Step 1: Once an employee has notified the Disability Benefits Claims Assistant that he or she will be submitting an application for long-term disability insurance benefits, a Plan Sponsor’s Statement will be sent to your department along with an instructions letter.
Note: All paperwork must be submitted two to three months before the end of the employee’s elimination period. It is important to return the completed Plan Sponsor’s Statement to the Disability Benefits Claims Assistant as soon as possible.
Please remind your employees who may be making a claim for IRP/DBP benefits that the complete application package must be submitted two to three months before the end of the elimination period to avoid delays in their benefit payments.
Step 2: When Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada has completed its claim assessment, the Disability Benefits Claims Assistant notifies the department of the decision and provides further instructions. IRP Claims Assistance does not forward a copy of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada’s claims assessment letter to the department.
If an employee exhausts all sick and vacation time (or elects not to utilize vacation time) and has not been approved for long-term disability benefits, the department must complete a Leave of Absence form to avoid any overpayment of wages. Please speak to your HR Advisor/Associate to determine the appropriate Leave of Absence classification.