Navigating Disability with Me

Meghan & Pam
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A conversational podcast that empowers Canadians with disabilities (and those supporting them) by cutting through the complexity of the system. Featuring authentic lived experiences and insights, it brings together essential resources and real voices to guide, inform, and inspire

Episodes

  1. 11H AGO

    Episode 4: Long Term Disability Part 2

    Part 2 of Long Term Disability (Part one is Episode 2). Covers qualifying period, pay, taxes etc., plus a recap of the first three episodes. Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: Canada.ca for EI estimator North Shore Resource Centre https://nsdrc.org Inclusion Alberta https://inclusionalberta.org Centre for Independent Living Toronto https://cilt.ca/ Disability Alliance of BC https://disabilityalliancebc.org/ Tips - from this episode: Qualifying period and criteria for Long Term Disability vary by company.  Use your allied health professionals (Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists etc.) in applying for Long Term Disability, in cooperation with your doctor. Previous overtime pay likely won't be used in calculating your LTD pay. LTD pay is taxable. Consider having the insurance company take tax off for you so you won't be left with a tax bill at the end of the year. Note that they may take less than necessary. *Note that Meghan says for her the insurance company takes $3000/month in taxes. ERROR! They take off about $300/month in taxes at her request.* Hellooo brain fog. Or, consider using an online tax calculator to figure out how much tax you will owe at the end of the first year on LTD income and put that away throughout the year, so you're not stuck with a huge tax bill you can't pay at the end of the year. If you have extended medical benefits through work you may keep your benefits but you may need to pay some of the premium. Note that your portion is tax deductible. Because your income drops your eligibility for things like GST credits, FairPharmacare and other government programs may change (as in you may qualify for more benefits). Tips - from summary of first three episodes Episode 1: Short Term Disability Look on Canada.ca for EI estimator Don't abuse your sick time, you may need it STD and LTD can overlap, bringing your pay way up (temporarily, for as long as STD lasts) Episode 2: Long Term Disability Part 1 Photocopy Dr portion of application and fill in yourself to give Dr a fuller idea of what's going on. They can then fill in their portion better. Keep notes of all interactions with the insurance company, government etc. with names and dates. If you don't have a GP try to stick to one walk in clinic to keep your chart all in one place. Episode 3: Be the Village Look for local resource groups. Examples:  North Shore Resource Centre (https://nsdrc.org) Inclusion Alberta (https://inclusionalberta.org) Centre for Independent Living Toronto (https://cilt.ca/) Disability Alliance of BC (https://disabilityalliancebc.org/ Be mindful of what you post on social media Be part of the community, you can give back in your own way Look into your Buy Nothing Group Remember to respect your/others boundaries

    36 min

  2. OCT 10

    Episode 3: Being Part of the Village

    Discussion on how your community can support you and how you can contribute back to the community. Feedback: Navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links Discussed in this Episode North Shore Disability Resource Centre: https://nsdrc.org And a few more similar resources from around the country: Disability alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/ Inclusion Alberta: https://inclusionalberta.org Centre for Independent Living Toronto: https://cilt.ca/ Tips 1) Google "(My town/region/province etc.) Disabled Benefits" or "(My town etc.) Disability Programs" etc. to find all sorts of programs, benefits, discounts etc. 2) Be part of the community, do what you can, but remember your needs and limitations. 3) Be compassionate and understanding of your friends'/helpers' needs too. 4) Make a trusted, close by, friend an emergency contact for quick help. 5) Look into Facebook groups (and other social media) for both condition specific support and for Buy Nothing etc. groups. 6) But be mindful of what you post on social media - people/insurance companies may get the wrong idea if you post highly active pics.

    39 min

  3. SEP 27

    Episode 1: Welcome! Short Term Disability

    Welcome to Navigating Disability with Me, with Meghan and Pam! Meghan is a person with lived experience of disability and Pam is an able bodied person who has been a friend and support to several people in her life living with disabilities. Overview of the short term disability process including sick time, EI qualifications, and working with your employer Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: CRA EI estimator calculator: https://estimateurae-eiestimator.service.canada.ca/en North Shore Disability Resource Centre: https://www.nsdrc.org/ Disability Alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org Deltassist: https://deltassist.com/ Volunteer Cancer Drivers: https://volunteercancerdrivers.ca/ Wheels of Hope: https://csl.cancer.ca/en/Detail/1a9b6c6c-ea2d-ec11-b6e5-000d3a333c22 Tips: 1) If you have sick days, don't abuse them! You may need them for a disability. Do not treat any insurance payout as a windfall. That is supplementing your income. 2) For 2025: EI maxes out at 55% of your earnings at a cap of $695/week. Generally for a maximum of 45 weeks. This is taxable (confirmed post recording). 3) Read your collective agreement/union book/corporate policies on sick time, special leaves etc. Ask a knowledeable colleague or the union any questions. 4) Contact your union with any questions, search out your union disability rep. 5) Have a trusted friend/family member help with/proofread paperwork, applications etc. Or look for a local disability resource group - be patient! 6) Pace yourself through paperwork, get it done with time to spare. Be patient as everything takes lots of time to be processed. 7) Print out an extra copy of anything your doctor has to fill in. Fill it out yourself, using daily challenges as examples. Take that to the doctor with you so you can discuss and not miss any points when the doctor is filling in the official copy. 8) If forced into an excessive functional assessment (your doctor's documentation isn't enough to satisfy the insurance company) go in to the assessor. But book a GP appointment ahead of time for right after the assessment. At the assessment, the moment you start having symptoms stop, tell them what is happening (if it can't be seen) and why you can't continue, leave. If it's a 2 day assessment do the same the next day. Then go in to your GP appointment to have this all documented in your chart. 9) Check if you can continue to pay out any remaining sick time once you're on long term disability, as a top up. Other option is to save it for if you go back to work. 10) Google multiple variations of "(My town/region/province) Disability Benefits" to see what benefits or programs exist in your area.

    31 min

  4. SEP 26

    Episode 2: Long Term Disability Part 1

    First in a two part series (Part 2 can be found in upcoming Episode 4) on Long Term Disability in Canada, specifically BC.  Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links Health Connect Registry BC (to find a GP/NP): https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry Maple: https://www.getmaple.ca/ Telus My Care: https://www.telus.com/en/health/my-care Tips (your mileage may vary!) Know your benefits package! Ideally read up when you are hired, but once you're disabled you really have to get to know the packages. Talk to your union rep or company resource person with questions. Don't forget that you might have benefits/requirements through your professional body. If you're self employed, ideally you have paid for disability or critical health insurance. Do you have extra disability insurance through your credit card?  LTD comes in different forms - insurance company may be the payer or simply the administrator. Clarify what yours is. Keep notes of all interactions with insurance company, with names and dates. Save emails in a folder. Take note of your folio (Disability I.D.) number, which is generated by the insurance company. It's different from your general insurance group or ID number. If multiple people are helping a disabled person communication is key! Be clear about who is doing what, and respect the disabled person's wishes. Respect your boss, union rep, HR and each of their roles. Pace yourself through LTD applications. Find out what your qualifying period is for LTD. Get applications done early if possible as you don't want a gap in pay between STD and LTD. So if your LTD kicks in at the 5 month mark of disability, get the LTD application in at the 3.5 month mark (or early for whatever is required by your insurance company). If you don't have a GP try to stick to one walk in clinic to keep all your files are in one place. Specialist MDs may be an option for filling in applications, if you can get in, or already have an appointment scheduled. Don't forget online medical platforms like Maple or Telus My Care, which may be able to help with applications.  Print out an extra copy of anything your doctor has to fill in. Fill it out yourself, using daily challenges as examples. Take that to the doctor with you so you can discuss and not miss any points when the doctor is filling in the official copy. Give real life examples of your limitations and symptoms on applications. Consult your relevant allied health professionals when filling in forms for their insight. Relay to GP or get their reports. Respect the insurance company reps, remembering that they are not your friends. Do not post unthinkingly on social media - people can easily misinterpret. Expect a functional assessment in the first year on LTD. If forced into an excessive functional assessment (your doctor's documentation isn't enough to satisfy the insurance company) go in to the assessor. But book a GP appointment ahead of time for right after the assessment. At the assessment, the moment you start having symptoms stop, tell them what is happening (if it can't be seen) and why you can't continue, leave. If it's a 2 day assessment do the same the next day. Then go in to your GP appointment to have this all documented in your chart.

    39 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

A conversational podcast that empowers Canadians with disabilities (and those supporting them) by cutting through the complexity of the system. Featuring authentic lived experiences and insights, it brings together essential resources and real voices to guide, inform, and inspire

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