Sivan Tumarkin on COVID-19 testing and disability benefits

Interview Summary

For many employees across the country, regulations surrounding COVID-19 testing have changed. In most sectors, employees are unable to receive a PCR COVID-19 test and might not be able to diagnose their illness. Could this PCR accessibility issue lead to a loss of disability benefits for those hoping to be approved for long-term disability? Will the effects of long-term COVID-19 be denied by insurance companies?

Sivan Tumarkin, a Toronto disability lawyer and co-founding partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, joins Bill Carroll on Newstalk 580 CFRA to answer those questions and more.

Interview Notes

• Can your employer demand proof that an employee has COVID-19 with a test/formal diagnosis?
• Is it enough for claimants to have a doctor’s note stating they are unable to work due to their symptoms?
• Are most employers being accommodating in regards to sick employees?
• When do long-term disability benefits begin for employees?
• Will claimants have to be able to prove they have long-term COVID-19 in order to receive disability benefits?