Aaron Waxman and Associates shows support for the Tema Conter Memorial Trust – Part 1

Tema Conter Memorial Trust (TEMA), is a Canada wide organization that provides peer support, family assistance and training for public safety and military personnel dealing with operational stress and PTSD. The mission of TEMA is to help those who spend their lives helping us (firefighters, paramedics, police officers, military), who witness tragic events, human suffering and are more susceptible to developing PTSD or operational stress injuries.

Aaron Waxman, founder of Aaron Waxman and Associates will be speaking at the Common Threads Symposium on February 26, 2015 about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and long-term disability claims. Mr. Waxman will be speaking about the claims process, understanding the terms of long-term disability policies, the interplay between short-term disability benefits (STD) and long-term disability benefits (STD) and WSIB benefits and the benefits of hiring a lawyer for denied claims.

The symposium is followed by the 15th Annual Heroes Tribute Gala on February 27, 2016, and lawyers from Aaron Waxman and Associates will be in attendance.

First responders who are injured in the course of their employment are often entitled to make a claim for WSIB, but many first responders may have access to short-term and long-term disability benefits. The question is, whether or not an application should be made for short-term and long-term disability benefits if you have already applied for WSIB benefits.

You can submit an application for these types of benefits even if you applied for WSIB; and, if you are receiving WSIB benefits, it is very important to notify your STD insurer/LTD insurer of any and all benefits you receive from WSIB.

Why? Under a short-term disability or long-term disability policy, the insurer is entitled to deduct the money you receive from WSIB from your weekly (if STD), or monthly (if LTD) benefit amount, as it is considered an offset (another source of income that you are receiving/entitled to that your insurer can use to reduce benefits payable under the STD/LTD plan). You should always review your policy to check to see what offsets your insurer is entitled to.

A reason why you would want to apply for both types of benefits, even if WSIB is paying your claim is that WSIB could reduce and/or terminate your disability benefit before you are ready to return to work. If you applied for STD/LTD benefits and your claim was not denied, you should advise that insurance company about WSIB’s decision as you may be entitled to ongoing monthly payments from your insurer and this decision can affect your benefit amount. It is important to remember that you must apply for STD and LTD benefits in accordance with the timelines set out in your policy, or the insurance company could deny your claim on the basis of it being submitted late.