Short-term Disability

Short-Term Disability Lawyers in Ontario

    Employers may offer short-term disability benefits to their employees as part of a group benefits package. Short-term disability benefits provide almost immediate income replacement when an employee has become disabled as a result of injury or illness, and is unable to work temporarily or for a prolonged period of time.

    More About STD Claims

    Short-term disability benefits are available for a specified period of time. Many group benefit policies that offer both short-term and long-term disability benefits offer short-term disability benefits for a certain period of time, which is generally equal to the waiting period before long-term disability benefits become available.

    How much of my STD benefit will I get?

    The amount of your short-term disability benefit will depend on your individual policy. Benefit amounts can range from 50% to 100% of your weekly income.


    It is important to review your short-term disability policy to confirm how many weeks of benefits are available to you and to understand what medical evidence is required to continue receiving benefits.

    What if my STD application was denied?

    If your application for short-term disability benefits has been denied, or your benefits have been terminated, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. It is always important to understand your rights and your options with respect to a denial of benefits, and to know that you can pursue a court action against your insurer.

    The lawyers at Aaron Waxman and Associates have handled many claims for short-term disability benefit denials and have helped many clients get the settlements they deserve.

    Answers to commonly asked questions

    • Can you help me with my STD claim?

      Yes! We have clients who only need representation for short-term disability benefits. Although we handle both short-term disability and long-term disability claims, we often don’t turn away clients if their claims are only for short-term disability benefits.

    • How long do STD benefits last for and do they cover the whole qualifying period?

      The duration for short-term disability benefits differs depending on your policy. Under some policies, short-term disability (STD) benefits may be 15 weeks. Under others, as long as 26 or even 52 weeks.


      The length of the qualifying period for long-term disability benefits will play a role in your short-term disability benefits, and they may or may not cover that period. It is advisable to read your policy to determine how many weeks of STD benefits your policy may cover.

    • Do you suffer from workplace burnout/stress?

      Many people are not aware that they can make a short-term or long-term disability claim for workplace burnout or workplace stress. If you are experiencing stress at work, to the point that you have experienced severe psychological issues, you should apply for disability benefits. Workplace stress can cause a person to develop depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder. It can also exacerbate pre-existing or underlying mental illnesses. Short-term and long-term disability benefits do cover claims for mental illnesses. It is important to be aware of what types of claims your policy covers.

    • What is an “Administrative Services Only” contract?

      Some employers choose to have their short-term disability benefits plan administered through a third party (insurance company). The insurance company evaluates and processes the claims, and the employer is responsible for paying the claims. This is known as an Administrative Services Only (ASO) contract.

    • What are Salary Continuance Benefits?

      Some employers offer salary continuance benefits as part of their benefits compensation package. This means that your employer is responsible for paying you "salary continuance”; a continuation of your salary (for as long as you meet the disability test).

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