Canada Life Long-Term Disability Claims: What You Need to Know

Last updated: August 2026 | Reviewed by Nainesh Kotak, B.A. (Hons), LL.B.

If Canada Life has denied your long-term disability claim, terminated benefits you were already receiving, or told you that you no longer meet the definition of disability, you may have options to challenge that decision.

Canada Life took its current form on January 1, 2020, when Great-West Life, London Life, and Canada Life amalgamated into a single company. If your original policy or plan documents reference Great-West Life or London Life, that coverage is now generally administered by Canada Life on largely the same terms — it can be worth confirming which entity actually holds your file if your paperwork predates 2020.

Canada Life is one of Canada’s largest providers of group and individual long-term disability (LTD) insurance. The outcome of a Canada Life disability claim depends on the wording of your particular policy, the medical and functional evidence, and how Canada Life has assessed your ability to work.

This guide explains how Canada Life LTD claims generally work, why benefits may be denied or terminated, and what you can do if you disagree with Canada Life’s decision.

How Canada Life Long-Term Disability Coverage Works

Canada Life provides long-term disability coverage through employer group benefit plans as well as individual disability insurance policies.

The terms of LTD coverage can vary significantly from one policy to another. The definition of disability, waiting period, benefit amount, offsets, exclusions and duration of benefits are determined by the particular policy or plan.

Elimination period. LTD policies generally include a waiting period, often called an elimination period, before benefits become payable. The length of this period varies by policy and should be confirmed from your plan documents. During this period, you may have access to short-term disability benefits, Employment Insurance sickness benefits or other sources of income.

Benefit amount. LTD benefits are generally calculated as a percentage of your pre-disability earnings, subject to the terms and maximum monthly benefit contained in your policy.

What conditions may qualify. LTD coverage can apply to physical illnesses and injuries, mental health conditions, neurological disorders and other medical conditions where the claimant satisfies the applicable definition of disability. Coverage, exclusions and limitations depend on the wording of the specific policy.

Applying for Canada Life Long-Term Disability Benefits

A Canada Life LTD application will generally require information from you, your medical providers and, for group disability plans, your employer.

The application should provide a clear picture not only of your diagnosis, but of the symptoms, restrictions and limitations that prevent you from performing the important duties of your occupation.

A diagnosis alone does not necessarily establish disability under an insurance policy. The evidence should explain how your medical condition affects your ability to function consistently and reliably at work.

Keep copies of everything submitted to Canada Life, together with correspondence, medical forms and requests for additional information.

Why Canada Life May Deny or Terminate Long-Term Disability Benefits

Every disability claim is different. Some of the reasons an insurer may rely upon when denying or terminating LTD benefits include:

Insufficient medical evidence — Canada Life may take the position that the medical documentation does not establish restrictions or limitations severe enough to prevent you from working.
The change from “own occupation” to “any occupation” — many LTD policies change their definition of disability after a specified period, often around the two-year point. Claims may be reassessed at this stage, and some claimants have their benefits terminated even though they do not believe their medical condition or functional abilities have improved. Learn more about the own occupation to any occupation transition.
Treatment or rehabilitation concerns — the insurer may take the position that recommended treatment, rehabilitation or return-to-work efforts have not been followed.
Policy exclusions or limitations — Canada Life may take the position that a particular condition or circumstance falls outside the terms of the policy or is subject to an exclusion or limitation.
Independent medical examinations or medical file reviews — Canada Life may rely on medical consultants or assessments that reach conclusions different from those of your treating doctors.
Vocational assessments — particularly after a change in the definition of disability, Canada Life may identify other occupations it believes you are capable of performing.
Surveillance or social media — an insurer may rely on observed activities or publicly available social media when assessing whether a claimant’s activities are consistent with reported restrictions and limitations.
A return-to-work attempt — Canada Life may consider evidence from an attempted return to work when assessing your functional abilities and continuing entitlement to benefits.

A denial letter reflects Canada Life’s position. It does not necessarily determine your legal entitlement to LTD benefits.

If your benefits have been denied or terminated, the reasons given by Canada Life should be compared carefully with your policy wording, medical evidence, occupational duties and actual functional limitations.

Canada Life LTD Claims Involving Depression, Anxiety and Other Mental Health Conditions

Mental health conditions can prevent a person from working even though there may be no diagnostic imaging, laboratory test or other objective measurement demonstrating the severity of the condition.

Claims involving depression, anxiety, PTSD and other psychological conditions can therefore depend heavily on the quality and consistency of the medical and functional evidence.

Medical records should document more than a diagnosis. They should address symptoms, treatment, medication, functional restrictions and the ways in which the condition interferes with the claimant’s ability to reliably and consistently perform their occupational duties.

The change from an “own occupation” to an “any occupation” definition can be particularly important in LTD claims involving depression and anxiety, because the insurer may consider whether the claimant can perform a different occupation despite being unable to return to their previous job.

Canada Life LTD Claims Involving Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia

Chronic pain and fibromyalgia can also present challenges in disability claims because the severity of symptoms and resulting functional limitations may not be fully demonstrated by imaging or other diagnostic testing.

The important issue is often not simply whether a condition has been diagnosed, but how pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, medication side effects and other symptoms affect the person’s ability to function consistently and reliably in the workplace.

What to Do If Canada Life Has Denied or Terminated Your LTD Claim

A denial or termination of LTD benefits can have significant financial consequences. The steps you take after receiving the decision can also affect your legal rights.

1. Review the denial letter carefully

Identify exactly why Canada Life says you no longer qualify for benefits.

2. Understand your appeal options before committing to one

Canada Life may invite an internal review of a denial, but since Canada Life itself decides the outcome, it functions as asking the decision-maker to reconsider its own decision rather than an independent check. This can be worthwhile where a specific, identifiable gap in the file can be addressed quickly; for others, it mainly delays the point at which a lawsuit could begin. An internal review doesn’t necessarily pause your limitation deadline, so it’s worth knowing that deadline before deciding how to spend the time.

3. Preserve the evidence

Keep your denial letter, policy and benefits booklet, correspondence with Canada Life, medical records, employment information and copies of everything submitted to the insurer.

4. Determine the applicable limitation period

Do not assume that you automatically have a fixed amount of time to commence a lawsuit.

Limitation periods can depend on the province, the policy wording and the circumstances surrounding the denial or termination.

5. Speak with a disability lawyer

A lawyer experienced in LTD claims can review the policy, Canada Life’s denial letter, your medical evidence and the insurer’s stated reasons for denying or terminating benefits.

How a Disability Lawyer Can Help With a Canada Life LTD Denial

At Kotak Law, our review of a denied or terminated Canada Life LTD claim may include:

the definition of disability contained in your policy
Canada Life’s reasons for denying or terminating benefits
your medical records and treating doctors’ opinions
medical, functional or other assessments relied upon by Canada Life
vocational evidence and proposed alternative occupations
the transition from the “own occupation” to “any occupation” definition
applicable limitation periods
whether further medical evidence should be obtained
whether an internal appeal serves a useful purpose
whether a legal claim should be commenced

Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Life LTD Claims

My old policy says Great-West Life or London Life — does Canada Life still cover me?

Yes. Great-West Life, London Life, and Canada Life amalgamated into one company (Canada Life) on January 1, 2020. According to Canada Life, existing policies and contracts automatically continued under the amalgamated company — only the administering company’s name changed. Specific policy terms should still be confirmed against your plan documents.

Is there a waiting period for Canada Life LTD benefits to begin?

Yes. LTD policies generally contain an elimination or waiting period before benefits become payable. The length of the waiting period depends on your particular policy.

Can Canada Life require me to attend an independent medical examination?

Many disability insurance policies contain provisions allowing an insurer to request reasonable medical examinations or assessments. Your obligations depend on the wording of your particular policy.

Does Canada Life’s “any occupation” definition mean I have to be unable to do any job at all?

Not necessarily.

The wording depends on the particular policy, but an “any occupation” definition generally considers occupations for which you are reasonably suited based on factors such as education, training and experience. Read our full explanation of the own occupation to any occupation transition.

Can I work part-time while receiving Canada Life LTD benefits?

This depends on your particular policy and circumstances. Some policies contain provisions dealing with partial disability, rehabilitation or reduced earnings.

Does Kotak Law handle Canada Life LTD disputes across Canada?

Kotak Law represents clients in long-term disability matters throughout Canada, subject to applicable provincial law society requirements. Nainesh Kotak has practised law in Ontario since 1994 and is also called to the bars of Alberta and British Columbia, with the firm continuing to expand its bar admissions across Canada.

Related Long-Term Disability Resources

Speak With a Disability Lawyer About Your Canada Life Claim

Kotak Law can review your policy, medical evidence, and Canada Life’s reasons for its decision, and explain your options.

Free consultation. Disability cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis.

About Nainesh Kotak and Rajiv Haté

Nainesh Kotak, B.A. (Hons), LL.B., has practised law in Ontario since 1994 and is also called to the bars of Alberta and British Columbia. Nainesh and his colleague Rajiv Haté are both recognized by the Canadian Lexpert Directory as leading lawyers in long-term disability law.

Nainesh is a Past Chair of the Long-Term Disability Section of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) and currently serves as Vice President of OTLA.

Together with the firm’s disability lawyers — including Kaity Yang and Avinaash (Avi) Laljie — Nainesh and Rajiv represent clients throughout Canada in long-term and short-term disability disputes involving major Canadian insurance companies.

Read the full team bio →