Desjardins Short-Term Disability: Claims, Approvals, and Denials

Qualifying for Desjardins Short-Term Disability

Short-term disability is designed to step in immediately after your workplace sick days have been exhausted. Depending on the exact terms of your employer’s group insurance plan, Desjardins typically covers between 60% and 100% of your pre-disability income for a set period.

To qualify for these benefits, your medical condition must prevent you from performing the essential duties of your own specific job. You can’t simply submit a vague doctor’s note stating you need a “medical leave.” You must provide robust, objective medical evidence outlining your symptoms, your physical or cognitive limitations, and a clear, active treatment plan.

The Medical Forms and Your Case Manager

The success or failure of your initial application hinges entirely on the paperwork submitted by you, your employer, and your treating physicians.

When you apply, you will typically need to submit three distinct forms:

1. The Employee Statement (completed by you)
2. The Employer Statement (completed by your HR department or plan administrator)
3. The Initial Attending Physician’s Statement (completed by your doctor)

Because Desjardins relies heavily on these documents to assess risk, you must ensure your doctor handles their portion correctly. If your doctor focuses solely on your diagnosis instead of your functional limitations, or leaves sections of the form blank, your case manager will likely use that as an excuse to claim a “lack of objective medical evidence.”

Even after approval, case managers may continuously request medical updates, question the severity of your condition, or aggressively pressure you to return to work before your doctor clears you.

The Transition to Long-Term Disability

Short-term disability is a temporary solution. If you reach the end of your STD coverage period and you remain medically unable to return to your job, your claim must transition to Long-Term Disability (LTD).

This transition is a major hurdle. Desjardins case managers will typically reassess your entire medical file before approving ongoing LTD payments. This is the stage where many perfectly valid claims are abruptly cut off, often because the insurer asserts that you are capable of returning to work in a modified capacity.

What to Do If Desjardins Denies Your STD Claim

Even with perfectly completed medical forms and the full support of your doctor, Desjardins short-term disability claims are frequently denied. Case managers may argue that your file lacks objective evidence — a common tactic used to deny mental health claims like severe depression or burnout, which can’t be measured on a standard medical test.

If your claim is denied, Desjardins will typically encourage you to file an internal appeal or lodge a grievance with their ombudsman. These internal processes are controlled entirely by the insurer, often leading to months of financial hardship without changing the outcome.

Protect Your Income: How Samfiru Tumarkin LLP Can Help

When an insurance company wrongfully denies your short-term benefits, you need a legal team equipped to tilt the playing field in your favour. At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our practice is dedicated exclusively to employment and disability law. This singular focus allows us to expertly navigate complex insurance disputes, bypassing internal insurer loops to secure the compensation you are owed.

We understand the massive financial strain of fighting an insurance provider while you are unable to work. That is why we provide free consultations for disability matters. When we take on your claim, we work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you do not pay our legal fees unless we successfully resolve your case and secure your compensation.

Disclaimer: This guide was created by Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. It is an independent resource designed to help individuals understand their insurance rights and the appeals process. It is not produced by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Desjardins or any other insurance provider.