Members of the military may be unable to work after serving for our country for a variety of reasons, be it psychological or physical. Whether you continue to be active in the military or are a retired veteran, your physical or mental health related injuries/illness can make it hard to adjust to civilian life and acclimate yourself to a different environment.
Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) Financial Services offers currently serving and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) access to different types of insurance products and financial services.
The SISIP long-term disability plan is a group insurance plan for CAF personnel administered by SISIP Financial Services and insured by Manulife Financial. The purpose of the benefit is to provide income replacement for military personnel, whether they departed voluntarily or were released for medical reasons.
Members of the Regular Force, Reserve Force on Class C service, and Primary Reserve Force on Class A and B service are eligible for this benefit.
Members of the Regular Force, Reserve Force on Class C service, and Primary Reserve Force on Class A and B service are eligible for this benefit.
The benefit is typically 75% of salary, but the benefit amount depends on whether you are Regular Force or Reserve Force. The minimum salary used to calculate benefits is equal to that of Corporal Basic. As well, just like regular long-term disability benefits, the SISIP LTD benefit is subject to offsets.
As with all LTD policies, the SISIP policy has a total disability test and deadlines to file claims.
In most instances, the SISIP plan covers injuries or medical conditions whether or not they are attributable to military service.
Under the policy, a CAF member is released for reasons other than medical and makes a claim. It should be made within 120 days of the release.
Total disability (and totally disabled) mean that a CAF member has been released, and there is clear, objective medical evidence confirming he or she is incapacitated by an active, medically determinable physical or mental impairment. This prevents him or her from performing every duty of an occupation/employment for which he or she is reasonably qualified for by way of education, training or experience. It should be noted that medical reviews will be conducted during the course of your claim to determine eligibility for continued benefits.
If your SISIP claim is denied, you can fight the decision to decline or terminate benefits. Your right to do so is subject to a limitation period. A lawyer can help you determine when this will occur.
It is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible so you avoid missing this limitation period (deadline to start a court action).
Going through a long-term disability claim can be overwhelming and confusing. Having a lawyer who is experienced with these types of claims can provide you with the guidance you need during this difficult time in your life. Our lawyers have experience handling various types of long-term disability claims and can help you to better understand your insurance policy.
Thank you! Your request for a free consultation has been sent to our legal team.
We will do our best to contact you within 24 hours. We look forward to speaking with you!
1120 Finch Avenue West, Suite 500
Toronto, ON Canada M3J 3H7