LTD Benefits

Plan Changes Effective July 1, 2017

 

Once you have completed the 120 day qualifying period, long term disability benefits are payable for the duration of your disability, to age 65, or voluntary early retirement.  Benefits are payable at the end of each month.  If the payment is for less than a full calendar month, your payment will be pro-rated based on the number of calendar days that the benefit is payable.

 

Benefit payments are subject to the provision of medical evidence supporting your disability.  Annually, and at such other times as the Administrative Board deems appropriate, medical updates will be required from a legally qualified medical practitioner.  You will be notified in advance of the requirement to provide updated medical evidence.  If you refuse to obtain a medical update, or are unable to provide satisfactory medical evidence of your continuing disability, your long term disability benefits will cease.

 

The Administrative Board may submit any medical evidence received to a qualified medical practitioner of its choice for a second opinion or interpretation.

 

 

Benefit Payments

The total disability benefit payment is based on 75% of your pre-disability salary.  Your gross benefit will be reduced by the contributions you are required to make to the Civic Pension Plan and any disability benefits you are receiving from the Canada Pension Plan.

 

Permanent Full Time Employees

If you are a permanent full time employee, the benefit amount will be based on the regular basic salary rate for the position you occupied at your date of disability or the date your disability payments become payable, whichever is greater.

 

Example Calculation:

 

                              Date of Disability: January 15, 2017                         

                              2017 Annual Salary: $47,500

                              Monthly Pre-disability Salary: $3,958

                              Disability Benefit from the Canada Pension Plan (if applicable): $800

 

                              Gross Benefit:

                              $3,958 x 75% = $2,968.50

 

                              Less:

                              Civic Pension Contribution:

                                     $3,958 x (8.8% x 75%) = $261

                              CPP Disability Income:        $800

                                                                             $1,061

 

                              Monthly LTD Payment = $1,907.50

 

 

Permanent Part Time Employees

If you are a permanent part time employee, the benefit amount will be based on the regular basic salary rate, and the number of part time hours worked, in the year prior to your date of disability.

 

Example Calculation:

 

                              Date of Disability: January 15, 2017

                              2017 Annual Salary: $23,400 (1,200 hours at $19.50 per hour)

                              Monthly Pre-disability Salary: $1,950

                              Disability Benefit from Canada Pension Plan (if applicable): $400

 

                              Gross Benefit:

                              $1,950 x 75% = $1,462.50

 

                              Less:

                              Civic Pension Contribution:

                                      $1,950 x (8.8% x 75%) = $128

                              CPP Disability Income          $400

                                                                               $528

 

                              Monthly LTD Payment = $934.50

 

Partial Disability

After you have received total disability benefits for a period of 12 months, partial benefits may be payable if the medical evidence indicates that you are not totally disabled from employment, but a permanent medical impairment does exist.

 

The amount of disability benefits payable during periods of partial disability shall be calculated in the same manner as for total disability but reduced by a percentage determined by the Administrative Board based on the opinion of one or more qualified medical practitioners with regards to the severity of the disability.

 

 

Benefit Offsets and Reductions

Your disability benefits will be reduced if you receive payments from:

 

      - employer paid leaves;

      - the Workers' Compensation Board for the same injury and/or illness;

      - the Canada Pension Plan (disability benefits);

      - the Government of Canada's Employment Insurance plan;

      - the Saskatchewan Government Insurance Personal Injury Protection Plan; and/or

      - any salary or wage loss awarded as the result of action against any third

        party for the same disability except for benefits received from a member's

        private disability plan.

 

 There is no reduction in your disability benefits as a result of:

 

      - lump-sum vacation payouts;

      - increases in payments from third parties as a result of increases in the

        Consumer Price Index (after the initial reduction of said payments); and/or

      - payments received from the Workers' Compensation Board for an unrelated

        injury and/or illness.

 

 

Cost of Living Adjustment

Your long term disability benefit payment is protected against inflation through an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA).  Your benefit payments will be increased by 1/2 of the increase in the Consumer Price Index each year to a maximum of 4.25% in any one year.

 

Please note that if there is a reduction in the Consumer Price Index there will be no change to your benefit payments (you will not receive an increase, however your payments will not be reduced).

 

The anniversary date for cost of living adjustments is one year from the date on which your benefit payments started.

 

 

When Benefits Stop

Disability benefit payments will cease upon the earliest of the following dates:

 

      - you recover from your disability;

      - you elect voluntary early retirement;

      - you reach age 65; 

      - you are no longer considered totally or partially disabled under the

        provisions of the Plan; 

      - in the event you pass away; or

      - if you waive your right to further disability benefit entitlements.

 

Disability benefit payments are not terminated if you resign from service with an employer particpating in the Plan.

 

 

Disability or Pension?

If partial disability benefits are approved by the Administrative Board and the amount of the disability benefit payments you would receive are less than the amount you could receive immediately as a pension from the Regina Civic Employees' Superannuation & Benefit Plan, you may elect to retire and receive an immediate pension rather that collect disability benefits provided that:

 

      you qualify for an immediate reduced or unreduced pension

 

      and

 

      you notify the Administrative Board of your intention to retire as required by

      the Civic Pension Plan.