Early Intervention and Rehabilitation FAQ

An EAP provides short-term counselling assistance to employees and their families to help them resolve personal difficulties related to work, family and marriage.

Early intervention is designed to provide members with rehabilitation support during the early weeks of disability by creating a communication link between a disabled member and OTIP's professional rehabilitation staff. The goal is to provide members with assistance that will help them return to their regular work and possibly prevent or shorten the duration of an LTD claim.

Members receiving LTD benefits may be required to participate in a rehabilitation plan recommended and approved by OTIP. Failure to co-operate or accept a rehabilitation plan medically supported by your attending physician will jeopardize your entitlement to LTD benefits.

A member may maintain eligibility for their LTD benefits when they attempt to return to work on a gradual basis by filling a part-time assignment. Since every person's situation is unique, contact your OTIP disability analyst before accepting the assignment to ensure you stay within the provisions of your LTD contract. Your disability analyst will get the referral underway if a rehabilitation consultant is not yet involved in your claim.

There are cases where a return-to-work schedule is approved by the disability analyst even though it will never progress beyond part-time work. Prior to approving such a plan, the analyst would assess the member's diagnosis, prognosis, limitations and restrictions.