Disability income is available from private plans and four government plans

1. Canada Pension Plan
2. Veteran Affairs
3. Employment Insurance
4. Workers Compensation

Veteran Affairs

• for veterans of World War I, World War II, Korean War or a Special Duty Area
• if permanently disabled from injury or disease
• survivor may receive benefits for one year
• surviving children may receive benefits

Employment Insurance

• benefits for
  • sickness (including illness, injury or quarantine): 15 weeks
  • maternity leave: 15 weeks
  • parental leave: 35 weeks
• second payor after other government or group plans
• can top up another plan
• benefits from individual plans don’t jeopardize EI benefits

Premiums

Premiums are based on earnings

Qualification

• your regular weekly earnings decrease by more than 40%
• you have at least 600 "insured hours" accumulated since the last claim or in the last 52 weeks
• medical certificate shows the expected duration of your illness
• you file a claim within two weeks of becoming disabled or sick

Benefits

• 55% of your average earned income to a maximum
• second payor after employment income, workers compensation, group insurance, pension income, benefits from some accident policies
• not reduced by individual disability insurance (can receive both at the same time)
• benefits are taxable
• the elimination period is 2 weeks

Workers Compensation

Ontario: called the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

• government mandated but not government-funded
• for on-the-job injury or sickness
  • excludes incidents occurring when not at work
• elimination period: 1 day

Premiums

• funded by employer contributions

Benefits

• up to 90% of the net pre-disability take-home pay
• tax-free
• lump sum if permanent or death
• ongoing if due to disability
• usually integrated with individual or group disability insurance (i.e., their benefits are reduced by benefits from Workers Compensation