Long Term Disability (LTD)

[Canuck_Gal_1965]

I received the forms to apply for my LTD thru my employer today. My UI sick benefits only cover 15 weeks so once they are done I will need to go onto LTD. When do I or when will I need to apply for CPPD (Canada Pension Plan Disability)? How difficult is it to get accepted for either of these?
Thanks

[AJ]

Paul has some really good information in another post but I can't find it. Paul can you post a link? The link here is not working http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/fo...ility-benefits...

http://www.mooddisorders.on.ca/longterm.html

[paul m]

No problem. The MDAO re-organized their site, so some webpages no longer work.

First, LTD is usually no more difficult to get than UIC sick benefits, however this can depend on the employer and the insurance company they are with. (most LTD benefits are provided through an insurance company). Most LTD benefits ask that after a certain time frame you apply for CPPD. They will tell you when you have to do this. However there is nothing to stop you from applying for CPPD right now. CPPD can be difficult to get as your illness must be prolonged, severe and expected to last at least a year. It is the "last for a year" part that can be a kicker.

Most LTD plans pay you X amount per mth, say $1500 and if you are eligible to collect CPPD of $600 per month then they will lower how much they send you to $900. If you are turned down for CPPD, then they will continue to pay you the $1500. (you could be sick for 9mths, be eligible for LTD, but not for CPPD).

I have included a link to the website that AJ was talking about. It provides good information, read it carefully.

It sounds like you are going to be off work for quite a while, apply for CPPD asap. They take forever to get you your first ck. To quote from there own website on wait times. " We make eligibility decisions on at least 75 percent of applications within 120 calendar days (4 months). The time begins when we receive a complete application which includes the questionnaire, application and medical report."

Miss one little detail and the 4mths starts all over again, plus 25% of the people take even longer and that is just to get a decision, getting a ck, can take several mths longer. Good Luck with everything. Take Care. paul m

Guide on LTD bt MDAO: http://www.mooddisorders.ca/guide/gu...erm-disability

Gov't of Cda website on CPPD: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/i...licant.shtml#d

[Canuck_Gal_1965]

Thank you for the information. The forms and questions on the LTD application are confusing. Been it seems I get easily confused with the bipolar...I used to be such an organized, mkae a daily to do list and have it completed at the end of the day...I dont know if on the form I include all my other ailments besides the bipolar or do I just stick with the bipolar? It was my psychiatrist that said I would need to be off work for the bipolar (to get it stabilized).

[paul m]

Hello Canuck_Gal_1965. I am no expert when it comes to filling in the forms. However CPPD does have people who will answer your questions and usually they are pretty fair about it. 1-800-277-9914

As far as your LTD, if it is being handled by a private insurance company(Green Cross, Great West Life etc) then try and get their contact # and phone them.

Generally, the more info that they have the better, however it can also confuse the issue. If one doctor sez that you are fine to return to work in 6 mths and another one sez indefinitely. Plus there is the issue of costs. Each doctor will want to be paid for filling out the report. But ask the people who know for sure. (the insurance company or CPPD)

By the way, I believe that CPPD will pay up to $85 for the doctors report(one report).

I was totally confused by it all myself when I filled out the forms, so you aren't alone. Take Care. paul m

[Sweetest1]

I would list all your medical ailments but have your pdoc fill out the form for the company and CPP. My LTD carrier didn't require me to apply for CPP until I had been off for 2 years (sunlife). Just stick with getting your LTD first, then worry about the CPP after. My LTD carrier helped me with my CPP forms. They want you to get CPP so they can pay you less, right?

Good luck with all the forms, I know what a headache they are.

[Canuck_Gal_1965]

Well I saw my family doc yesterday - boy is she pissed about my employer calling her and telling her the info she provided them was not sufficient. She ended up sending another letter stating I would not be returning to work any earlier than May 18, 2012 with the possibility it could be sooner depending on my recovery. She also sent them a bill for the letter. LOL I am grateful to have her in my corner and advocating for me. She told me to answer all the questions based on all my newly diagnosed ailments on the LTD application - Bipolar Disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and severe Carpal Tunnel. The application does not ask me what diagnosis I have, but does ask the question on the doctors forms she is filling out. On my form it asks how my condition prevents me from working - how do I answer this? It also asks in another question to provide any other relevant information that should be considered in my application. Any ideas?
Thanks

[astronaut]

Hey Canuck Gal,

Well, in terms of how your bipolar prevents you from being able to work, I can't answer that for you. I can make a list of why I was unable to work when I was going through a severe depressive episode but the symptoms will vary for everyone. Just think to yourself: what is it that makes it impossible for me to do my job? If I could have some abilities back that I seem to have lost, what would those abilities be? --sometimes this question can help you see where your deficiencies are.

Here is a list of depressive symptoms that I had which prevented me from working:
-severe pain (pounding tension headaches 24/7 which could not be eased by any over-the-counter drugs)

-inability to concentrate or focus on an idea or concept --part of this was because I couldn't stop seeing pictures of myself dying in various ways (I was rather suicidal)

-psychomotor retardation (my body simply couldn't move at an appropriate pace to keep up to the tasks given to me at work)

-inability to use my short term memory or connect ideas together. For instance, I would be introduced to a task and then I would be given a second task related to the first task; however, i would forget what the first task was so I couldn't complete the tasks given

-I was working a lot with people at the time (Tim Horton's employee and line cook at a bar) and I would start crying uncontrollably in front of people when things got too fast paced for me--and trust me, when I started that job a few years before that depressive episode, I practically owned the place I was so competent at my job! --yeah, crying around the customers is not very professional...

-my depression prevented me from working well with people because I became so withdrawn and quiet that I barely spoke to anyone or made eye contact.

I could probably make an even longer list but I think you get the picture, no?

Good luck with filling out the forms. If you want to run any ideas by me (or anyone on the forum), feel free to do so.
-astronaut

[paul m]

Hello Canuck_Gal_1965. When filling out any form it is best to include too much info than not enough. How does bipolar prevent you from working? Dunno as your illness is probably a bit different than mine, but if I was filling out the form I would answer it this way.

My bipolar has caused me to have severe and long lasting chronic bouts of depression. I am unable to concentrate well due to the various aspects of the illness and periods of mania often leave me unable to make sound judgements about every day life decisions. The agitation and anxiety that I am experiencing on a regular basis due to the illness makes it very hard for others to deal with me. Bipolar has also left my ability to concentrate on a dailey basis in doubt. I have so much trouble concentrating that I had to have help to fill out this simple form. I simply could not do it on my own. Bipolar has affected my judgement so much that I no longer handle my finances on my own, I just make too many errors in judgement on my own. In fact I am not capable of even managing my own bank account and for that reason I do not have one. Sometimes when I am manic, I hardly sleep at all and when I get depressed there are days that I cannot get out of bed even to brush my teeth and look after my basic personal hygene.

The medications that I take to try and control my illness have a wide range of side effects that are difficult to handle. These include severe sedation, nausea, chronic diarrhea, dizziness along with other side effects. Because I take lithium and it is reccomended that I drink 3 litres plus of water every day and that also means a lot of trips to the washroom. Lithium also give me a tremor in my hands and this makes it difficult for me to write ledgible.

The fibromyalgia that I have been diagnosed with makes some days extremely painful for me. The pain is often so bad that I do not drive on some days as I would have trouble concentrating on the road through all of the pain. It also makes sleeping difficult and often leaves me over tired.

Yours will be a bit different, but basically, try to include as much negative stuff as you can, including the tough time that you are having even knowing what to put down on the forms. Don't forget to include any problems that the medications are causing you if they would affect your work.Take Care. paul m. P.S. Just as I was finished writing this, Astronaut made some excellent suggestions too.

[Canuck_Gal_1965]

Thanks Paul and Astronaut for all your suggestions. I am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact I cannot work right now eventho I feel I can...if that makes any sense. I didnt get up today until 2 pm!! I went to bed at 10 pm and was out at 11 pm so its not like I was up late. I fely horrible when I did get up because the day is half over. I think the stress of filling out these forms is catching up with me by me sleeping so much.....maybe?

[astronaut]

Hey Canuck Gal,

I also hate the feeling of waking up late to a day half over. You could be right that the extra sleep is partially caused by the excess stress you are having from the pressing things in your life right now, like filling out the forms.

I hope you can sleep alright tonight after sleeping in so late today!

be well,
astronaut

[jennisk]

Again, I feel your pain. My doctor was also angry at my employer's request for more info! I was so stressed about getting through the hoops and filing out the forms. They are a nightmare. I didn't qualify for LTD if you can believe that. I didn't think I needed time off at first either. But wow, Am I ever glad I was off. I felt like I was learning to be human all over again. Everything was different. I had been incorrectly diagnosed with unipolar depression for 5 years before being correctly diagnosed with type two bipolar. Getting on the new meds, and dealing with the changes, cycling, my family. Well. You probably get the picture. Pain is a pretty good reason to not be able to work. I would check into the health information act to see how specific you have to be. You can't be discriminated against because of a disability. Visible or not. Maybe someone at your insurance company could help you with forms. Or maybe your local chapter of the CMHA? I don't know. Sick people should not have to be filling out forms!

[Canuck_Gal_1965]

Yeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh - I got my butt out of bed today at 9:30 am!!! Thing is I always still feel tired, no matter how much sleep I get....I feel like I havent slept much at all. This is so not me - I used to be able to make a 6 item to do list and have it all done by noon....my life now is totally a 360. I do beat myself up when I cannot get everything done or even get one thing completed. I feel the meds make me tired, I wasnt like this before.

[Canuck_Gal_1965]

How can you NOT qualify for LTD?? I never thought of asking our local CMHA for help withthe forms, smart idea!!

[paul m]

Hello All. In regards to CMHA(or whoever provides that sort of service locally), it is a good idea. For those who don't know, you just have to call the local office (just google CMHA) and give them a call.

Usually the proccedure is that they take down some info and if you quailify they assign you a support worker to help with the things that you need. (form filling out etc) Some of the workers are pretty good.

The bad news is there is often a waiting list to get a worker, so apply asap. Take Care. paul m

Hello Canuck Gal. Try not to beat yourself up too much. One of the hardest things I had to adjust to was relearning how to schedule my life. Some days I still do a lot, some days I just make lists of things I have to do and some days I just take the day off.

While it may sound odd, saying take a day off when I don't work, somedays it is a full time job just surviving until tomorrow when I can try again.

Please remember, we are good people with a bad illness, not bad people with good excuses. I know that it is hard, but try and not feel guilty. Take Care. paul m