Are You Eligible for Disability Benefits in Manitoba?
If you’re facing an illness or injury that may affect your ability to work, disability benefits can be lifesaving. In Manitoba, as in the rest of Canada, disability benefits are designed to provide financial support when you cannot work due to a medical condition. This guide will walk you through the critical information you need to understand your eligibility for disability benefits in Manitoba.
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Eligibility for Disability Benefits in Manitoba
Understanding Your Benefits Package
When starting a new job, review the benefits offered, especially those for medical, dental, and vision expenses not covered by provincial health plans. Many group plans in Manitoba also include life insurance, accidental death, critical illness, and disability benefits, but these details are often overlooked.
Be sure to review your benefits booklet or company portal to understand your coverage. Disability benefits can be confusing and may differ from what you expect. If filing a disability claim, ensure you clearly understand your benefits.
Important Questions to Ask
- Do you have Short Term Disability Benefits?
- Do you have Long Term Disability Benefits?
For long term disability benefits, coverage is usually provided to those until age 65.
Are You Eligible to Receive Disability Benefits in Manitoba?
If you have disability benefits, your eligibility depends on your plan’s definition of disability and whether your condition prevents you from doing your current job or any job. You’ll need to provide medical proof and complete the required paperwork to show you cannot work.
Eligibility Criteria | |
Employment Status | If you have an employer-sponsored plan, you must have worked for the employer for the minimum time specified in your policy to qualify for coverage. |
Elimination Period | Typically, you must be unable to work for 90 to 180 days before LTD benefits start. |
Definition of Disability | LTD benefits cover you if you cannot perform your occupation for the first two years. After that, it will often shift to any occupation for which you are qualified. This is called the Change of Definition. |
Medical Evidence | You need medical proof, such as doctor’s records, to show your condition prevents you from working. |
Pre-Existing Conditions | Some policies exclude pre-existing conditions unless an elimination period has passed. |
Impact on Ability to Work | To qualify, your disability must prevent you from doing your job for the first two years and any job after that. |
Coverage Duration | Benefits typically last until age 65, but some plans offer shorter terms, such as 5 or 10 years. |