Disability Insurance Plan summary
Learn about the Disability Insurance (DI) Plan for members of the public service. This summary does not contain all details nor describe all limits, restrictions or exclusions. Refer to your DI Plan Document and DI Plan Member Booklet for the full details.
Disability Insurance Plan
The public service DI Plan is a mandatory plan for eligible employees that provides disability benefits when an employee is unable to work for long periods due to a totally disabling illness or injury.
Eligibility
The DI Plan covers employees included in collective bargaining who are employed by the Treasury Board or a designated agency or corporation.
Disability insurance benefits under the DI Plan are provided to eligible employees of the public service, including eligible members of certain designated groups, who become totally disabled and are unable to work.
The coverage is mandatory for full-time and part-time employees who are appointed for more than 6 months (part-time employees must work more than one third of the normal work week) or who have completed 6 months of continuous employment.
Enrolment and effective date
- No application is required to become a member of the DI Plan; however, if you become disabled, you must submit a claim to Sun Life to be considered for disability benefits
- Coverage is effective on the date you become eligible
Benefits
- The monthly taxable benefit is equal to 70% of your monthly gross salary
- Benefits are payable by Sun Life after 13 continuous weeks of total disability, or when your paid sick leave is exhausted, whichever is later
- Benefits may be reduced by your other sources of income
- Your monthly benefits can be indexed up to a maximum of 3% annually to reflect the cost of living
- A rehabilitation program is available to support your return to work
- Restrictions and exclusions to benefits may apply if a disability commences within the first 12 months after you become eligible for coverage
For information on other insurance benefits and/or compensation programs that may be available to you when you are absent from work for health reasons, refer to Workplace Health and Disability.
Cost sharing
The Government of Canada pays 85% of the premium for the plan and you pay the remaining 15%.
Learn more about the level of insurance and cost of coverage.
Premiums
Effective , the premium rate for the DI Plan is $2.32 for every $1,000 of a plan member’s insured salary.
Some rules and exceptions may apply in certain circumstances, such as leave without pay.
End of coverage
Your coverage ends once your employment terminates or once you reach the age of 64 years and 9 months, whichever is first.
Learn more about changes in coverage or cessation of eligibility.