Long-term Disability

Long-term Disability (LTD) provides income for Members who cannot work, even with an accommodation, due to illness or disability. LTD is administered by an insurance company on contract with UVic. Benefits are 80% of your salary after tax withholdings at whatever FTE status you had immediately prior to requiring LTD coverage. This formula is applied regardless of your financial circumstances.

To qualify for LTD, you must have been totally unable to perform any of your Academic or Professional Responsibilities because of illness or disability for six months. During sick leave, a graduated return from sick leave may have been attempted, but cannot have been successful. If approved, LTD normally commences six months from the beginning of Sick Leave or the onset of an illness or disability. You are expected to apply for LTD at least three months before the LTD would commence.

In most cases, one is on sick leave when applying for LTD. However, there are some circumstances in which, even though you are not on sick leave, you have been unable to work for six months. In those circumstances, the date that LTD would commence, if approved, is calculated by the date you became unable to work. It is important to get medical documentation of this date as soon as possible. While we recommend working with an MSO Advisor for all LTD applications, it is especially important to do so in these unusual circumstances.

For more information on long-term disability, please contact our Membership Services Office.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Is there partial LTD?

No. To qualify for LTD, you must be considered completely unable to work.

2. How long can I stay on LTD?

With medical documentation, you can stay on LTD until the June 30 following your 65^th birthday. LTD is not available past this date because you are eligible for retirement.

You will not be charged LTD premiums past the June 30 following your 65^th birthday.

3. Is LTD available past normal retirement age?

LTD is not available for Members who have passed their normal retirement age, which is defined in the Collective Agreement as the June 30^th following your 65^th birthday. LTD is intended to provide a source of income for Members who cannot work due to illness or disability. Members past retirement age have an alternative source of income and do not pay into LTD.

4. Will I have a job to come back to after LTD?

Your job (or an equivalent) must remain available to you if you are expected to able to return to work from LTD, regardless of how long you are on LTD, unless holding the job creates undue hardship for the University (not the unit).

5. How does time on Long Term Disability affect windows for reappointment or tenure?

In the years leading up to the date of your reappointment or tenure, if you have been on any combination of Maternity, Parental or Adoption Leave, Special Leave, Sick Leave or Long-Term Disability Leave (LTD) for more than 15 weeks, the date for your reappointment or tenure may be extended. The extensions are as follows: one year extension for 15 to 52 weeks; two years for more than 52 and up to 104 weeks; three years for more than 104 and up to 156 weeks; and four years for more than 156 weeks.

6. If the LTD insurer accepts my application, what should I expect?

The insurance company will assign a case manager to your case.  They will periodically ask for medical documentation.  The insurer may request that you see a specialist. The insurer will also assign a rehabilitation specialist to you, who may visit you in order to report back to the insurance company on your circumstances. You are welcome to work with a Faculty Association Membership Services Advisor at any point during this process. If you disagree with the actions or recommendations of the insurer, you should contact a Faculty Association Membership Services Advisor immediately.

7. How does time on LTD affect salary?

Your salary is frozen while you are on LTD. However, you may have cost of living increases applied to the LTD benefits you are receiving. After you have returned to work (and completed any graduated return to work period), your salary will be adjusted according to the Procedures of the Vice-President Academic and Provost Regarding Salary Adjustments after Long-Term Disability.

8. How will time on LTD affect earning time towards a study leave?

Unlike time on Sick Leave, time on LTD does not count towards Study Leave eligibility unless you are on a graduated return to work. On a graduated return to work from LTD, you earn eligibility towards study leave pro-rated according to your FTE status. Thus, if you work for 6 months at FTE 0.5, you earn three months towards a study leave.

9. Can I work while I am on LTD?

If you do any work for pay, you may jeopardize your LTD benefits. You should be cautious about doing any work, even work without pay, as well as minor activities such as writing letters of recommendation for students. Any work-related activities you perform may be viewed by the insurer as an indication that you are no longer fully disabled and could affect their decision to continue benefits regardless as to your actual ability to return to work.

10. What happens if the insurer does not approve my
application for LTD?

If LTD is not approved by the insurance carrier, you must either return to work fully, or partially on a temporary basis, after providing the medical documentation the University may require indicating you can return to work. With the agreement of the University, you may be placed on leave without pay while you seek additional medical information for the purposes of appeal.

11. What is a Graduated Return to Work from LTD?
    

Members returning to work from LTD can work at less than their normal FTE status for up to 24 months, gradually increasing their workload. The plan for a graduated return to work is developed with input from your medical team. UVic pays the portion of your salary prorated to your FTE status, and the insurer tops up the salary to 90% of your normal salary.