Long-Term Disability Basics – Know Your Rights

While cases, where you are disabled for only a few weeks, are covered by short-term disability, if an injury causes debilitation that lasts months – or even years – your coverage shifts to long-term disability. And, there are some rights under the law to protect those on long-term disability.

Your rights, however, can depend on the type of long-term disability you are receiving, and this is where it can become complicated. There are four different types of disability coverage in Ontario, each with different specific rights and procedures:

• Long-Term Disability from a private insurance company. This is a type of coverage provided by contract, either from your employer or obtained on your own. Because it is private coverage, the procedures and some of your specific rights under the policy will depend on the contract you have signed with your insurance company.