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Eligibility

To be eligible for this plan, you must be:

• a regular faculty, librarian, PEA, ME, executive or agency managed employee
• actively employed half-time or more
• a Canadian resident

Eligible employees are required to enroll in this plan immediately upon employment.

If you choose to work beyond your normal retirement date, please be aware that coverage for this benefit will cease on June 30 following your 65th birthday. 

Premium cost & plan benefits

Employees pay the full premium, which results in a tax free benefit if LTD is approved. Monthly premium amounts are outlined on our pay and benefits webpage.

LTD Benefits are calculated at 80 per cent of monthly net earnings plus the amount required to maintain employee and university pension plan contributions.

• net earnings means your regular gross monthly salary in effect at the date of the first benefit payment, less employee contributions for Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), Income Tax, and UVic pension contributions.

Note: benefits payable from the LTD plan are reduced by the amounts of any disability benefits payable from any university or government plan providing salary continuance or disability income paid during the disability period covered by this Plan

Payment will not be made when any of the following situations occur:

• self-inflicted injuries
• insurrection
• war
• riot
• complications due to pregnancy

Cost of living adjustment

Long term disability benefits are indexed to the LOWER OF

1. the annual increase in the Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI)
2. the most recent annual across-the-board general salary adjustment granted to PEA.

The first such adjustment will commence on the January 1 of the calendar year after the first full calendar year of total disability. Unapplied CPI increases accumulate for application in years when general salary increases exceed the rise in the CPI

Pre-existing conditions

You will not be covered for any condition for which medical treatment, services or supplies were received in the 90 day period prior to your date of employment, unless you have served a period of 12 consecutive months in your UVic position without absence due to this condition. 

Recurring disabilities

If you become disabled and receive LTD benefits, then return to work for less than 12 months, then again become disabled for the same or a related cause, your LTD benefits will re-commence immediately and be paid at the same benefit level which was in effect prior to your returning to work.

If you become disabled and receive LTD benefits, then return to work for longer than 12 months before again becoming disabled, or for less than 6 months if your second disability is the result of a completely unrelated cause, this disability will be treated as a new claim, subject to the 6 months waiting period and a new calculation of benefit amount based on your salary at the time of again becoming disabled.

Commencement and duration of benefits

If approved, LTD benefit payments will commence following completion of 6 months of continuous disability and following receipt of proof of your total disability (within 12 months of the date disability began).

Benefit payments from this plan will continue until the earliest of the following:

1. you are no longer considered to be “totally disabled” (“totally disabled” means your inability, because of illness or injury, to perform the duties of your own occupation or the duties of another occupation for which your education, training or experience equip you)
2. you start work at any occupation for wage or profit except as permitted under the Plan provisions for approved Rehabilitation Employment
3. you fail to furnish required proof of continuing disability
4. you are no longer under the care of a qualified physician or fail to follow prescribed medical treatment, or participate in a recommended rehabilitation program
5. your death
6. your normal retirement date. 

Rehabilitative employment

The LTD plan has provisions to assist you in returning to work when possible. Should you recover sufficiently during your disability period, you will be encouraged to engage in a program of rehabilitative employment.

During a rehabilitation program, total income from all sources cannot exceed 90 per cent of your net earnings (as defined above). Rehab benefits will be paid for a maximum of 24 months. If you do not accept rehabilitative employment or training where it has been deemed advisable by PBC further benefits from this plan may be reduced or terminated.

Termination of coverage

Long Term Disability coverage will terminate upon the earlier of

1. termination of employment
2. early or normal retirement
3. entering the armed forces on a full-time basis
4. termination of the Policy or coverage on the group, division or class to which you belong
5. employee no longer makes required contributions to the plan (e.g. during a leave of absence)
6. death