the subsequent disability is due to an entirely different and unrelated cause.  Disabilities arising from different and unrelated causes will be considered as a new disability providing they commence after you return to full-time work, for at least one full day.  Disabilities arising from the same or a related cause will be considered as a new disability provided you returned to regular, full-time work for a period of at least two weeks.

Loss Of Licence (DOT)

If a member who requires a Driver’s Licence for their regular duties, becomes disabled and is approved for Short Term Disability Benefits, but subsequently has his licence suspended for medical reasons by the Department of Transportation (DOT) may be eligible for a continuation of Short Term Disability Benefits. This applies even though his attending physician indicates that the member can return to work. A licence suspension by the DOT for drug addiction or alcohol abuse is excluded. This applies to the Loss of Licence after June 1, 2014.

Certain conditions would apply as follows:

• The Member must be eligible to work according to the employer
• The request for the Loss of Licence Benefit must be approved by the Local
• The Member must not be receiving other income
• The member must immediately appeal the decision of the DOT
• A copy of the appeal must be provided to the administrator
• If the member fails to regain his licence (the appeal process is declined), the “Continuous Period of Disability” provision would apply
• If the member is successful in his appeal, the Loss of Licence Benefit would terminate
• The benefit period will not exceed 52 weeks including the initial STD Benefit