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HOOPP

Health leaves and disability benefits

Health leaves and disability benefits

Health leaves and disability benefits

Members Life Changes Health Leaves & Disability Benefits

As a HOOPP member, you are building a strong foundation for your retirement. If you are unable to work for health reasons, HOOPP offers benefits that can help you continue to build your pension and prepare for your future while you are off work.

These benefits are a valuable feature of your pension offered at no cost to you or your employer. We recognize that it may be a difficult time for you, and these benefits are designed to help you to focus on your health today, while still building financial security for the future.

Depending on your situation, HOOPP offers two types of disability benefits to members:

Free accrual of service

Free accrual is a benefit that allows you to continue accumulating service in the Plan without making contributions. While receiving free accrual, you can focus on taking care of your health knowing that your pension is still growing.

To learn more, visit Free accrual.

Disability pension

If you are permanently unable to work, HOOPP also offers an option to start a disability pension immediately. Starting a disability pension can impact your employment status and other income-related and health benefits that you may be receiving, so it’s important to weigh this decision carefully.

To learn more, visit Disability pension.

The type of benefits and length of time you are eligible to receive them will depend on your level of disability, which is assessed by HOOPP based on the information you provide in your application.

Amanda’s health leave story

Age 55
Sudbury, ON

Amanda is retiring with 15 years of contributory service. Due to an illness in her 40s, she went on a health leave and received free accrual of service from HOOPP. Read her story to see how HOOPP’s disability benefits (free accrual in Amanda’s case) increase the pension she will receive when she retires.

Read more >

How to apply

You can simply submit an application, including some required medical information. The process is straightforward, which makes it easy to access these valuable benefits.

To apply for disability benefits from HOOPP, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be employed by a HOOPP employer
  • Under age 65 with less than 35 years of service
  • Have contributed to the Plan before your health leave
  • Be on a health leave

Your employer lets us know when you start a health leave. When your qualifying period ends we will send you an Application for Disability Benefits to complete and submit, along with some required medical information. There are multiple options to choose from for medical evidence, and these are all clearly explained in the application.

After you submit your application, we’ll review and reach out to let you know what disability benefits you qualify for and to explain next steps.

If you are not on a health leave, have not made any contributions to HOOPP, or if you have already retired or deferred your pension, you are not eligible to receive disability benefits from HOOPP.

We are here to help. If you have any questions about HOOPP disability benefits or how to apply, please contact HOOPP Member Services.

In the event of a shortened life expectancy

If a doctor licensed to practice in Canada advises that your life expectancy may be less than two years, you may be able to access the lump-sum value of your pension. If you have a qualifying spouse, they must also give their consent to withdraw the funds. Please call Member Services for more information.

Authorizing others to support you

Sometimes, you may need assistance managing your personal or financial affairs. Please note that HOOPP can only discuss personal details directly with you, your Power of Attorney for Property (POA) or someone you have provided us with written permission to communicate with on your behalf. Learn more about authorizing others to support you.

FAQs

View all FAQs

How do I apply for disability benefits?

HOOPP will provide you with a copy of our Disability Benefits booklet and the medical forms once you reach 15 weeks of your health leave. You can also contact Member Services or sign in to HOOPP Connect to download the appropriate forms and follow the instructions provided.

HOOPP will review your completed forms to assess whether you meet one of the Plan’s definitions of disability. HOOPP will then contact you to let you know if you qualify for benefits and outline any next steps that are required.

If you are not on an employer-approved health leave, or if you have already retired or ended your membership in the Plan, you are not eligible to receive disability benefits from HOOPP.

What is the 15-week qualifying period?

The first 15 weeks of an employer-approved health leave is known as the qualifying period. During this time, you and your employer make contributions to your pension based on any employment earnings that you receive.

Free accrual can only begin after the qualifying period has ended. There is no qualifying period for a disability pension; if approved by HOOPP, you can begin receiving this benefit immediately.

What is the definition of disability?

The benefits you may be eligible to receive will depend on your level of disability, as assessed by HOOPP. We use three different definitions of disability:

  • Partially disabled:

    • You have a physical or mental impairment that HOOPP has determined prevents you from performing duties related to your own job.

  • Totally disabled:

    • You have a physical or mental impairment that HOOPP has determined prevents you from engaging in any employment for which you are reasonably suited by virtue of your education, training or experience.

  • Totally and permanently disabled:

    • You have a physical or mental impairment that HOOPP has determined prevents you from engaging in any employment for which you are reasonably suited by virtue of your education, training or experience and that can reasonably be expected to continue for the remainder of your lifetime.

This document provides a simplified overview of HOOPP's benefits based on the terms of the HOOPP Plan Text at the time of publication. From time to time, HOOPP may amend the HOOPP Plan Text. In cases where the information provided in this document differs from that contained in the HOOPP Plan Text, the HOOPP Plan Text will govern. More details, including the full HOOPP Plan Text and a complete description of the Plan and its benefits, can be found on hoopp.com.