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Your Financial Protection for Today...and
Tomorrow!
Spousal Disability Plan (SDP)
The Spousal Disability Plan (SDP) is a voluntary disability insurance
plan that gives you and your family protection against financial
hardship.
- Spouses of serving members;
- Former members and their spouses; and
- Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC), the Canadian Rangers,
as well as their spouses;
Provided that:
- The insured is less than 65 years of age;
- The insured is not a member of the Regular or Primary
Reserve Force; and
- The insured is not covered by any other disability
plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does the term "spouse" include?
The term "spouse" includes:
• A person who is married to an eligible Canadian Forces
(CF) member; or
• A person living with an eligible CF member for whom
a written declaration of common law status has been filed with
SISIP Financial Services (SISIP FS).
Who can submit an application for SDP?
A CF member or a former member can apply for coverage either
for a "spouse" or, under specific circumstances, for
oneself.
FAQ
Can I maintain the coverage on my former spouse?
Yes. You can maintain coverage on a former spouse
provided that:
• The coverage was acquired while the former spouse was your spouse. In the case of a common law
spouse, you must have resided with that person for at
least 12 consecutive months;
• There are dependent children for which you have a legally
enforceable financial responsibility; and
• You don't maintain coverage for another spouse.
By completing and submitting an application form to a SISIP FS representative or to the SISIP FS Ottawa Office at the address indicated on the application form. You can get a form in any of our SISIP FS offices, by calling 1-800-267-6681 (in Ottawa, 613-233-2177), or you can download the form. (PDF format).
Do I have to provide evidence of insurability?
Yes, by completing the appropriate section of the application
form titled "Medical History". It should be noted that
a medical examination may be requested by the Insurer.
FAQ
What are the premiums and how do I pay them?
Premiums for the SDP are age-banded and increase in five-year
increments as indicated on the application form. If you are a
Regular Force member, the premiums are paid through pay allotments.
However, if you are a reservist, a former member, or a member
on leave without pay, you pay the premiums directly to the Insurer,
Manulife Financial, by monthly Electronic
Fund Transfers (EFT), or by sending one cheque covering the annual
premium.
Once I have applied, when is the SDP coverage effective?
The insurance coverage is effective on the date of approval by
the Insurer, Manulife Financial.
What does the term "totally disabled" mean?
It means that an insured person:
• Has a severe and prolonged diagnosable disease, injury
or health condition, for a period of at least six consecutive
months, as confirmed by an attending medical specialist;
• Has been prescribed the appropriate treatments, medications
and/or aids; that they have been taken and used properly and
that they failed to produce sufficient improvement of the impairment(s)
to alleviate the total disability; and
• Has Impairment(s) that are expected to last a minimum
of a further twelve consecutive months, based on the application
of established medical guidelines that leads reasonably to this
conclusion, with the result that:
1. where the impairment is a physical impairment:
(a) you are unable to engage in all of the activities listed
in two or more of the "Activity Categories" such
as:
- Category A: personal care - eating, dressing, and personal
hygiene;
- Category B: mobility - the ability to walk, using an aid,
if necessary, at least 50 m on level ground; and
- Category C: household activities - childcare, home care,
and food preparation, or
(b) you are rendered a paraplegic, quadriplegic, or hemiplegic;
and,
2. where the impairment is a psychiatric impairment:
(a) you are unable to understand and process information
that is relevant to making a decision concerning your own
health care, nutrition, shelter, clothing, hygiene, financial
affairs, and are unable to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable
consequences of a decision or lack of decision; and,
(b) the mental impairment meets the diagnostic criteria for
a mental condition recognized by the DIAGNOSTIC AND THE STATISTICAL
MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS - most current edition.
FAQ
Based on the above definition of "totally disabled",
if it is believed that an insured person may qualify for benefits;
a claim must be filed for adjudication within 120 days from the
date the attending medical specialist signs the Attending Physicians
Statement confirming the total disability.
What is the amount of benefit?
The plan provides the insured person a one-time lump sum benefit
of $100,000.
Are the SDP benefits taxable?
Can the benefits be assigned?
No. Benefits can't be assigned, alienated, encumbered, or commuted
under this Policy.
FAQ
What are the limitations and exclusions of SDP?
No benefits is payable for a disability:
• Commencing during the first twelve months of coverage
from disease, injury or health condition for which you consulted
a physician within the 24-month period immediately prior to
submitting an application;
• Resulting from substance abuse including, but not limited
to, alcoholism and drug addiction;
• Resulting from committing or attempting to commit or,
participating in the commission of a criminal offense;
• Resulting from an intentionally self-inflicted injury
or disease, or attempted self-destruction whether sane or insane;
• For which there is no clear objective medical evidence
to confirm and identifiable underlying disease, injury or health
condition; or,
• Within 3 years of the denial of a claim for the same
cause.
FAQ
When does the insurance coverage terminate?
SDP coverage terminates automatically on the earliest of the
following dates:
• Death;
• The 65th birthday;
• The date an insured becomes a member of the Regular
Force or Primary Reserve Force on Class A or B or C reserve
service;
• The end of the term for which the premium has been paid;
• The date SISIP FS or the Insurer Manulife Financial receives a written
notice from a member requesting termination;
• The date an insured ceases to be a spouse,
unless covered as a former spouse;
• For a former spouse, the date the member
insures a new spouse under this Policy;
• The date benefits are paid under this Policy; or,
• The date of termination of this Policy.
In the case of conflict between this document and the insurance
contract, Policy #901107, the terms of the contract shall prevail.
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