Frequently Asked Questions


  1. How do I apply for Long-Term Disability Benefits?
  2. How are my benefits calculated?
  3. If my claim is approved, when do my payments start?
  4. How and when are payments made once the claim is approved?
  5. How long will I receive LTD benefit payments?
  6. What if I receive income from another source? How will that impact my benefit?
  7. If I am not considered ‘totally disabled’ by my Physician and Insurance Company but CPR won’t allow me to return to work, can I still receive LTD benefits?
  8. How is the Plan administered?
  9. If I am set back from a Locomotive Engineer, can I still participate in the LTD Plan?
  10. As a Retiree how do I apply for reimbursement of my LTD premiums?

1 – How do I apply for Long-Term Disability Benefits? (LTD)

If you become sick or injured and are still unable to work after 30 weeks you will be sent an LTD Invitation package that includes an application for LTD benefits. To apply, you will need to send our Plan Administrator a completed LTD form package. The package contains three forms:

  • An Employer’s Statement – This is a two part form; the first page should be forwarded to CPR Staff Records in Calgary. The employer completes and faxes this to our Plan Administrator; the second page should be completed by your immediate supervisor for completion and this can be faxed to our Plan Administrator.
  • Employee’s Statement – You must complete this form and mail it to our Plan Administrator.
    • Be sure to answer all the questions in full to avoid delays in assessing your claim
    • If you would like to have your payments deposited into your bank account, please complete the Direct Deposit Authorization on page 2
    • Please read and sign the Authorization on page 5.
  • Initial Attending Physician’s Statement – This is a five part form; General Form, Psychiatric Form; Musculo-Skeletal Form, Cardiac Form, Cancer Form
    • Please complete and sign the Patient Authorization section on the Physician’s Statement that pertains to your illness/injury and forward to your Physician for completion.
    • The completed form along with the completed Employee’s Statement should be mailed to our Plan Administrator.

Please note that if you do not receive an LTD Invitation package at least 8 weeks prior to the end of your expiration of WIB benefits; please contact our Plan Administrator immediately.

2 – How are my benefits calculated?

Your LTD Plan provides you with a tax-free benefit equal to 50% of your monthly gross income, up to a maximum of $6,000 per month. You monthly LTD benefit is calculated on the basis of an average of your earnings over the preceding 26 pay-periods prior to your date of absence for this period of disability.

3 – If my claim is approved, when do my payments start?

Your LTD benefit payments will be paid from the date the elimination period is completed (41 weeks). If this date is in the past, then payment will made for the retroactive amount owing.

4 – How and when are payments made once the claim is approved?

LTD benefits are paid on a monthly basis. You can be paid by cheque or have your benefits deposited directly into your bank account. Having your benefits deposited into your bank account helps avoid delays with mailing.

5 – How long will I receive LTD benefit payments?

For LTD, you will continue to receive disability payments as long as you meet the definition of total disability as defined in your Member Benefit Booklet and satisfy other obligations (such as pursuing appropriate treatment). Generally speaking, the insurance company will consider whether you are ‘totally disabled’ from your own occupation for a period of 24 months following the elimination period. After this period of time, your claim will then be considered whether you are ‘totally disabled’ from any occupation. In the event that you remain continuously and totally disabled, benefits may continue until you reach age 65, retire or die, whichever occurs first.

6 – What if I receive income from another source? How will that impact my LTD benefit?

Your LTD benefits are reduced by payments received from other sources, such as CPP/QPP, CPR Disability Pension, Motor Vehicle Accident benefits, and Workers’ Compensation. If you receive a retroactive award, you will be expected to reimburse the insurance company any benefits overpaid.

7 – If I am not considered ‘totally disabled’ by my Physician and Insurance Company but CPR won’t allow me to return to work, can I still receive LTD benefits?

If you are not disabled on the basis of the duties you regularly performed before your disability started, but you are unfit to return to work according to the Railway Safety Act, you will be considered disabled and LTD benefits can be approved/continued for a period of twelve months from the date of LTD benefits eligibility. You will be required to submit a letter from CPR confirming that you are unfit to return to work according to the Railway Safety Act.

8 – How is the Plan administered?

At the centre of the LTD Plan is the Board of Trustees. They oversee the overall management of the Plan. The Board of Trustees attend quarterly meetings with the Plan Administrator to monitor the financial position of the Plan, review claims decisions and concerns, and ensure the fair and equal treatment of all Members making claim under the LTD Plan.

Your Board of Trustees appointed Canadian Benefits Consulting Group to administer the daily operation of the Health and Welfare Trust Fund. They assist with the smooth transition of your claim from the WIB period to the LTD period and continues throughout the “lifespan” of your disability. Canadian Benefits staff are available to answer any questions regarding your LTD claim.

LTD claims are paid by the underwriting Insurance Company, Great-West Life.

9 – If I am set back from a Locomotive Engineer, can I still participate in the LTD Plan?

The LTD plan was established for Locomotive Engineers who are working as Locomotive Engineers on the first of the month. If you are NOT working as a Locomotive Engineer on the first of the month, membership in the Plan is automatically discontinued. If on a subsequent first of the month you are again working as a Locomotive Engineer, coverage under the Plan is started again. However, pre-existing medical conditions within six months of recommencing the plan are disallowed for a period of one year.

The Trustees of the Plan want to provide an opportunity for undisturbed LTD coverage. Accordingly, present members of the Plan will be able to continue paying premiums and retain membership in the Plan when you are working under the Trainman’s Collective Agreement. If you elect to continue coverage, whether you are working under the Engineers Collective Agreement or not, you must complete a “Continuation for Undisturbed LTD Coverage” form and submit your form to our Plan Administrator.

10 – As a Retiree how do I apply for reimbursement of my LTD premiums?

As a member of the LTD Plan and retiring without being on LTD you are entitled to apply for reimbursement of 41 weeks of LTD premiums paid immediately prior to your retirement date. Only plan members who are not collecting LTD benefits may take advantage of this premium reimbursement offer.

In order to apply for reimbursement, you must submit written confirmation that you are on pension and the actual retirement date. (i.e. your final letter from CPR Pension Services with notification of your date of retirement and that you are receiving pension benefits). You must submit your request in writing along with your final letter from CPR Pension Services to our Plan Administrator. The Board of Trustees meets on a quarterly basis and at the meeting the Board reviews the application and if everything is in order they will approve the application for payment.

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