Disability income · Canada-wide

Income protection when you can't work.

Replace 60–85% of your income if illness or injury keeps you from working. Own-occupation policies for professionals. Coverage to age 65 or beyond.

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Cover up to $25K/month

Own-occupation available

Tax-free benefits (personally-paid)

Quick disability quote

Definition matters

Own-occupation vs. any-occupation

Own-occupation

You're considered disabled if you can't perform the duties of your specific occupation, even if you could work in another field. Best for specialists (surgeons, dentists, lawyers) where the skill is the asset. More expensive but more valuable.

Strongest definition
Pays even if you take another job
Higher premium

Any-occupation

You're considered disabled only if you can't perform any occupation suited to your training and experience. Cheaper but harder to claim, often the definition used by employer-group plans.

Cheaper premium
Harder claim threshold
Standard in group plans

Long-term vs short-term

How long does coverage last?

Short-term (STD)

Benefits for up to 6 months. Often included in employer benefits. Best for covering an EI gap or supplementing group coverage.

Long-term (LTD)

Benefits for 2, 5, or 10 years, or to age 65. The core protection. Most claims that go past 6 months go for years.

Lifetime (rare)

Some carriers offer benefits beyond age 65, especially for catastrophic disability. Niche but available.

Self-employed?

Special considerations

You almost certainly need DI

Self-employed Canadians don't have employer-paid group disability. EI sickness benefits cap at $695/week for 26 weeks. If you're earning more than that, the gap is your responsibility.

Business overhead expense

A separate type of DI policy reimburses the fixed costs of running your business (rent, staff, utilities) while you're disabled, keeping the business alive until you can return.

Sample premium ranges

What you might pay for $5,000/month of long-term DI

Profile	90-day wait, to age 65	30-day wait, to age 65	Own-occupation rider
30-year-old, office / professional	$78–$118/mo	$108–$165/mo	+$25–$45/mo
40-year-old, office / professional	$118–$185/mo	$165–$255/mo	+$35–$65/mo
30-year-old, skilled trades	$135–$210/mo	$185–$285/mo	not always available
40-year-old, self-employed	$155–$240/mo	$215–$325/mo	+$45–$80/mo

Premiums shown are sample ranges. Actual rates vary materially with occupation class, income, health, and carrier. Final pricing requires application and underwriting.

Carriers we work with

Comprehensive DI options

Manulife Sun Life Canada Life RBC Insurance iA Financial

Carrier availability varies by occupation class, province, and product. Your advisor confirms which carriers can quote your specific occupation and income.

Common questions

Disability insurance FAQ

If you pay the premium personally, the benefit is tax-free. If your employer pays the premium, the benefit is taxable. This drives the real coverage amount you need, talk to your advisor about who pays the premium.

Generally 60–85% of your earned income, depending on income level and occupation class. Higher-income earners cap out around 60% because the carrier wants you to have an incentive to return to work.

Often partially. Group LTD typically replaces 50–66% of income (taxable), uses an any-occupation definition after 24 months, and is portable only sometimes. Many professionals top up with personal DI, the gap between group cover and what you actually need.

Common exclusions: war, criminal activity, self-inflicted injury within 2 years, normal pregnancy. Specific pre-existing conditions may be excluded based on underwriting. Mental and nervous-system conditions are often limited to 24 months unless you buy a rider.

Find disability cover that fits your work.

We compare DI products across carriers, occupation class, definition, waiting period, benefit period, riders. An LLQP-licensed advisor walks through the trade-offs.

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