I’m on a short‑term disability claim with Sun Life (I work in the private sector) for mental health, backed by my physician’s statement and therapist’s notes. I’ve got a month‑long out‑of‑province language program coming up that my therapist supports, but I’m worried Sun Life will suspend my benefits. I have weekly sessions with my therapist.
Has anyone kept STD benefits active while away on a structured program?
What kind of sign‑off or documentation did Sun Life require for such travel?
Any advice on using vacation time to bridge that period without risking a cut‑off?
Here’s the relevant section from the benefits booklet:
We will not pay benefits for any period: you are not receiving appropriate treatment. that you do any work for wage or profit except as approved by
Sun Life. you are not participating in an approved rehabilitation program, if
required by Sun Life. you are on a leave of absence, strike or lay-off except as stated
under Maternity / parental leave of absence. However, if you
become totally disabled before a notice of separation is given,
payments continue while you are totally disabled, but not beyond
the end of the maximum benefit period. you are absent from Canada longer than 4 weeks, unless Sun Life
agrees in writing in advance to pay benefits during such period or
unless the absence is for the purpose of obtaining medical
treatment and would be permitted under the Employment
Insurance regulations. you are serving a prison sentence or are confined in a similar
institution.
Going on a language program for a month would signal to Sun Life that you could have the capacity to work. If they come to that conclusion they would suspend your STD payments.
How many hours a week is this language program? If its around 20ish hours or greater, and Sun Life wasn’t involvedin making this a rehab plan, prepare yourself for being cut off. Sorry not what you want to hear, but I’ve seen it happen before a few times.
Sun Life wasn’t involved in making this a rehab plan
Do you think it’s worth it to try incorporate this into my rehab plan? My therapist is on board and thinks I should go. It’s a trip I’ve been planning for almost a year.
If it were me I’d try bring Sun Life into the decision making process to avoid being abruptly cut off of payments if they were to find out your were able to do an 18 hr/week course. I’m assuming your treatment provider would eventually tell Sun Life you went on this course.
I suggest being strategic about it though. Instead of telling them you are doing it, maybe get their thoughts on if they would agree to support something like this while on STD as part of your treatment/rehab. Be prepared though, once you successfully complete the course Sun Life will demand you return to your job part time for at least 18 hours per week because you’ve proven you have the capacity to work that amount consistently.
I would need a lot more context on this, but as other people have stated – in a situation like this, Insurance companies are almost certainly going to cut off short-term disability benefits for a few reasons. First, during short-term disability insurers are focused on making sure people are getting treatment necessary to get back to work. An out of province language program would seem to take you away from your usual treatment providers. Second, doing such a program can demonstrate the capacity for work. Again, this depends on the details of what is involved in the language program, as compared to the demand of the person’s job duties, but that would be the general concern an insurer would have. The only hope woudl be to have the insurer approve this type of travel / program in advance.
David Brannen
Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal
The response posted above is based on the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with a lawyer, fully explain your situation, and allow the lawyer enough time to research the applicable law and facts required to give an adequate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full one-on-one discussion with a lawyer should be done before taking any any action. The information posted on this forum is available to the viewing public and is not intended to create a lawyer client relationship with any person. If you want one-on-one advice, please click here to request a free consultation or call toll free 1-877-917-7050 to speak with a member with our disability claim support team.
you are not receiving appropriate treatment.