Qualifying Period for Short Term Disability Plan

The Union Hall is receiving a lot of questions about the waiting period and top up credits when using the Short Term Disability Plan (STDP).

The STDP is the plan that replaced our sick leave in this Collective Agreement and although CUPW disagreed with it, this is the plan we now use when we are sick or suffer an injury at home.

An employee can receive short term disability for up to thirty (30) weeks from the time of the commencement of the illness or injury. Before you are actually paid by the STDP, there is a waiting period; this is called the qualifying time period.

The qualifying period is as follows:

Hospitalization:

If you are hospitalized there is no qualifying period or waiting period. You begin to receive the STPD when you are hospitalized.

Injury at home (Non- work related injury):

For a non-work related injury or accident, if you go to the doctor or hospital within twenty-four (24) hours, there is no qualifying period or waiting period. You start to receive the STDP from the time of the injury. If you seek medical attention after twenty-four (24) hours, your qualifying period is until you see your doctor or go to the hospital.

If you are ill (cold, flu, etc.):

If you are ill, your qualifying period is seven (7) calendar days. You do not start to receive the STDP until the eighth (8th) day of illness.

You must use your personal days before you can use other forms of leave for your waiting time or qualifying period. If you have used all of your personal days you can use your top up credit for this waiting period.

The top up credits are drawn from your sick leave that you had in your sick leave bank prior to this Collective Agreement. If you have no personal days you can use other forms of leave (comp-time, annual, and top up). These can only be used on an accepted STDP claim.

If you are sick less than seven (7) days, you cannot use your top up credits because you have not met the qualifying period for illness.

You can only use your top up credits for topping up the STDP to a 100%, or, for the qualifying/waiting period if you are going to be off for a period longer than seven (7) calendar days.

Injury on Duty and the STDP

If you are injured at work and file an injury on duty claim, you will be paid by the STDP while your claim is pending. Once it is approved you will be paid at 75% (which is tax deductible at the end of the year) which you can top up to 100% with top up credits. During the time your claim is pending, you will be on the STDP and paid at 70% but you can top this up to 100% of your wages by using your top up credits.

You will have no waiting period if your claim is turned down. If it is turned down you will remain on the STDP.

Should you appeal your claim, you will be left on STDP. A Memorandum of Agreement between CPC and the Union has been worked out on the STDP during the Injury on Duty appeal.

If you have any questions or need more information, you can go to our website at www.cupw-vancouver.org, where we have the STDP booklet and all the forms you need to take to your doctor to be approved for the STDP.

For further information talk to a shop steward or call the Union Hall.

In Solidarity,

Pat Bertrand

1st Vice President