Waiting Period
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3 months
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Benefit Amount
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66.7% of monthly basic earnings
to a maximum of $3,000
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Qualifying Period
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179 days
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Definition of Disability
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Totally Disabled means a restriction or lack of ability due to an
illness or injury which prevents you from performing the essential
duties of any occupation for which you are qualified, or may
reasonably become qualified, by training, education or experience.
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The availability of work will not be considered by Manulife
Financial in assessing your disability.
If you must hold a government permit or license to perform the duties
of your job, you will not be considered Totally Disabled solely
because your permit or license has been withdrawn or not renewed.
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Maximum Benefit Period
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to age 65
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Non-Evidence Limit
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$2,500
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Termination
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age 65 less the Qualifying Period, or your retirement,
whichever is earlier
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Survivor Benefit
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If you die while disability benefits are payable, Manulife Financial
will pay a benefit to your surviving dependants. If there are no
surviving dependants, the benefit is payable to your estate.
The amount of the Survivor Benefit payable is ( 3 ) times
your last monthly benefit payment, less the amount of any outstanding
benefit overpayments.
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Tax Status
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The tax position of any payments you receive under this benefit
depends on whether you or your employer pays the cost of the benefit.
If your employer pays any portion of the premium for this benefit,
then any payments you receive will be taxable. If you pay the full
cost of the benefit, then any disability benefit payments you receive
will be non-taxable.
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Waiver of Premium
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The premium for your Long Term Disability benefit will be waived
during any period you are entitled to receive Long Term Disability
benefit payments.
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Entitlement
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To be entitled to disability benefits, you must meet the following
criteria:
- you must be continuously Totally Disabled throughout the
Qualifying Period. If you cease to be Totally Disabled during this
period and then become disabled again within 3 weeks due to the same
or related illness or injury, your Qualifying Period will be extended
by the number of days during which you ceased to be Totally Disabled
- Manulife Financial must receive medical evidence documenting how
your illness or injury causes restrictions or lack of ability, such
that you are prevented from performing the essential duties of any
occupation for which you are qualified, or may reasonably become
qualified, by training, education or experience
- you must be receiving from a physician, regular, ongoing care and
treatment appropriate for your disabling condition, as determined by
Manulife Financial
At any time, Manulife Financial may require you to submit to a
medical, psychiatric, psychological, functional, educational and/or
vocational examination or evaluation by an examiner selected by
Manulife Financial.
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Exclusions
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No benefits are payable for any disability related to:
- self-inflicted injuries or illnesses
- war, insurrection, the hostile actions of any armed forces or
participation in a riot or civil commotion
- medical or surgical care which is not medically necessary
- the committing of or the attempt to commit an assault or criminal
offence
- injuries sustained while operating a motor vehicle while under
the influence of any intoxicant, including alcohol
- abuse of addictive substances, including drugs and alcohol,
unless you are actively participating and co-operating in an
in-patient medical treatment program for substance abuse which has
been approved by Manulife Financial
- a Pre-Existing Condition which causes disability within the first
12 months of your Long Term Disability coverage. A
Pre-Existing Condition is any injury or illness (whether diagnosed or
not) for which you were treated or attended by a physician, or for
which drugs were prescribed, within 90 days prior
to the effective date of your coverage
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Periods for which you are not entitled to benefits
(Unless your employer is required to provide coverage because of
legislation, regulation, or by law)
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When you are:
- not receiving from a physician, regular, ongoing care and
treatment appropriate for your disabling condition, as determined by
Manulife Financial
- receiving EI (Employment Insurance) maternity or parental benefits
- on lay off
- on leave of absence
- receiving earnings or payments from 'any' employer
- receiving benefits under an employer sponsored salary continuance
plan
- working in any occupation, except as provided for under the
Rehabilitation Assistance provision
- incarcerated
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Amount of Disability Benefit Payable
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The amount of disability benefit payable to you is the Benefit Amount
shown above reduced by:
a) any amount you receive or are entitled to receive from the
following sources for the same or related disability:
- Workers' Compensation or similar coverage
- Canada or Quebec Pension Plans
- any government motor vehicle automobile insurance plan or policy,
unless prohibited by law
b) any amount of Canada or Quebec Pension Plan benefits which another
member of your family receives or is entitled to receive by reason of
your disability
If necessary, the amount of your benefit will be further reduced
so that your total amount from all sources does not exceed 85%
of your pre-disability gross earnings (net earnings, if your benefit
is non-taxable). All sources include those sources stated above and
any amount you receive or are entitled to receive from:
- any group, association or franchise plan
- any retirement or pension plan
- earnings or payments from any employer, including severance
payments and vacation pay
- self-employment
- any government plan, excluding Employment Insurance Benefits
Once benefits become payable, the amount of your benefit will not be
affected by any subsequent cost of living increase in benefits you are
receiving from other sources.
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Rules we use to calculate your benefit
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Manulife Financial will apply the following rules in determining your
disability benefit:
- benefits payable from other sources which began before the
commencement of your current Disability will not be taken into account
- benefits payable from other sources will not be adjusted to take
into account any difference between the tax status of those benefits
and the benefit payable by Manulife Financial
- subsequent changes in benefits from other sources, other than cost
of living increases, will be taken into consideration and a new benefit
amount may be established
- benefits payable under individual disability income insurance will
not be taken into account
- for benefits payable other than on a monthly basis, a monthly
equivalent of such benefit will be estimated by Manulife Financial
- if you do not apply for a benefit for which you are eligible, the
amount of such benefit will be estimated by Manulife Financial and
assumed to be paid
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Cost of Living Adjustments
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Commencing with your January payment after benefits have been payable
for 12 months and with each subsequent January payment, you are
eligible for a cost of living adjustment in your disability benefit.
The amount of the adjustment will be based on the change in the
Consumer Price Index for the 12 month period ending September 30th of
each year, to a maximum of 4%.
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Subrogation
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If your disability is caused by another person and you have a legal
right to recover damages, Manulife Financial will request that you
complete a subrogation reimbursement agreement when you submit your
Long Term Disability claim.
On settlement or judgment of your legal action, you will be
required to reimburse Manulife Financial those amounts you recover
which, when added to the disability benefits that Manulife Financial
paid to you, exceed 100% of your lost income.
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Termination of Payments
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Your disability benefit payments will cease on the earliest of:
- the date you cease to be Totally Disabled, as defined under this
benefit
- the date you do not supply Manulife Financial with appropriate
medical evidence documenting how your illness or injury causes
restrictions or lack of ability such that you are prevented from
performing the essential duties of any occupation for which you are
qualified, or may reasonably become qualified, by training, education
or experience
- the date you do not attend an examination by an examiner selected
by Manulife Financial
- the date on which benefits have been paid up to the Maximum
Benefit Period for this benefit
- the date of your death
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Recurrent Disability
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If you become Totally Disabled again from the same or related causes
within 6 months from the end of the period for which
benefits were paid, Manulife Financial will treat the disability as
a continuation of your previous disability.
You will not be required to satisfy any applicable Qualifying Period
again. The benefit payable to you will be based on your earnings as
at the date of your previous disability. Benefits for all such
recurrent disabilities will not be paid for a combined period longer
than the Maximum Benefit Period for this benefit.
If the same disability recurs more than 6 months after
the end of the period for which benefits were paid, such disability
will be considered a separate disability.
Two disabilities which are due to unrelated causes are considered
separate disabilities if they are separated by a return to work of at
least one day.
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Submitting Claims: Please contact your Plan Administrator
6 to 8 weeks prior to the end of your Qualifying Period. Manulife
Financial will contact you to discuss details of your Long Term
Disability coverage.
Payments: Disability benefit payments will be made monthly
in arrears. Any payment for a period of less than one month will be
made at a daily rate of one-thirtieth of your monthly benefit
amount.
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Rehabilitation Assistance
Once Manulife Financial determines that you are Totally Disabled,
if appropriate, and at Manulife Financial's discretion, you may be
offered rehabilitation to assist you in returning to gainful
employment, either to your pre-disability occupation or to another
occupation.
In considering whether Rehabilitation Assistance is appropriate for
you, Manulife Financial will take into account:
- the nature, extent and expected duration of your disability
- your level of education, training or experience
- the nature, scope, objectives and cost of a Vocational Plan
Vocational Plan
A Vocational Plan is a training or job placement program that is
expected to facilitate your return to gainful employment. If it is
determined that Rehabilitation Assistance is appropriate for you, in
partnership with you and your employer, Manulife Financial will
provide a structured Vocational Plan that will prepare you for a
return to work, either:
- with your employer
- with an alternate employer
- in a self-employed capacity
Disability Benefits During Rehabilitation
You will continue to be entitled to disability benefits while
participating in the Vocational Plan. If you receive any earnings as
part of the plan, your disability benefit will be reduced once your
total income (your disability benefit plus your earnings) exceeds 100%
of your pre-disability gross earnings; net earnings if your benefit is
not taxable.
If you cease to participate in the Vocational Plan because of a change
in your medical status, Manulife Financial will require medical
evidence documenting how your current medical status prevents you from
continuing with the Vocational Plan. If you are not available or do not
co-operate or participate in the Vocational Plan, you will no longer
be entitled to disability benefits.
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