Administration of Long Term Disability Income benefits directive

Overview

This directive describes the administration of the Long Term Disability Income (LTDI) Continuance Plan. It covers administration of the interim payment, participation in group plans, and termination of benefits.

Interim payment

If the adjudicator does not decide on an employee's eligibility for benefits before the end of the elimination period, the employee may receive an interim payment. If the employee received an interim payment and is found eligible for benefits:

• that payment will be treated as a prepayment by the government on behalf of the plan of the benefits due for that period
• the plan administrator will not pay the employee further benefits for the period covered by the payment
• the plan administrator will repay the amount of the prepayment to the government

If the employee received an interim payment and is found not eligible for benefits, the employee must repay the payment.

Participation in group plans

If an employee is eligible for benefits, the employee will be covered under the following plans in which the employee is participating at the beginning of the elimination period for as long as the employee receives benefits:

• Group Life Insurance Plan for Government of Alberta Employees
• Prescription Drug Plan for Government of Alberta Employees
• Extended Medical Benefits Plan for Government of Alberta Employees
• Dental Plan for Government of Alberta Employees
• Health Spending Account for Government of Alberta Employees

During the period that coverage continues, the government and the employee will continue to pay their respective shares of premium costs for each plan or insurance.

Termination of benefits

The benefits payable under the LTDI plan terminate on the earliest of the following:

• the date the employee refuses gainful employment
• the date the employee is gainfully employed
• three months after the date the adjudicator decides that the employee is suitable for gainful employment
• the date determined by the adjudicator when the employee refuses or wilfully fails to participate and cooperate in a rehabilitative program
• the date of the employee's 65th birthday
• the date the employee resigns from government service
• the date the employee returns to the employee's regular duties
• the date the employee's earnings received from employment, self-employment, or the rehabilitation program are the same as the employee's pre-disability salary
• for an employee in a temporary position, after 24 months of entitlement or after the adjudicator determines that the employee is no longer disabled, whichever comes first

Any authorized benefits may continue up to the maximum benefit period described above during any one period of disability, but the benefits end when the adjudicator determines that the disability has ceased.

About this directive