Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia and LTD benefits.
Chronic pain syndrome is a condition in which chronic pain has persisted over a period of time and is intense enough that is substantially interferes with an individual’s ability to function and to carry on his activities of daily living. Chronic pain erodes the sufferer’s confidence, self-esteem and general well-being [3]. The defining feature is that chronic pain has rendered the pain sufferer vocationally and/or functionally disabled.
read moreClaiming the Canada Disability Tax Credit.
The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is different from other disability benefits plans. Unlike disability insurance plans that focus on how your medical condition affects your ability to work, the DTC focuses on impairment with your daily activities. Eligibility There are several medical conditions that qualify for the DTC. However, You automatically qualify for the DTC if your medical condition causes blindness or you need life-sustaining therapy. You also automatically qualify if you have Type 1 diabetes. You may be eligible for the DTC if you are: blind markedly restricted in at least one...
read moreManulife Long-Term Disability: The Essential Guide.
This article discusses everything you need to know about Manulife’s long-term disability benefits. This guide covers the rules and information about applying for Manulife long-term disability benefits, what happens after two years of being on Manulife long-term disability benefits as well as how to appeal a denial. If you need to win long-term disability benefits from Manulife it is crucial to learn as much about them as you can. We wrote this guide to help you put your best foot forward when dealing with a Manulife long-term disability claim. About Manulife Manulife Insurance is one of...
read moreBlue Cross Life must pay $1.5 million in punitive damages.
In a landmark decision, released on December 20, 2023, the Court of Appeal for Ontario has affirmed the groundbreaking $1.5 million punitive damages award by a Toronto jury in the case of Baker vs. Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada, 2023 ONCA 842, solidifying the largest known punitive damages ever awarded in a Long-Term Disability (“LTD”) claim in Canada. “The Court’s endorsement underscores the significance of holding insurance companies accountable for their actions,” said Stephen Birman, lawyer from Thomson Rogers who, along with Robert M....
read moreAppeal Court upholds $1.5 million punitive damages against LTD insurer.
In Baker v. Blue Cross Life Insurance Co. of Canada, [2023] O.J. No. 5748, 2023 ONCA 842, the Ontario Court of Appeal (“OCA”) upheld a $1.5 punitive damages award against a disability insurer, finding that it was warranted in the face of what appeared to be a systemic approach by the insurer’s claims handling team to ignore the insured’s rights under the policy. However, the court found that the trial judge erred in creating a new category of cases where full indemnity costs will automatically follow (although they were allowed on the facts of this case). The insured suffered a...
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