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During a long term disability interview, avoid guessing, minimizing your symptoms, or saying anything that contradicts your medical records or claim forms. The insurance company is looking for inconsistent statements it can use to deny or end your disability benefits, so every answer should be truthful, specific, and consistent.
What Happens During a Long Term Disability Interview
While you are on long term disability, or before deciding your disability claim, your insurance company may schedule a phone, video, or in‑person meeting to learn more about your medical condition, daily activities, and work history.
The interviewer (often an insurance representative, case manager, nurse, or vocational consultant) is not your advocate; their job is to gather information they can compare to your forms, medical records, and any surveillance.
What usually happens:
They explain the purpose of the interview and may ask to record it.
They review your work history, job duties, and how your current symptoms affect both work and daily life (for example, cooking, grocery shopping, driving).
They ask about treatment, medications, side effects, and upcoming doctor's appointments.
They watch how you sit, stand, move, and interact, especially in home or “field” interviews.
You are allowed to:
Ask to have the interview at a time you can manage and in a quiet, comfortable place.
Take brief notes or have a support person present.
Say “I don’t remember; I will check and get back to you” instead of guessing.
Speak with a disability insurance lawyer first and ask them to attend.
Common Long Term Disability Interview Questions
Below are typical long term disability interview questions insurers ask Canadians, along with how they use this information.
Topic area | Typical term disability interview question | Why they ask |
Your health | “Describe your medical condition and when it started.” | To compare with your forms and medical records and look for inconsistent statements. |
Work duties | “What were your main job duties as a teacher/manager/etc.?” | To see if they can argue you still meet the job demands or “any occupation” test. |
Change over time | “Has your condition improved, worsened, or stayed the same?” | They may use casual comments about “improvement” to justify cutting disability benefits. |
Daily routine | “Walk me through a typical day from waking to bedtime.” | To link your activities (like light grocery shopping) to work‑like tasks. |
Functional limits | “How long can you sit, stand, walk, or concentrate?” | To test whether your answers match what your doctors wrote and any surveillance. |
Good vs bad days | “What are your good days and bad days like?” | They may focus only on your best days if you don’t clearly explain your worst days. |
Treatment & compliance | “What treatment are you getting? Are you following your doctor’s advice?” | To argue non‑compliance if you miss appointments or refuse recommended care. |
Hobbies & travel | “Do you travel, volunteer, or do housework?” | To compare with social media and surveillance to claim your function is higher. |
When answering long term disability interview questions, focus on:
Frequency (how often), duration (how long), and impact (what you can’t do).
Your average or worse days, not your single “good day.”
Clear links to why you cannot reliably work full‑time in your own job or any suitable job.
They may have gathered information through surveillance without your knowledge so factual, truthful answers are best.
Examples of Statements to Avoid
These are examples of phrases that often hurt disability claims because they do not give a complete or accurate picture of your limitations.
Avoid:
1. Minimizing your condition
“It’s not that bad; I can manage.”
“I just push through the pain.”
Why it’s risky: Insurers may use this to argue you can work despite chronic pain or mental health medical issues.
2. Guessing or estimating
“I think I could probably work part‑time if I had to.”
“Maybe I can sit 6–7 hours if I take breaks.”
Why it’s risky: If your doctor says you cannot sit more than 30 minutes, this sounds like making inconsistent statements and can undermine your disability insurance case.
3. Contradicting your forms or doctors
Saying you drive daily when your forms said you “rarely drive.”
Saying you lift 20 kg groceries when your physiotherapist limited you to 5 kg.
Why it’s risky: The insurer will point to these inconsistent statements as proof your disability claim is unreliable.
4. Speculating about future recovery
“I’m sure I’ll be fine in a couple of months.”
“Once this new medication kicks in, I’ll go back to work.”
Why it’s risky: They only need to show you are not “totally disabled” now; speculation can be used to cut future disability benefits.
5. Talking about undiagnosed conditions in detail
Long stories about symptoms you have never mentioned to your doctor.
Why it’s risky: Focus on conditions documented in your medical records; your lawyer can help you handle new issues.
6. Agreeing with misleading statements
Adjuster: “So you’re basically able to do most things at home, just not at work, right?”
You: “Yes, I guess so.”
Why it’s risky: This can be twisted into “no major restrictions.” Instead, restate your actual limits.
How to Prepare for Your LTD Interview in Canada
Preparation helps you answer questions calmly, accurately, and consistently so the claims process is less stressful.
Key steps:
Get a copy of your disability insurance policy and past correspondence so you understand what definition of disability applies (own occupation vs any occupation).
Review your claim forms, your employer’s forms, and your doctors’ statements before the interview.
Make short notes on your job duties, when you stopped work, your main medical condition, and what tasks you now struggle with at home and at work.
Consider a brief prep call with a Canadian long term disability lawyer so you know what to expect and how to protect your rights.
Review Your Medical Records
Your medical records are central to your long term disability interview because the insurer will compare every answer to what your doctors have written.
Before the interview:
Ask your family doctor and key specialists for recent clinic notes or reports, especially about current symptoms, work restrictions, and prognosis.
Check dates: when did symptoms begin, when were key tests done, and when were you taken off work? Make a brief timeline so you don’t mix dates up under pressure.
Confirm how your conditions are described (e.g., “major depressive disorder and anxiety,” “fibromyalgia with chronic pain,” “Crohn’s disease flare‑ups”). Use similar wording when you answer questions.
If your insurer claims there is “insufficient medical information,” you may need more detailed reports that clearly link your medical condition to your inability to work.
Practice Consistent Answers
Making inconsistent statements is one of the most common reasons insurers distrust otherwise valid claims. Practising key answers helps you keep your story stable across forms, interviews, doctor visits, and any future hearing.
To keep your long term disability interview answers consistent:
- Write out:
How far you can walk.
How long you can sit, stand, or focus.
What happens when you push past those limits (e.g., next‑day flare‑up).
Use ranges instead of absolutes: “I can usually sit 20–30 minutes, then I must change positions or lie down.”
Practice answering common long term disability interview questions with a family member or lawyer, using the same core description each time.
If you realize you said something slightly different earlier, you can clarify: “On my form, I estimated 15 minutes; since then, my symptoms have worsened, and now it’s closer to 10 minutes.”
Stick to Facts, Avoid Opinions
Insurers make decisions based on documented facts, not personal opinions about how “deserving” you feel. Sticking to facts helps you present an accurate picture of your disability.
Do:
Describe specific functional limits: “I can carry one light bag of grocery shopping to the car, but lifting heavier items triggers sharp back pain and I must rest.”
Use concrete examples from daily life and past work tasks.
Refer to what your doctor has advised, for example, “My psychiatrist advised I not return to classroom teaching due to panic attacks and cognitive problems.”
Avoid:
Opinions about the insurance company (“You’re just trying to save money”) or the insurance representative.
Broad statements like “I can’t do anything,” which are easy to disprove with minor activities caught on surveillance.
Our blog on long term disability surveillance explains how insurers may watch your activities and social media.
Seek Legal Help From a Disability Lawyer
Talking to an experienced Canadian long term disability lawyer before or after a long term disability interview can make a major difference.
A lawyer can:
Review your policy, medical records, and prior forms to flag any weak spots or inconsistent statements.
Help you rehearse clear, truthful answers to tough long term disability interview questions, especially around mental health or fluctuating symptoms.
Attend the interview with you (or be on the line) to ensure the insurance interviewer is fair and that your words aren’t twisted.
Step in quickly if your disability claim is denied or your disability benefits are cut off after the interview, including in Ontario and across Canada.
Share Lawyers offers free consultations and charges no fees unless you win, which can be vital if your income has already stopped
Hypothetical story: Andrew’s LTD interview
Andrew is a high school teacher in Sarnia who has been off work for eight months due to severe anxiety and depression. His group disability insurance through the school board has been paying long term disability benefits, but his insurer schedules a home long term disability interview with an insurance representative.
Before the visit, Andrew:
Reviews his psychiatrist’s notes about panic attacks, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating.
Writes a short schedule of a typical day, showing how often he lies down, how much he avoids social interaction, and how even answering emails is overwhelming.
Has a brief call with a disability lawyer to understand his rights and what not to say.
During the interview, the representative asks Andrew about marking papers and classroom duties. Andrew is careful not to say, “I could probably handle a few classes,” even though he misses teaching. Instead, he explains that trying to plan lessons or mark work triggers racing thoughts and panic, and he often ends up in bed, unable to finish tasks.
He also mentions that on better days he can walk around the block, but that doesn’t mean he can manage a full school day with large classes, noise, and constant decision‑making. His answers match his medical records, so when the insurer later reviews the file, they cannot point to inconsistent statements to justify cutting his disability benefits.
A long term disability interview is a key part of the claims process, and insurers use it to test your credibility and look for inconsistent statements. By preparing with your medical records, practising consistent, fact‑based answers, and getting advice from a Canadian disability lawyer, you can give a clear, truthful and accurate picture of why you cannot work, and protect your disability benefits.
FAQ: Long Term Disability Interview In Canada
1. What should I not say in a long term disability interview?
Avoid minimizing your symptoms, guessing about what you “might” be able to do, or saying anything that contradicts your forms or medical records. Focus on how your current symptoms prevent you from performing your job or any suitable work, and don’t speculate about future recovery.
2. Can the insurance company visit my home for a term disability interview?
Yes. Insurers in Canada often send an insurance representative or rehabilitation consultant to your home, and they may call it a “visit” rather than an interview. You can insist on a scheduled time, have someone with you, and keep the discussion focused on your health and work limits.
3. How honest should I be when I answer questions?
You should be fully honest, but precise. Describe what life is like on an average or bad day, not just occasional good days, and be consistent with what you’ve told your doctors and written in your forms. If you don’t know an answer, say so instead of guessing.
4. Can I refuse to do a long term disability interview?
Most policies in Ontario and across Canada require you to cooperate with reasonable information requests, including interviews, or your disability claim may be denied. If you feel uncomfortable, speak to a disability lawyer first and ask if they can attend or request modifications (like phone instead of in‑person).
5. When should I call a disability lawyer about my LTD interview?
It’s wise to get legal advice as soon as you receive an interview request—especially if you have invisible conditions such as mental health issues, fatigue, or chronic pain. A lawyer can help you prepare, protect you during the interview, and act quickly if your disability benefits are later denied or terminated.
Contact Share Lawyers today and let our experience work for you. Our 40 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.
