Client impact
- Clients who have Short-Term Disability (STD) plans that integrate with the EI sickness benefit may wish to align their maximum benefit period to 26/27 weeks (depending on the STD elimination period).
- Clients without STD whose plan members claim EI benefit prior to Long-Term Disability (LTD) may wish to align their LTD elimination period to 27 weeks (aligns with the 1-week EI waiting period plus 26 weeks of payments).
- There will be no immediate impact on Clients who qualify for the Premium Reduction Program (PRP).
- PRP eligibility won’t be subject to change at this time.
If your Clients don’t make these changes, there’s a chance their plan members will receive EI and disability benefits at the same time. When this change is in effect, your Clients may wish to advise plan members who receive EI sickness benefits to contact Service Canada to discuss potential impacts to their benefits.
Because this change is not mandatory, there is no need to make this change by a specific date. Clients will need time to consider what is right for their benefits program. This change can be made at any time.
We’ll share this Focus Update with plan sponsors on September 29, 2022. We have advised Clients to contact their advisor or Sun Life Group Benefits Representative to discuss options and pricing.
Questions? We’re here to help.
Please contact your Sun Life Group Benefits representative.
