I have been off work for almost 2.5 years. I was approved in September(Canada Life) under the new definition, can’t do any job & was approved for CPP-D in the Fall. I received a phone call from my Canada Life worker recently & it seemed they will be looking at a back to work plan in the near future. I’m confused, I was just approved & deemed eligible. My symptoms are the exact same. I have explained numerous times that I have no problem returning when I’m well. I loved my job & hate not working. I also find these phone calls very stressful and they do impact my mental health every time. How do other people cope?
Your situation sounds very similar to mine. I’m also with Canada Life and was approved for CPP-D. I passed the cod date in May of 2025. My worker said she was going to transfer my file to maintenance once she received both of my doctors’ clinical notes.
Unfortunately one doctor was very late getting her notes back and by then I had a new worker. The new worker has decided that she’s going to send me to an exercise program aka return to work plan.
I don’t know what’s going to happen now. My situation also has not changed and both of my doctors agree that due to my health I should not return to work. The phone calls and pressure from the case manager are very stressful.
Thanks for replying. It’s so frustrating. I also thought I would transfer to maintenance. I have a new case manager & I don’t know if that’s the issue. It just causes so much stress. I hate relying on them to live.
It definitely is so stressful. I feel like we have the same worker because your story is so similar lol. I don’t understand how a new case manager can take the file and completely ignore the last 3+ years of doctors’ reports, case manager notes, and their own medical coordinator notes. It’s baffling. I guess they are trying to prove their abilities.
Are you going to do the rtw program? What do your doctors think about it?
if your doctor says not suitable at this time, that is what you need. You may have to go through an initial assessment and see what is offered. your doctor needs to sign off on it.
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Thank you for your reply, so as long as I have my doctors support. They cannot pressure me to go back to work?
I’m not doing anything yet. Im seeing my doctor in March. I’m wondering if there is a way to talk privately? I worry Canada Life could be watching comments on here. It would be nice to talk to someone who also has experience with CL & with someone who knows what it’s like managing chronic illness. I have support, but it’s hard for them to completely understand what I’m going through.
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Your physician is the key contact person and it is their medical opinion that matters.
Unfortunately insurers do play games and they know very well that if litigation occurs that bad faith can cause them to have to pay significant damages especially after Baker versus Blue Cross.
Sadly though you may need to litigate if this becomes contentious.
If the insurer is forcing you back to work then your only option at that point is to sue.
It is quite frankly ridiculous that insurers will force someone back to work especially after being approved for CPP disability.
That’s that you can win a lot of damages if you settle or go to trial.
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Thank you so much. This is very helpful
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Another option is to attempt and fail. I would probably ask the claims manager what medical information has led them to believe a return to work is possible.
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CL is well known for its forceful nature to push people back to work. Keep your guard up. Make sure your doctor documents well any disagreemet they have with a potential RTW plan.
In our Facebook disability support group CL is BY FAR the insurer that tries to force completely unjustified RTW programs on their customers. It’s actually quite sickening what they sometimes try to do.
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I would also like to talk privately if it’s possible. I feel all alone dealing with this because as you said it’s hard for anyone around me to understand
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That may be what I have to do. As humiliating as it might be, I might have no other option.
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That’s good advice, thanks. Can you post the facebook group here, or is that not allowed? I would like to join if that’s possible.
I would also like to join.
Feel free to DM me the link because sharing it here could be risky. I have firsthand experience with what’s been mentioned here.
Please DM the link to me as well.
CornFlakes can you please let me know about your experience?
If you feel comfortable please DM me
Yes, if your Doctor says the plan is contradicted or her wording, then you are good. One trick I have seen is if you fail, the insurer cuts you off for non-compliance-that happens alot. If you do attempt , have your doctor put reassess in 2 weeks. They likely will want to do an initial assessment before coming up with a plan. You must cooperate. You must be polite. Then go to your doctor and if he or she thinks it will increase symptoms or is harmful , then she can not approve at this time. Ofen the rehab consult may send the file back if they think it will just cost money and not return you to employment.
I remember acutely the phone call from a RTW person. I had a full panic attack. I’d never been advised it was coming. The therapist was so apologetic and told me that my insurer told her that I was ready for RTW.
What ended up happening?