If you can’t work because of illness or injury, long-term disability (LTD) benefits can be the financial lifeline that protects your income. Unfortunately, many BC workers face delays, reductions, or outright denials — often when they need support the most.
This guide explains how LTD works in British Columbia, how much it pays, how long benefits last, who qualifies, and what to do if your insurer cuts you off.
What Is Long-Term Disability (LTD)?
Long-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income when a medical condition prevents you from working for an extended period. LTD benefits typically begin after short-term disability (STD) ends or after a waiting period set out in your policy.
Most British Columbia LTD policies are provided through:
- Employer group benefit plans
- Private disability insurance policies
How Much Does LTD Pay in British Columbia?
Most LTD policies pay 60–70% of your pre-disability income. The exact amount depends on:
- Your policy terms
- Your income before disability
- Whether benefits are taxable
- Offsets (such as CPP Disability)
Some policies cap monthly payments or reduce benefits based on other income sources. If your payments seem lower than expected, your insurer may be applying offsets or caps incorrectly.
How Long Does LTD Last in BC?
LTD benefits can continue until:
- You no longer meet the policy’s definition of disability
- You reach the policy’s maximum duration (often age 65)
However, most policies change the definition of disability after 24 months — a common point where benefits are reduced or cut off.
Who Qualifies for LTD in British Columbia?
To qualify for LTD in BC, you must meet your policy’s definition of disability, not just have a diagnosis.
Most policies use two stages:
Own Occupation (Early Stage)
You qualify if you can’t perform the essential duties of your own job.
Any Occupation (Later Stage)
After 24 months, you must be unable to perform any occupation for which you are reasonably suited by education, training, or experience.
This shift is one of the most common reasons insurers terminate benefits.
Can You Work While on LTD in British Columbia?
Possibly — but it’s risky.
Some policies allow limited or rehabilitative work. Others treat any work activity as evidence that you are no longer disabled. Even volunteer work or part-time attempts can trigger surveillance or reviews.
Before working while on LTD, it’s critical to understand:
- Your policy language
- Income offsets
- How insurers interpret activity
Common Reasons LTD Claims Are Denied or Cut Off
Insurance companies deny or terminate claims for reasons that often have nothing to do with your health, including:
- Alleged lack of “objective” medical evidence
- Surveillance or social media activity
- Paperwork gaps or missed deadlines
- Reaching the 24-month “any occupation” mark
If your claim has already been denied or terminated, timing matters.
Medical Conditions That Commonly Support LTD Claims
There is no approved list of qualifying conditions. What matters is how your condition affects your ability to work.
Common LTD-related conditions include:
- Chronic pain and fibromyalgia
- Depression, anxiety, PTSD
- Long COVID and chronic fatigue
- Neurological disorders
- Orthopedic injuries
Medical evidence must show functional limitations—not just a diagnosis.
When LTD Payments Don’t Add Up
Understanding what your policy should pay is only part of the picture. Many BC claimants receive less than promised due to offsets, misapplied caps, tax errors, or insurer interpretations.
If your benefits have been reduced, delayed, or cut off, legal guidance can help you understand your options before things escalate.
How a Disability Lawyer Can Help
LTD disputes are legal issues, not medical ones. Even when your doctor supports your claim, insurers may still reduce, delay, or terminate benefits based on how they interpret your policy.
A Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our disability lawyers help British Columbia claimants by:
- Reviewing the exact wording of their LTD policy
- Identifying unfair insurer interpretations or improper offsets
- Working with treating doctors to strengthen medical evidence
- Challenging beneift reductions, delays, and terminations
- Pushing back when insurers apply the any occupation test incorrectly
We regularly represent BC clients whose LTD benefits where cut off, reduced, or questioned, including at the two-year mark.