Hello, i have an issue with my HR and LTD application. I became eligible back in Feb but did not start my application process until April. My HR Generalist did not issue the employer statement until July. I was contacted by the Sunlife rep and he told me my application was filed late but he would have his manager over ride that after getting more information from my HR and once he receives that i would have to get an update from my dr because the 3 month update had passed. It has now been 3 weeks since sunlife requested this information from HR with no response. I emailed him last week to let him know that im in desperate need of income so i can deal with my injury and have the necessary surgery so that i can go back to work without the swelling and agonizing pain in my dominant wrist (i am a facility cleaner and its impossible to perform my job without the use of my dominant hand). I need some advice on this matter. Thank you so much in advance!
Hi, sorry to hear this. Your HR generalist has really dropped the ball, and put their company at risk. I fired an HR generalist back in the day for this exact reason.
You need to escalate to the manager of your company and bypass HR. Make a phone call and send an email so it’s on record that they’ve dropped the ball. Sounds like Sun Life will do the right thing once they get your company’s documentation. You may need to get an employment lawyer to write your company a letter to light a fire under them if they remain unresponsive.
Thank you so much for your reply and suggestions. I sent a message to the agent handling my case today and he replied that my case is now being managed by someone else. I received his contact info and sent a message immediately. He replied that theyre still waiting for my employer to confirm some things and then we can procede with the next steps. He added thst he knows thats not the news i was hoping for but would be making another attempt to contact my hr today. I gave him the email address for someone else in management who controls finances since i too am not getting any replies from the HR. Im also going to take your advice and send an email to him and explain the many problems with this HR. The HR is new since the HR i had , took medical leave 1 month after my last day. She did not keep any documentation of the modified duties i was given for a month and then was told by her that they couldnt accommodate me with modified duties anymore. I was forced to go off on a medical leave. This started October 31, 2023. Do you think theres a possibility that i could get denied after all this? If i did get denied because of my HR, could i be compensated? Thanks again and sorry for my long story!
Hello ltsme!
Sorry to hear that you are experiencing these difficult circumstances!
Firstly, I am presuming that you have applied for and have exhausted your EI Sickness Benefits.
Secondly, if you have union representation, I would certainly bring this matter to the attention of your local representative.
Finally, although most LTD policies containing claim submission time lines there is usually also a provision for relief in cases on extenuating circumstances. Your situation should certainly qualify as extenuating circumstances.
Hope this helps!
Hi James1 , thanks for replying! You are correct, my ei sick benefits ended in May. Since my HR didnt guide me, i assumed i had to wait for that to end before applying for ltd. We are not unionized. The manager i sent a message to this morning, replied that tge HR is out of office and will be back tomorrow and he will follow-up with him then. That doesnt explain the poor communication and not responding to sunlife for 3 weeks.
Since i was eligible in February, do you know if i would get back pay? It would be nice to pay my line of credit ive had to use to live.
Hello again Itsme, Sorry about the delay in replying. Once the issue of the late filing has bee addressed, my understanding is that the insurer should adjudicate your claim and if approved, provide for retroactive disability benefit payments to the date of your initial eligibility.
Hope this helps!
Thank you! My HR told me he gathered the information requested by Sunlife and sent it to them. Well after a couple days i reached out to Sunlife and was told that he left out some information and notified him with no response yet. So frustrating 
Does anyone actually get their claims settled in 10 days like they claim?