If your short-term disability benefits are ending and you still can’t return to work, long-term disability benefits may be your next source of income.
But STD doesn’t usually turn into LTD automatically. You need to make sure you have LTD coverage, complete the required application and provide updated medical information showing why you remain unable to work.
Start preparing before your short-term disability benefits end. Waiting until your final STD payment can create delays at a time when you are depending on LTD benefits to replace your income.
On This Page:
- Does STD Automatically Become LTD?
- When Should You Start?
- Do You Need a New Application?
- Medical Evidence
- Same Insurance Company?
- Problems During the Transition
- If LTD Is Denied
Does Short-Term Disability Automatically Become Long-Term Disability?
No. Short-term disability benefits don’t normally switch automatically to long-term disability benefits.
STD and LTD are separate benefits. To move onto LTD, you must:
-
Have long-term disability coverage
-
Meet the definition of disability in your LTD policy
-
Complete the required LTD application
-
Provide medical evidence showing why you remain unable to work
The LTD insurer then reviews your claim and decides whether benefits will be approved.
For a full comparison of the two benefits, see our guide to short-term vs. long-term disability.
When Should You Start the Transition From STD to LTD?
Start before your STD benefits end.
Once it becomes clear that you are unlikely to be medically ready to return to work before the end of short-term disability, find out what is required for LTD.
Check:
-
When your STD benefits are scheduled to end
-
When your LTD waiting period ends
-
When the LTD application must be submitted
-
What forms you and your doctor need to complete
-
Whether your employer must provide information
Don’t assume the insurance company or your employer will automatically start the process for you.
Do You Need a New Application for Long-Term Disability?
Usually, yes.
Even if the same insurance company handles both STD and LTD, it can require new forms and updated information before approving long-term disability benefits.
An LTD application commonly includes:
-
A statement completed by you
-
A medical statement completed by your doctor
-
Information from your employer, if your LTD coverage is provided through work
The LTD insurer can also ask for additional medical records, information about your job or an interview about your condition and ability to work.
Our How to Apply for Long-Term Disability Benefits guide walks through the full application process.
What Medical Evidence Do You Need When Moving From STD to LTD?
Don’t rely only on the medical information that was used to approve your STD claim.
Your LTD insurer needs current information showing why you are still unable to work.
Your medical evidence should explain:
-
Your current symptoms and medical condition
-
The treatment you have received
-
What your condition prevents you from doing
-
Why you still can’t perform the important duties of your job
-
Your treatment or recovery plan, where known
Continue following reasonable treatment recommendations and attending medical appointments while the LTD claim is being reviewed.
For more information, read our guide to medical reports for long-term disability claims.
If STD Was Approved, Will LTD Also Be Approved?
Not necessarily.
Approval for short-term disability doesn’t guarantee that the insurer will approve long-term disability.
The LTD insurer can conduct a new review and decide that:
-
It needs more medical information
-
Your condition has improved
-
The medical evidence doesn’t show that you remain unable to work
-
You don’t meet the definition of disability in the LTD policy
This can happen even when the same insurer approved your STD benefits.
Will the Same Insurance Company Handle Your STD and LTD?
Not always.
Your STD and LTD benefits can be handled by the same insurance company, different insurers or different benefit arrangements.
Find out:
-
Who pays your current STD benefits
-
Who provides your LTD coverage
-
Where the LTD application must be sent
-
Whether information from the STD claim will be transferred to the LTD insurer
Even if your STD and LTD are handled by the same insurer, don’t assume it already has everything it needs. Confirm what additional forms and medical information are required.
Can There Be a Gap Between STD and LTD Payments?
A delay can happen if the insurer hasn’t finished reviewing the LTD application when STD ends.
If you are approaching your final STD payment and haven’t received an LTD decision:
-
Ask the insurer what is still outstanding
-
Confirm that all forms were received
-
Follow up on any missing medical information
-
Keep written records of your communications
If the insurer is delaying the claim without a clear explanation, get legal advice.
What if Your STD Benefits Are Cut Off Before LTD Starts?
An STD cutoff doesn’t automatically mean that you can’t qualify for LTD.
However, the reason STD was stopped can become important to your LTD claim.
For example, the insurer might say:
-
You are medically able to return to work
-
There isn’t enough medical evidence
-
Your doctor hasn’t provided requested information
-
You no longer meet the STD definition of disability
Don’t assume that you must return to work simply because STD payments stopped. Follow your doctor’s medical advice and find out how the cutoff could affect your LTD application.
If your short-term benefits were stopped early, see our guide to short-term disability denials.
What if Your LTD Claim Is Denied After STD?
A long-term disability denial doesn’t mean that you are medically able to return to work or that the insurer is right.
Get the denial in writing and identify exactly why the insurer refused the claim.
Common reasons include:
-
The insurer says there isn’t enough medical evidence
-
It says your condition has improved
-
It says you can perform your job
-
It says you don’t meet the LTD policy’s definition of disability
Don’t automatically start an internal appeal before getting legal advice about the strongest way to challenge the decision.
Read what to do when your long-term disability claim is denied.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving From STD to LTD
When Does Short-Term Disability Become Long-Term Disability?
STD doesn’t automatically become LTD on a set date. Your policy determines when LTD coverage can begin, and you normally have to apply and be approved before LTD benefits are paid.
Do I Have to Apply for LTD if I’m Already on STD?
Yes, in most cases. LTD is a separate benefit and normally requires an application and updated medical information.
Does STD Approval Guarantee LTD Approval?
No. The insurer reviews your eligibility for LTD separately and can request new medical evidence before making a decision.
Can STD and LTD Be With Different Insurance Companies?
Yes. Find out who provides your LTD coverage and don’t assume your STD insurer will automatically transfer the claim.
What if I Still Can’t Work When STD Ends?
If you have LTD coverage, apply before STD ends and make sure your insurer has updated medical information showing why you remain unable to work.
Can I Apply for LTD if My STD Benefits Were Denied or Cut Off?
Potentially, yes. An STD denial doesn’t automatically prevent an LTD claim, but the reason for the STD decision can affect the LTD application. Get advice promptly and protect any LTD application deadline.
Get Help With the Transition From STD to LTD
If you still can’t work when short-term disability ends, don’t assume that long-term disability benefits will simply take over.
Start the LTD process early, make sure your medical evidence is current and confirm that every required form has been submitted.
If your STD benefits were cut off, your LTD application is delayed or your long-term disability claim is denied, speak with a disability lawyer.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP helps people with short-term and long-term disability insurance claims throughout Canada, excluding Quebec.