Employers’ FAQs About Disability Benefits
For administrative details on HOOPP’s disability provisions, please refer to Section 8 of the online HOOPP Administration Manual.
Q. What is free accrual?
A. After the first 15 weeks of a health leave, if a member provides medical evidence to HOOPP and the Plan Physician determines that the member is disabled (as defined by HOOPP) they receive free accrual until a date determined by HOOPP, at which time the member will have to provide additional medical evidence to prove he or she continues to qualify for free accrual. Free accrual means that they are provided with contributory service, without making contributions.
Q. It is not my area that is in charge of tracking which employee is on a health leave – it is the occupational health and safety (OH&S) area’s job. Can I ask them to fill in parts of these forms?
A. Yes. Frequently, payroll, human resources, and OH&S departments need to be involved to obtain this type of information, particularly for larger employers.
Q. Should I be giving a copy of the booklet Your Guide to HOOPP’s Disability Benefits to all my employees?
A. No. You should give the booklet out only to members who are on a health leave for 30 days or more. If other employees are interested in finding out more general information about disability benefits, refer them to the disability pages of the website.
Q. Is there still a four-year limit on a health leave?
A. Yes, members who are receiving free accrual, will stop receiving it if they reach the end of the fourth year of a health leave/health extension period and are partially disabled. A member who is totally disabled or totally and permanently disabled can continue to receive free accrual beyond the four-year period – this is known as a Total Disability Leave.
Q. Why does a member have to resign their employment before receiving a disability pension?
A. There must be a termination of the employment relationship before any HOOPP pension benefit – disability pension or a regular pension – can start. This has always been the rule for any HOOPP benefit payments.
Q. Will HOOPP let me know if a member is receiving free accrual, or if it ends?
A. Yes. HOOPP will copy you on any letter sent to the member regarding the start or end of free accrual . Please note that apart from these letters, there will be no reminder follow-up letters.
Q. What happens if a rehab program starts before approval by HOOPP is received – will HOOPP retroactively allow free accrual to continue, assuming the program is approved?
A. Yes, we will allow free accrual to continue retroactively. However, it is in your best interest to get the form in and approved/not approved before the rehab program starts, because if the program is not approved, you will need to retroactively deduct contributions from any pay the member received from the start of the program. You will also need to deduct contributions from any pay the member receives for the duration of the program.
Q. What if the rehab program continues on for longer than the expected end date?
A. Let HOOPP know, in writing, preferably by completing a new rehab form. If free accrual has been approved, it may be approved to continue beyond the expected end date.
Q. If a member is on a rehab program, can HOOPP still ask for medical evidence?
A. Yes. HOOPP will ask for new medical evidence depending on the member’s level of disability. Should one of those deadlines occur during the rehab program, new medical evidence will be required in order for free accrual to continue.
Q. What happens if members who are partially disabled, and receiving free accrual, reach the end of the fourth year of their health leave/extension while on a rehab program?
A. Such members can remain on rehab, but free accrual ends – HOOPP will advise them that free accrual has ended, and you will be copied on that letter. These members must resume making HOOPP contributions on the work they are now performing, or else, their membership will be terminated.
Additional information
Please see the Health leaves, free accrual & returning to work FAQs and general employer FAQs.
