When your long term disability claim through Manulife is denied, it’s upsetting and stressful, but your fight for disability benefits is not over. Instead of immediately appealing—a process that rarely changes the result—your best next step is to speak with a disability insurance lawyer who can review your case and help you access the LTD benefits you deserve. Manulife’s appeal process is slow, often unsuccessful, and usually managed by the same people who denied your initial claim.

About Manulife

Manulife is one of Canada’s largest insurance providers, offering group benefits including short term disability and long term disability insurance through workplace and private policies. Serving millions, Manulife is well known for its strict disability insurance claim processes. Their team of case managers and claims adjusters is focused on managing risks for the company.

Manulife Long Term Disability Rules

When you are unable to work due to illness or injury, Manulife long term disability coverage provides a crucial safety net. Here’s what you need to know:

• Elimination Period: Your claim usually begins after an elimination period—often 90 to 180 days from when you stop working.

• Eligibility: You must prove that you are unable to perform your own job at first, and after two years, any job for which you are reasonably suited by education or experience.

• Coverage: Most long term disability insurance policies replace 60–70% of your income.

• Ongoing Proof: Regular updates from your doctor and compliance with prescribed treatment are required.

For many Canadians, LTD benefits last until age 65 if you continue to meet the policy criteria. Check your policy for age restrictions. Eligibility depends not on a diagnosis itself but the severity of your symptoms and their impact on your ability to work.

Third-Party Administrator

Often, Manulife acts as a third-party administrator for employer group benefits, managing claims and decisions on your employer’s behalf. This means you will primarily interact with Manulife’s case manager throughout your claim, but your employer’s HR department may still be involved in confirming your job duties and employment status.

Manulife Short Term Disability Rules

Before you can access long term disability coverage, you may need to apply for short term disability:

• Duration: STD usually covers up to 3–6 months.

• Documentation: You will need medical evidence showing you are temporarily unable to work.

• Claim Status: Your short term disability benefit approval or denial is managed by Manulife.

Pre-existing conditions and insufficient medical documentation are common reasons for denial. If this happens, like in Abdullah’s story below, don’t give up—there are steps you can take.

Abdullah’s Story: Navigating a Manulife Denial

Abdullah is a 40-year-old office worker who began experiencing severe abdominal pain, resulting in a diagnosis of a kidney stone that requires surgery. He applied for short term disability benefits through Manulife but was denied, despite his doctor’s support.

What should Abdullah do?

• Ask Manulife, in writing, for the specific reasons for the denial (usually sent in a denial letter).

• Gather updated medical documentation from his doctor that clearly explains why he cannot work.

• Consult with a disability law firm, as appealing the denial alone often leads nowhere.

• Do not attempt multiple internal appeals without legal help, as this often delays proper resolution.

Manulife Insurance Dispute

If you experience a Manulife insurance dispute over your disability insurance claim, be aware that:

• Insurers may conduct surveillance or send you to an independent medical exam.

• Denials may be based on technicalities, medical disagreements, or claims that you can still perform some work.

• The appeal process is internal and rarely changes the outcome unless you can provide significantly new medical evidence.

Term Limits on LTD Appeals

There are strict term limits on LTD appeals and legal action:

• Your Manulife policy may give you only one year from the date of denial to start legal action—after that, you could lose your right to fight their decision.

• In Ontario and many provinces, you may have up to two years from the denial date, under the Limitations Act.

• Filing an appeal with Manulife does not pause the legal deadline! If you spend too long on appeals, you could lose your right to sue.

Manulife’s LTD Appeal Process Isn’t Quick

The Manulife appeal process is slow and rarely leads to the reversal of a denied claim:

• Appeals are reviewed by the same team that denied your claim.

• You may be invited to submit several rounds of additional paperwork and even attend further medical exams.

• Multiple appeals can take months or more, during which time you are without income and facing financial hardship.

• Internal appeals can sometimes be used by insurers to run out the clock on your right to sue.

How Our Insurance Claim Lawyer Can Help

At Share Lawyers, we do not recommend appealing your denied claim through Manulife’s internal appeal process. Instead, we help clients by:

• Reviewing your denial and policy to identify key issues.

• Collecting robust medical and employment evidence to support your case.

• Taking legal steps to initiate a lawsuit, which usually gets your claim reviewed by a new team—often leading to a fairer outcome.

• Guiding you through negotiation or mediation, and, if necessary, court proceedings to secure what you are owed.

• No fees unless you win: We believe access to justice should not depend on your ability to pay up-front legal fees.

Contact Share Lawyers today for a free consultation about your Manulife appeal process or denied claim.

Contact Share Lawyers today and let our experience work for you. Our 35+ years of experience can help you win your case against Canada Life, Desjardins, Manulife, RBC Insurance, Sun Life, and other insurance companies. Our legal team offers a free consultation and works on a contingency basis - there are no fees unless you win your case.