Ottawa Mother Challenges Termination of Her Disability Benefits

A recent news report has brought national attention to the experience of Amanda Jollymore, an Ottawa mother caring for her medically fragile daughter while facing her own mental health challenges. Amanda’s long-term disability benefits were unexpectedly cut off after previously being approved—an abrupt change that has made an already overwhelming situation even harder.

A Medical and Emotional Battle

Amanda’s daughter, Mia, was born with serious and complex health conditions that require constant care. Throughout her first 18 months, Mia was hospitalized repeatedly with seizures, lung complications, developmental delays, feeding issues, and an undiagnosed genetic syndrome.

Many of the obstacles Amanda faces—exhaustion, anxiety, depression, and the pressure of ongoing caregiving—are examples of what Canada often describes as invisible disabilities. For readers unfamiliar with the term, we’ve explained what these conditions mean and how they’re recognized under Canadian law in our overview of invisible disability in Canada.

As Amanda’s mental health worsened, doctors diagnosed her with severe depression and anxiety. Both conditions are recognized as legitimate medical disabilities in Canada, and we break down how they qualify for benefits in our articles on depression as a disability and anxiety as a disability.

Why Her Benefits Were Terminated

Amanda had been receiving long-term disability benefits since 2021, submitting regular medical updates and following every treatment recommendation. But early in 2022, she was told that she no longer met her policy’s definition of disability—without being given a clear explanation.

Sudden claim terminations like this are unfortunately common, especially for individuals dealing with mental health–based impairments. For those wanting context on how insurers evaluate these claims, our guide to long-term disability and mental health explains the medical evidence insurers typically expect and why cases involving conditions like depression and anxiety are often misjudged.

Represented by Lawyer Albert Klein

Amanda is now challenging the benefits termination in court. Her disability lawyer, Albert Klein, Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP who represents her in this lawsuit, told The Canadian Press that she paid into her coverage for years expecting stability—only to have that stability taken away without warning.

“Amanda has been paying into these premiums for years thinking she has a safety net… then Sun Life arbitrarily decided they’re not going to cover her,” Klein said.

Cases like Amanda’s often hinge on whether the insurer correctly applied the “total disability” definition found in the policy. We outline how these assessments typically work in our broader breakdown of Sun Life long-term disability claims.

A Widespread Issue Across Ontario

Many Ontarians dealing with long-term disability benefits experience similar uncertainty—especially when transitioning from approval to sudden termination. Anyone seeking a clearer understanding of their options can find a step-by-step explanation in our guide to long-term disability claims in Ontario.

When benefits are cut off despite ongoing medical support, individuals often explore whether a legal claim may be necessary. We discuss these scenarios in more detail in our resource on long-term disability denials in Ontario.

Speak with a Disability Lawyer in Ottawa

If you’re in the Ottawa area and your disability benefits have been reduced, questioned, or cut off — whether for mental health reasons or a physical condition — it’s important to understand your rights before making your next move.

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our disability lawyers in Ottawa regularly assist individuals facing situations like Amanda’s and can explain your options, timelines, and what steps make sense for your specific case.

There are no upfront fees, and you don’t pay unless we win.

📞 Call us at 1-855-821-5900, email help@disabilityrights.ca, or use our online form for a FREE consultation.