Manulife Long-Term Disability Claims: What You Need to Know

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

If Manulife 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.

Some Manulife LTD policies contain recurrent disability provisions that may allow benefits to resume without a new elimination period when a claimant returns to work but becomes disabled again from the same or a related condition within a specified period. The applicable period and requirements depend on the wording of the particular policy.

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

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

How Manulife Long-Term Disability Coverage Works

Manulife offers both group LTD policies through employer benefit plans and individual disability policies purchased directly by policyholders, including professionals and business owners.

The specific terms of your coverage — including the definition of disability, benefit amount, waiting period and how long benefits may continue — depend on your particular policy. Your policy wording and benefits booklet should therefore be reviewed carefully.

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 is set out in 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.

Benefit duration. Depending on the policy, LTD benefits may be payable for a specified period or potentially continue to a particular age, provided you continue to satisfy the applicable definition of disability and other policy requirements.

Applying for Manulife Long-Term Disability Benefits

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

Common forms include:

Claimant’s statement — describing your medical condition, symptoms and how they affect your ability to work and function
Attending physician’s statement — completed by your doctor and addressing your diagnosis, treatment, restrictions, limitations and ability to work
Employer’s statement — for group claims, providing employment information, earnings and details about your occupation and job duties

Accuracy and thoroughness are important. A diagnosis alone does not necessarily establish disability under an insurance policy. The medical evidence should explain how your condition affects your ability to perform the important duties of your occupation.

Why Manulife 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 – Manulife may take the position that the medical documentation does not demonstrate 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, commonly 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.
Medical examinations or file reviews – Manulife may rely on medical consultants, independent medical examinations or paper reviews that reach conclusions different from those of your treating doctors.
Vocational assessments – Manulife may identify other occupations it believes you are capable of performing based on your education, training and experience.
Treatment concerns – the insurer may take the position that recommended treatment, rehabilitation or return-to-work efforts have not been followed.
Surveillance or social media – insurers may review publicly available social media or conduct surveillance and argue that observed activities are inconsistent with reported limitations.
Attempted return to work – evidence from a work attempt may become relevant to the insurer’s assessment of your functional capacity.

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

If Manulife has denied or terminated your claim, the reasons in the denial letter should be carefully compared with your policy wording, medical evidence and actual functional limitations.

Manulife 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 that demonstrates the severity of the condition.

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

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

Manulife LTD Claims Involving Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia

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

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

What to Do If Manulife Has Denied or Terminated Your LTD Claim

A denial or termination of disability benefits can have significant financial consequences. What you do next can also affect your legal rights.

1. Review the denial letter carefully

Identify exactly why Manulife says you do not qualify for benefits. The insurer may dispute your medical restrictions, your ability to perform your occupation, your ability to perform another occupation or some other requirement under the policy.

2. Understand what an internal appeal actually is before agreeing to one

Manulife may offer to review its own denial internally. Because the same company that denied your claim is the one deciding the appeal, it’s worth being realistic about what that process can and can’t do — it can work well when a specific, identifiable gap in your file can be filled quickly, but it isn’t an independent check on Manulife’s decision. It also doesn’t pause the legal clock on your right to sue, so understanding your limitation deadline before committing time to an appeal is worth doing early.

3. Preserve the evidence

Keep the denial letter, policy and benefits booklet, correspondence with Manulife, medical records, employment information and copies of everything you have submitted to the insurer.

Your medical evidence should address not simply your diagnosis but your actual restrictions and limitations and why they prevent you from performing the relevant occupational duties.

4. Find out what limitation period applies

Do not assume that you have a particular amount of time to sue simply because an internal appeal remains available.

Limitation periods vary depending on the province, policy wording and circumstances of the claim. Missing an applicable limitation period can potentially prevent you from pursuing your claim.

5. Speak with a disability lawyer

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

Getting advice early can help you make an informed decision about whether to provide further evidence, attempt an appeal or proceed with a legal claim.

How a Disability Lawyer Can Help With a Manulife LTD Denial

A Manulife long-term disability lawyer can review more than simply the denial letter.

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

the definition of disability contained in your policy
Manulife’s reasons for denying or terminating benefits
your medical records and treating doctors’ opinions
medical or functional assessments relied upon by Manulife
vocational assessments 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

Our disability lawyers can then explain your options and the potential next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions About Manulife LTD Claims

Does Manulife’s recurrent disability provision affect my claim?

If you attempted to return to work and became disabled again from the same or a related condition, some Manulife policies allow your claim to resume without restarting the elimination period — but the exact window and requirements depend on the wording of your specific policy.

Can Manulife require me to attend an independent medical examination?

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

If you have concerns about an examination Manulife has requested, consider obtaining legal advice before refusing to attend.

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

Not necessarily.

The applicable wording depends on your policy, but an “any occupation” definition generally considers occupations for which you are reasonably suited based on factors such as education, training and experience. It does not necessarily mean literally every job that exists. Read our full explanation of the own occupation to any occupation transition.

What if Manulife says my medical evidence isn’t sufficient?

This is a common issue in disability claims.

Medical evidence should document not only the diagnosis but also symptoms, treatment, restrictions and functional limitations. The important question is often how the medical condition affects your ability to perform the duties required by your occupation or another occupation contemplated by the policy.

Can I work part-time while receiving Manulife LTD benefits?

This depends on the wording of your policy and your individual circumstances.

A genuine attempt to return to work can sometimes provide useful evidence about your functional capacity, but employment income and demonstrated work abilities may also affect how the insurer assesses your entitlement.

Consider getting advice before making a significant change to your work status.

Does Kotak Law handle Manulife 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 Manulife Claim

Kotak Law can review your policy, medical evidence, and Manulife’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 →