If you can’t work because of an illness, injury or medical condition, you can apply for long-term disability benefits through your insurance plan.
In Ontario, the application usually involves forms completed by you, your doctor and, if your coverage comes through work, your employer.
Start the process early. If it looks like you will remain unable to work when your LTD coverage begins, get the forms and start gathering medical information before your current income support ends.
For a broader explanation of the process across Canada, read our guide to applying for long-term disability benefits.
On This Page:
- How to Apply for LTD in Ontario
- What Forms Do You Need?
- Medical Evidence
- When Should You Apply?
- What Happens Next?
- If Your Application Is Denied
How to Apply for Long-Term Disability in Ontario
Most Ontario LTD applications follow seven basic steps.
1. Find Out When Your LTD Coverage Begins
Check your LTD policy or benefits booklet to find out when long-term disability benefits can begin.
Look for:
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The waiting period before LTD benefits start
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The definition of disability you must meet
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How much of your income is covered
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Any deadline for submitting your claim
If you don’t have the full policy, read our guide on how to obtain your LTD policy.
2. Get the LTD Application Package
Ask for the application package as soon as it becomes clear that you could remain off work long enough to need LTD benefits.
You can normally get the forms from your:
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Employer or human resources department
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Benefits administrator
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Insurance company
If you bought an individual disability insurance policy yourself, contact the insurer directly.
3. Complete Your Part of the LTD Application
Your form might be called an employee statement, claimant statement or notice of claim.
You will usually be asked about:
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Your medical condition and symptoms
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When you stopped working
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Your treatment and medication
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Your job and regular duties
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How your condition prevents you from working
Be specific. Instead of simply saying that you “can’t work,” explain what your symptoms prevent you from doing.
Depending on your condition, that could include difficulty sitting, standing, lifting, concentrating, remembering information, interacting with others, maintaining regular attendance or completing tasks consistently.
4. Have Your Employer Complete Its Form
If your LTD coverage is provided through work, your employer or benefits administrator normally has a section to complete.
It can include information about:
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Your job and duties
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Your income
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Your last day worked
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Your LTD coverage
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Information needed to calculate your benefits
Follow up and make sure the form was actually sent. Don’t assume your employer has completed its part simply because you submitted yours.
5. Ask Your Doctor to Provide Medical Evidence
Your medical information is one of the most important parts of your LTD application.
Your doctor or other appropriate treating professional will normally complete an attending physician’s statement or similar medical form.
The medical information should explain:
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Your diagnosis, symptoms or medical condition
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The treatment you are receiving
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What your condition prevents you from doing
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Why you can’t perform the important duties of your job
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Your treatment or recovery plan, where known
A diagnosis alone doesn’t explain why you can’t work. The insurer needs to understand how your symptoms affect your ability to function on a regular basis.
Read our guide to medical reports for long-term disability claims.
6. Submit the Application Before the Deadline
Your policy and application package will set out important dates for submitting the claim and supporting information.
Before you submit:
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Make sure you answered every required question
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Confirm that your doctor completed the medical form
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Confirm that your employer submitted its information, if required
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Keep a complete copy of everything
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Keep proof showing when the claim was submitted
If you think you have already missed an application deadline, don’t assume that your claim is over. Get legal advice as soon as possible.
7. Respond to Questions From the Insurance Company
The insurer can ask for more information after your application is submitted.
This can include:
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More medical records
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An update from your doctor
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Questions about your job duties
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A telephone interview
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Additional forms or authorizations
Respond to reasonable requests, but read forms carefully before signing them and keep copies of everything you provide.
Our LTD claim checklist explains what documents you should keep.
What Forms Do You Need to Apply for LTD in Ontario?
Most LTD applications through an employer benefits plan have three main parts:
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Your statement: completed by you
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Medical statement: completed by your doctor or another appropriate treating professional
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Employer statement: completed by your employer or benefits administrator
Different insurance companies use different names and forms, but the information they request is generally similar.
You can also be asked to sign an authorization allowing the insurer to obtain medical information needed to assess the claim.
What Medical Evidence Do You Need for LTD in Ontario?
The strongest medical evidence explains not only what condition you have, but why it prevents you from working.
Depending on your situation, the insurer can receive:
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Reports from your family doctor
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Specialist reports
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Diagnostic test results
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Psychological or psychiatric reports
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Treatment or rehabilitation records
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Information about medication and significant side effects
You don’t need every type of record on this list. What matters is having medical information that clearly supports why you can’t perform your job.
When Should You Apply for Long-Term Disability in Ontario?
Start preparing the application before your LTD waiting period ends whenever possible.
If you are receiving short-term disability benefits in Ontario and it becomes clear that you won’t be ready to return to work, ask for your LTD application package.
Don’t assume that:
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Your short-term disability claim will automatically become an LTD claim
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The insurance company will contact you when it is time to apply
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Your employer will take care of the entire application
The deadline depends on your insurance policy. Starting early gives you time to collect the forms and medical information you need.
What Happens After You Apply for LTD in Ontario?
The insurance company reviews the application and decides whether the medical evidence shows that you meet the definition of disability in your policy.
Before making a decision, the insurer can ask for more information, speak with your doctors, review your job duties or arrange another assessment.
If the claim is approved, the insurer should tell you when payments start, how much you will receive and what medical updates it will require going forward.
For more information about how benefits work after approval, read our Long-Term Disability in Ontario guide.
What if Your Employer Doesn’t Complete the LTD Forms?
Don’t allow an employer delay to go unnoticed.
If your employer hasn’t completed its part of the application:
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Follow up in writing
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Keep copies of your requests
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Tell the insurer or benefits administrator that you are waiting for the employer information
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Submit your own portion and medical information if the insurer tells you to do so
If the delay is putting your LTD claim at risk, get legal advice.
What if Your LTD Application Is Denied in Ontario?
A denial doesn’t mean that you aren’t disabled or that the insurance company is right.
An insurer can deny an application because it says:
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There isn’t enough medical evidence
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Your condition doesn’t prevent you from working
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Your medical information doesn’t support the limitations you reported
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You don’t meet the policy’s definition of disability
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An exclusion or limitation in the policy applies
Get the denial in writing and identify exactly why the insurer refused the claim.
Don’t automatically begin an internal appeal before getting advice about your options.
Read our guide on what to do when your long-term disability claim is denied in Ontario.
Frequently Asked Questions About Applying for LTD in Ontario
How Do I Apply for Long-Term Disability in Ontario?
Get the LTD application package from your employer, benefits administrator or insurance company. Complete your form, have your doctor provide the required medical information, make sure your employer completes its section if required, and submit everything within the deadlines in your policy.
Is Long-Term Disability an Ontario Government Benefit?
No. Long-term disability benefits discussed on this page are provided through an insurance policy. Government programs such as CPP Disability and ODSP are separate benefits with different applications and rules.
Do I Need a Doctor to Apply for LTD in Ontario?
Your application normally needs medical information from a doctor or another appropriate treating professional. The insurer needs medical support explaining why your condition prevents you from working.
Can I Apply for LTD Before My Short-Term Disability Ends?
Yes. If you are expected to remain unable to work, you should normally start preparing your LTD application before your short-term disability benefits end.
Does Approval for Short-Term Disability Mean My LTD Claim Will Be Approved?
No. Long-term disability is a separate benefit. The insurer can require a new application and updated medical information before approving LTD.
How Long Does an LTD Application Take in Ontario?
There is no single approval timeline for every LTD claim. The process can take longer when forms are missing, the insurer requests more medical information or additional assessments are required. Follow up if your claim is sitting without a clear explanation.
Get Help With an LTD Application in Ontario
A clear and complete application helps the insurance company understand why your medical condition prevents you from working.
If your application is being delayed, the insurer keeps asking for more information or your claim is denied, get advice before the problem gets worse.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP helps people with long-term disability claims throughout Ontario.
Our disability lawyers can review problems with your LTD claim and challenge an insurer that refuses to pay benefits.