The 24-Month Cutoff: What Happens When Your LTD Policy Switches

The most common reason benefits get cut off

If you've been receiving long-term disability benefits for about two years and suddenly receive a letter saying your benefits are being terminated, you've likely hit the "change of definition." This is the single most common reason LTD benefits are cut off in Ontario.

Own occupation vs. any occupation: what it means

For the first 24 months, you qualify for benefits if you can't perform the duties of your own specific job. After 24 months, most policies switch to "any occupation." Now the insurer asks whether you could perform any job you're reasonably suited for. This is a much higher bar to clear.

How insurers abuse the change of definition

Insurers routinely interpret "any occupation" too broadly. They hire vocational experts who identify jobs you could theoretically do — often ignoring your actual medical limitations, the reality of the job market, and whether you could realistically sustain full-time employment.

Can you fight a 24-month termination?

Yes. There are several grounds to challenge a change-of-definition termination: the vocational assessment was unrealistic, your condition includes both mental and physical components, the policy language is ambiguous, or the insurer failed to properly assess your functional capacity.

What to do if your benefits were just cut off

1. Don't panic — you have legal options.

2. Request a complete copy of your claim file from the insurer.

3. Continue all medical treatment and document your symptoms.

4. Do not accept a lump-sum settlement without legal advice.

5. Contact a disability lawyer immediately — the clock is running.