Sun Life short-term disability (STD) provides income replacement when you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. If you have this coverage through your employer, it replaces a portion of your income during the first weeks or months of disability before long-term disability begins.
The specific benefits you receive depend on your employer’s plan. There’s no single “Sun Life STD policy”—each employer’s plan has unique rules, benefit percentages, and duration limits outlined in your employee benefits booklet.
How Much Does Sun Life STD Pay?
Your STD benefit is typically 60-70% of your weekly earnings before you became disabled, though some plans offer different percentages.
For 2025, the maximum STD weekly benefit is $695 if your plan bases its maximum on Employment Insurance limits. However, your actual benefit may be less depending on:
- Your salary at the time of disability
- Your specific plan’s benefit percentage
- Other income sources like CPP or Workers’ Compensation
Payment Calculation Example
If you earn $1,000/week and your plan pays 70% STD benefits:
- Weekly STD payment: $700
- But if limited by EI maximum: $695/week
Your STD payment may be reduced by amounts you receive from CPP, Quebec Pension Plan, or Workers’ Compensation for the same disability.
How Long Do Sun Life STD Benefits Last?
You’ll receive STD payments as long as you meet the definition of “totally disabled” up to your plan’s maximum benefit period.
Most Sun Life STD plans provide benefits for:
- 15 to 17 weeks (most common)
- 26 weeks (some plans)
- Up to 52 weeks (rare, more generous plans)
Check your employee benefits booklet for your specific maximum period.
What "Totally Disabled" Means for STD
For STD coverage, Sun Life considers you totally disabled when you’re continuously unable due to illness to perform the essential duties of your own occupation, in any workplace.
This “own occupation” definition means you don’t need to be unable to do any work—just your specific job. This is more generous than many long-term disability definitions.
How to Apply for Sun Life STD Benefits
Step 1: Notify Your Employer Immediately
Contact your employer’s HR or benefits department as soon as you know you’ll be unable to work. They’ll initiate the STD claim process and provide necessary forms.
Step 2: Get the Required Forms
You’ll need three completed forms:
- Plan Member’s Statement: You complete this form
- Attending Physician’s Statement: Your doctor completes this
- Plan Sponsor’s Statement: Your employer completes this
Your employer should provide these forms, or you can download them from Sun Life’s website.
Step 3: Complete Your Plan Member's Statement
Fill out your portion thoroughly, including:
- Personal and employment information
- Details about your disability and when it began
- How your condition prevents you from working
- Other income sources (CPP, EI, Workers’ Comp)
- Direct deposit banking information
Step 4: Have Your Doctor Complete the Physician's Statement
Take the Attending Physician’s Statement to your doctor. They must provide:
- Your diagnosis and medical condition
- How your condition prevents work
- Expected recovery timeline
- Treatment plan and restrictions
- Visit frequency and ongoing care needs
Be aware that you’re responsible for any charge your doctor makes for completing this form.
Important: Generic notes on prescription pads aren’t sufficient. Your doctor must complete the full form with specific functional limitations.
Step 5: Submit Everything to Sun Life
Submit completed forms by fax or mail to the address shown on the forms. You can also use Sun Life’s online portal or mobile app to submit documents.
Sun Life’s review takes up to 5 business days for short-term disability claims.
When Do STD Payments Start?
Your STD payments begin the day after your elimination period (waiting period) ends.
Common elimination periods:
- 0 days for accidents: Benefits start immediately
- 7 days for illness: One-week waiting period
- 14 days: Two-week waiting period for some plans
Check your benefits booklet for your specific elimination period.
If your elimination period date has passed when your claim is approved, Sun Life pays you retroactively from that date.
Your Responsibilities While Receiving STD
While receiving disability benefits, you must continue to explore new employment opportunities, pursue appropriate treatment, or attempt modified work duties.
This means:
- Attending all medical appointments
- Following your doctor’s treatment plan
- Staying in communication with Sun Life
- Considering modified or part-time work if your doctor approves
- Updating Sun Life about changes in your condition
Failing to meet these responsibilities can result in benefit termination.
Transitioning from Sun Life STD to LTD
As your STD benefit period approaches its end, you need to apply for long-term disability (LTD) if you’re still unable to work.
Start Your LTD Application Early
Begin the LTD application process at least 4-6 weeks before your STD benefits end. LTD applications require more extensive medical documentation and take longer to process.
Don’t wait for Sun Life to contact you—take initiative to avoid gaps in income.
Key Differences Between STD and LTD
Disability Definition:
- STD: Unable to perform your own occupation
- LTD (first 24 months): Unable to perform your own occupation
- LTD (after 24 months): Unable to perform any occupation you’re reasonably qualified for
Medical Evidence:
- STD: Basic physician statement
- LTD: Comprehensive medical records, specialist reports, functional assessments
Scrutiny Level:
- STD: Generally approved with proper medical documentation
- LTD: More intensive review, potential independent medical exams
When to Hire a Disability Lawyer
Consider legal help if:
- Your initial appeal is denied
- Sun Life requests excessive information or delays unreasonably
- Your condition is complex or involves mental health
- You’re approaching the transition to LTD
- Sun Life conducts surveillance or schedules independent medical exams
Many disability lawyers offer free consultations and work on contingency (you pay only if you win).
Here you can read about Manulife Short-Term Disability & recent layoffs at popular companies such as Stericycle, RBC, Hudson’s Bay and Bell layoffs.
Sun Life Long-Term Disability Rules
LTD Benefit Amount
LTD typically pays 60-70% of your monthly earnings before disability, similar to STD percentages but calculated monthly instead of weekly.
LTD Duration
LTD benefits can continue until:
- You recover and return to work
- You reach age 65 (most common)
- You no longer meet the disability definition
- Your maximum benefit period expires
Changing Disability Definition
During the first 24 months of LTD (the “own occupation period”), you’re considered totally disabled if unable to perform your own occupation. Afterward, you’re considered disabled only if unable to perform any occupation for which you’re reasonably qualified.
This change at 24 months is critical—it’s when many LTD claims get denied because Sun Life argues you can do some type of work.
Your Legal Rights With Sun Life Disability Claims
Right to Fair Claim Assessment
Sun Life must assess your claim fairly based on the evidence and policy terms. They cannot:
- Deny claims without proper investigation
- Ignore relevant medical evidence
- Apply policy terms inconsistently
- Demand excessive or irrelevant information
Right to Appeal
If Sun Life denies your claim, you have the right to internal appeal. If internal appeals fail, you can:
- File complaints with insurance regulators
- Sue Sun Life for breach of contract
- Seek damages for bad faith claim handling
Right to Privacy
Sun Life can request medical information relevant to your disability, but they cannot:
- Demand your entire medical history unrelated to your claim
- Share your medical information without authorization
- Require overly broad medical releases
You can refuse unreasonable information requests and provide only disability-related medical records.
Protection from Surveillance
Sun Life may conduct surveillance to verify your disability, but this surveillance:
- Must be conducted legally (no trespassing, harassment)
- Cannot be used to deny claims based on brief moments that don’t reflect your overall condition
- Can be challenged if it misrepresents your functional abilities
Key Takeaways
Sun Life STD provides 60-70% of your weekly earnings when you’re disabled, with benefits typically lasting 15-26 weeks depending on your employer’s plan.
You must meet the “own occupation” disability definition, meaning you’re unable to perform your specific job’s essential duties.
Apply immediately when unable to work, ensuring all three required forms (yours, your doctor’s, and your employer’s) are completed thoroughly.
STD payments begin after your elimination period (typically 0-14 days) and continue as long as you remain disabled up to the maximum benefit period.
Start your LTD application 4-6 weeks before STD ends to avoid income gaps—don’t wait for Sun Life to contact you.
If denied, appeal immediately with additional medical evidence. Consider hiring a disability lawyer for complex claims or denied appeals.
The disability definition changes at 24 months into LTD, becoming “any occupation” instead of “own occupation”—this is when many claims face termination challenges.
Never assume denials are final. Many Sun Life disability claims are approved on appeal or through legal action with proper representation and medical evidence.
