The following information is intended to help you understand your options in the event that you become disabled or suffer from a long-term illness.

You may want to know...

• Are you eligible for any insurance benefits if you become disabled or suffer from a long-term illness?
• Who determines if you qualify for disability insurance benefits?
• Are you entitled to disability leave if you become disabled due to an occupational illness or accident?
• What insurance benefits can you retain if you become eligible for disability insurance benefits, disability leave or retire on grounds of disability?
• What pension options do you have if you retire on grounds of disability?
• Who determines if you qualify for retirement on grounds of disability?
• What if you regain your health and are able to return to work?
• What if you begin receiving a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) disability pension?

Are you eligible for any insurance benefits if you become disabled or suffer from a long-term illness?
Yes. You may be eligible for benefits under the Disability Insurance (DI) Plan or the long-term disability (LTD) portion of the Public Service Management Insurance Plan (PSMIP). Both plans provide a monthly benefit for employees who are unable to work for a lengthy period of time because of a totally disabling illness or injury. For more information on these disability benefits, consult Disability Benefits at a Glance.

Who determines if you qualify for disability insurance benefits?
The insurers of each plan must determine that you are in a continuous state of incapacity due to illness or injury and are prevented from performing the duties of your regular occupation. Currently, Sun Life Assurance Company is the insurer for the DI Plan and Industrial Alliance Insurance is the insurer for the PSMIP.

Are you entitled to disability leave if you become disabled due to an occupational illness or accident?
Yes. You may be entitled to Injury-on-Duty Leave with full normal pay for such reasonable period as is determined by your employer, where the disability is confirmed by a Provincial Workmen's Compensation Board pursuant to the Government Employees Compensation Act.

What insurance benefits can you retain if you become eligible for disability insurance benefits, disability leave or retire on grounds of disability?
If you are a member of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and you become disabled, then your coverage will continue.

What pension options do you have if you retire on grounds of disability?
If you retire because of a disability and you have more than two years of pensionable service, you will receive an immediate annuity, regardless of your age.

Who determines if you qualify for retirement on grounds of disability?
In order to qualify, Health Canada must certify that your situation corresponds to the following:

Disability, under the Public Service pension plan, is a physical or mental impairment that prevents you from engaging in any employment for which you are reasonably suited by virtue of your education, training, or experience and that can reasonably be expected to last for the rest of your life.

What if you regain your health and are able to return to work?
If you are entitled to an immediate annuity due to disability and later regain your health, your immediate annuity is terminated and converted to a deferred annuity payable at age 60. If you then wish to convert the deferred annuity to an annual allowance, you may do so at any time after reaching age 50 assuming you have not become re-employed as a contributor to the Public Service pension plan.

What if you begin receiving a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) disability pension?
If you are receiving a pension under the Public Service pension plan and you become entitled to a disability pension under the CPP or QPP before you reach age 65, your basic pension under the Public Service pension plan will be reduced immediately. It is your responsibility to inform the Public Service Pension Centre immediately if you start to receive a disability benefit under the CPP/QPP, otherwise you will be required to repay any overpayments.