How Long Does Long-Term Disability (LTD) Last in Ontario?

If you’re receiving long-term disability (LTD) benefits in Ontario, one of the most important questions you’ll face is:

How long will my LTD benefits actually last?

The answer depends on your insurance policy, your medical condition, and whether your insurer accepts that you continue to meet the policy’s definition of disability over time. Unfortunately, many Ontarians see their benefits reviewed, reduced, or cut off long before they expect.

This guide explains how long LTD benefits last in Ontario — and what often causes them to end early.

How Long Do LTD Benefits Last in Ontario?

Most long-term disability policies in Ontario provide benefits until age 65 or until you recover and no longer meet the policy’s definition of disability — whichever comes first.

However, that does not mean benefits are guaranteed until 65.

In practice, LTD benefits often end earlier due to:

• Policy time limits
• Changes in the definition of disability
• Insurer reviews and reassessments
• Claim terminations after the 24-month mark

The First 24 Months: “Own Occupation” Disability

For the first two years of an LTD claim, most Ontario policies use an “own occupation” definition of disability.

This means you are considered disabled if:

• You can’t perform the essential duties of your own job, and
• You are not working in that role as a result

During this period, the focus is on:

• Your specific position
• Your job duties
• Medical evidence showing why you can’t perform that work

After 24 Months: The “Any Occupation” Change

Around the 24-month mark, most LTD policies switch to a much stricter standard known as “any occupation”.

Under this definition, insurers may argue that:

• You are capable of working in some other job
• The work fits your education, training, or experience
• You are not “totally disabled” under the policy anymore

This is the single most common point where LTD benefits are:

• Reduced
• Reassessed
• Cut off entirely

Many people are shocked to lose benefits at this stage — even though their medical condition hasn’t improved.

When Do LTD Benefits Normally End?

Depending on your policy, LTD benefits may end when:

• You turn age 65
• You no longer meet the disability definition
• You fail to comply with insurer requests (medical exams, forms, surveillance)
• The insurer claims you can work in another occupation
• Your policy includes a maximum benefit period

Each policy is different, which is why reviewing the actual contract matters.

Can LTD Benefits Be Extended Beyond Age 65?

In most Ontario LTD policies, benefits end at age 65 and are not extended.

At that point, income support typically shifts to:

• CPP retirement benefits
• Employer pensions
• Personal savings

What If Your LTD Benefits Are Cut Off Early?

If your benefits are:

• Terminated after 24 months
• Reduced unexpectedly
• Stopped despite ongoing medical restrictions

You may still have strong legal options.

Insurers often rely on:

• Selective medical reviews
• Paper-based assessments
• Surveillance or file reviews that don’t reflect real limitations

When LTD Benefits Don’t Last as Long as Promised

Knowing how long long-term disability lasts in Ontario is only part of the picture. Many people lose benefits not because they recovered, but because insurers apply the policy aggressively or unfairly.

If your LTD benefits were:

• Cut off after two years
• Reduced or delayed
• Terminated despite ongoing disability

You should review your options under an LTD denied Ontario claim.

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our disability lawyers help Ontarians challenge unfair LTD decisions and push back when benefits end prematurely — so policies are applied properly, not opportunistically.