A recurrent disability happens when you return to work after a period of disability, but the same or a related medical condition prevents you from working again.
Many short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) plans have a recurrent disability provision. If your relapse meets the rules in your policy, it can be treated as a continuation of your previous disability rather than a completely new claim.
That can be important because you may not have to complete another waiting period before benefits can restart.
On This Page:
- What Is Recurrent Disability?
- How Does It Work?
- If You Return to Work and Relapse
- Do You Serve Another Waiting Period?
- Can You Take STD Twice?
- Recurrent Disability vs. New Claim
- If Benefits Are Denied
What Is a Recurrent Disability?
Recurrent disability means a disability returns after you have gone back to work following an earlier disability claim.
For example:
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You are unable to work because of a medical condition
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You receive STD or LTD benefits
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You improve and return to work
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Your condition returns or gets worse
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You are unable to continue working
Your policy determines whether this second absence is treated as a recurrent disability or a new disability claim.
How Does a Recurrent Disability Provision Work?
A recurrent disability provision sets out what happens when you become disabled again after returning to work.
The insurer will usually look at:
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How long you were back at work: Policies normally set a specific period for determining whether a relapse is part of the previous disability.
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Why you became disabled again: The second absence often needs to be caused by the same or a related medical condition.
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Your medical evidence: Your doctor should explain what changed and why you are unable to continue working.
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The wording of your policy: The definition and time limits can differ from one insurance plan to another.
If you meet the policy’s recurrent disability rules, the insurer can treat your absence as a continuation of the earlier claim instead of starting everything over again.
What Happens if You Return to Work and Become Disabled Again?
If your return to work fails because your medical condition comes back or gets worse, contact your doctor and disability insurer promptly.
You should:
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See your doctor. Explain what happened after you returned to work and why you can no longer continue.
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Follow your doctor’s advice. Don’t keep working if your doctor says it isn’t medically safe.
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Notify the insurer. Tell it that your disability has returned and ask whether the recurrent disability provision applies.
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Provide updated medical information. The insurer can ask for evidence showing why you are unable to work again.
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Keep records. Save medical notes and communications with the insurer about your return to work and relapse.
If you are considering a return to work while receiving LTD, read our guide to returning to work after long-term disability.
Do You Have to Complete Another Waiting Period?
Often not, if your relapse qualifies as a recurrent disability under your policy.
One of the main purposes of a recurrent disability provision is to avoid making someone complete another full waiting or elimination period when the earlier disability returns shortly after a return to work.
However, the insurer can require a new waiting period if it decides that:
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You were back at work longer than the recurrence period allowed by the policy
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The new disability is unrelated to your previous condition
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You don’t otherwise meet the recurrent disability definition
Don’t assume the recurrent disability period is six months or 12 months. Check your actual policy because the time limit varies between plans. Canadian disability plans use different recurrence periods and rules.
Does It Have to Be the Same Medical Condition?
It depends on how your policy defines recurrent disability.
Many policies focus on whether the new absence results from the same or a related condition as your previous disability.
For example, if you return to work after being off because of a medical condition and the same symptoms quickly return, the insurer can consider whether the recurrent disability clause applies.
A completely unrelated medical condition is more likely to be treated as a new disability claim.
Can You Take Short-Term Disability Twice in a Year?
Yes, potentially. There is no general rule that says you can only receive short-term disability once per year.
What happens with a second period of disability depends on your STD plan.
If you return to work and the same condition forces you off again, the plan can treat the second absence as a recurrence of the first disability.
If enough time has passed—or you become unable to work because of a different condition—the insurer can treat it as a new claim.
That distinction matters because it can affect:
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Whether you need to complete another waiting period
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Whether you need a new application
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How long benefits can continue
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What medical information the insurer requires
Does Recurrent Disability Apply to Long-Term Disability?
Yes. Recurrent disability provisions are particularly important when someone receiving LTD attempts to return to work but can’t continue.
If the relapse falls within the recurrent disability rules in the policy, the insurer can treat it as part of the earlier LTD claim instead of requiring you to start a completely new claim.
This can affect more than the waiting period. Your previous LTD claim history and the stage you had reached under the policy can also matter.
That is why you should check the policy rather than assuming that returning to work automatically closes your LTD claim permanently.
Recurrent Disability vs. a New Disability Claim
The difference usually comes down to the wording of your policy, the timing of your return to work and the reason you became unable to work again.
| Recurrent Disability | New Disability Claim |
|---|---|
| Usually happens within the recurrence period in the policy | Happens outside the recurrence period or otherwise meets the policy’s rules for a new claim |
| Often involves the same or a related medical condition | Can involve a new or unrelated condition |
| Can be treated as a continuation of the earlier claim | Usually starts a new claim |
| Another waiting period may not be required | A new waiting period can apply |
If the insurer says your relapse is a new claim, ask it to identify the policy wording it relied on.
What if the Insurer Refuses to Restart Your Disability Benefits?
An insurer can refuse to treat your relapse as recurrent because it says:
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Too much time passed after you returned to work
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Your new symptoms are unrelated to the earlier disability
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The medical evidence doesn’t show that you are unable to work again
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You must submit a new claim and complete another waiting period
Get the insurer’s decision in writing and compare it with the recurrent disability provision in your policy.
Your treating doctor can also provide updated medical evidence explaining how the returning symptoms affect your ability to work.
If the insurer won’t restart your benefits, speak with a disability lawyer before accepting the decision.
Read what to do when your long-term disability benefits are denied or cut off.
Frequently Asked Questions About Recurrent Disability
What Does Recurrent Disability Mean?
It generally means that you returned to work after a disability and then became unable to work again because the same or a related medical condition returned.
What Is a Recurrent Disability Clause?
It is the section of an STD or LTD policy that explains when a later disability will be treated as a continuation of an earlier claim rather than a new disability.
How Long Is the Recurrent Disability Period?
There is no single period that applies to every disability plan. Check your policy for the exact number of weeks or months and the other conditions that must be met.
Can You Go Back on Disability After Returning to Work?
Yes. If your medical condition prevents you from continuing to work, you can seek disability benefits again. Whether the insurer restarts the old claim or requires a new one depends on your policy.
Can You Take Short-Term Disability Twice in One Year?
Potentially, yes. Your STD plan determines whether the second absence is treated as a recurrent disability or a new claim. There isn’t a general once-per-year limit for all disability plans.
Do I Need to Apply for Disability Again?
You can still need to notify the insurer and provide updated medical evidence. Whether you need a completely new application depends on the recurrent disability rules in your policy.
Get Help With a Recurrent Disability Claim
Returning to work doesn’t mean you lose the right to disability benefits if your medical condition prevents you from continuing.
If your symptoms return, check the recurrent disability provision in your policy, speak with your doctor and notify the insurer promptly.
If the insurer refuses to restart your benefits, says you need to complete another waiting period or treats the relapse as a new claim, get legal advice from one of our long-term disability lawyers.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP helps people with short-term and long-term disability insurance claims throughout Canada, excluding Quebec.