The first day of the elimination period for a regular block holder begins on the day the first flight is missed due to total disability, and for a reserve block holder it begins on the first reserve day missed due to total disability. For special assignments and Union duty from the first day missed due to total disability.

You must see a medical practitioner within 14 days of your first flight missed or first reserve day missed, first day of special assignment missed or first day of Union duties missed in order to qualify for benefits commencing on the 8th day of your disability.

Benefits will be payable from the 8th consecutive day you are totally disabled.

It is your responsibility to submit proof of disability within:

– 30 days. All Weekly Indemnity claims must be submitted within 30 days of your first flight missed, first reserve day missed, if on reserve, first day missed if on special assignment or first day missed if on Union duties regardless of whether you have also filed a Worker’s Compensation claim. Failure to file a Weekly Indemnity claim will jeopardize your entitlement to these benefits in the event that your Workers’ Compensation claim is refused or terminated.

– 30 days of the termination of your disability benefits under the Employment Insurance Act of Canada (SICK INSURANCE) in order to reinstate your claim under this Wage Indemnity Plan

– 30 days of the recurrence of a disability.

*Definition recurrent disability
If you return to active work on a full-time basis following a period of total disability for which benefits were payable and, within 31 days, again become totally disabled due to the same causes, you will be considered to have been continuously disabled for the purposes of the elimination period. If the subsequent disability is due to entirely different causes and separated by less than one full day during which you are actively at work, you will be considered to have been continuously disabled for the purposes of the elimination period.

If you submit proof of disability after 30 days, it will not be processed unless you can show sufficient reasons in writing for not applying earlier.

LEAVES OF ABSENCE 16 or more days
You will not be eligible for benefit consideration for a total disability commencing during a leave of absence, layoff or suspension unless you have elected to keep your coverage in force during the leave of absence, layoff or suspension. No prepayment of premiums is required when you are absent from work due to vacation or a personal leave of absence of 15 calendar days or less.

If you are on vacation and become disabled, the 7-day elimination period commences following the date first not available for work at the completion of your vacation.

If your leave of absence of 16 or more calendar days precedes your vacation and you have not prepaid the premium for that leave of absence in accordance with the Continuation of Coverage During Absence From Work section, coverage will not be reinstated until you return to active work. No prepayment of premiums is required when you are absent from work due to vacation.

To ensure continued coverage for up to 24 months (6 months during a lay-off), you must make the first required premium payment within 30 days from the commencement of the leave of absence. The date payment is received by MANION will determine your on time payment.

Example:
1. LOA  commences on the 1st of Oct for the OCT block month, you must make arrangement to prepay by Oct 30th to ensure that you have coverage should you book off after the end of leave Nov 1st.

2. LOA day of flight on the 1st of Oct  then another LOA day of flight on the 9th no flying in between and vacation commences  Oct 19th thru to Oct 31st. You must make arrangement to  prepaid for the LOA by Oct 30th to be eligible to apply for WIP after the vacation period Nov 1st.

REDUCED BLOCK TOP UP
For members who are participating in the Reduced Block Program who wish to Top-Up their earnings in the event that they are unable to return to full duties at the end of the RBP due to an unforeseen disability, please contact Manion Contact Center for applicable rates at 1-866-532-8999. This must be done within 30 days of the commencement of the RBP.

Members participating in the Reduced Block Program have the option to top-up their Wage Indemnity Plan (WIP) insurable earnings at a flat rate of 35 hours per month in the event that you become disabled during the RBP. This will ensure that the month following the conclusion of your RBP, if you continue to be disabled, your top-up would then take effect and your earnings would be calculated using the following example:

Book off – Jan 2024 – earnings based on October 2023 / November 2023 /  December 2023 flying pay.
Oct flying hours – 38
Nov flying hours – 36
Dec flying hours – 34

For the 3 months, October, November and December, your 3 month average flying hours would be equal to 36 hours. You would be paid 36 hours through to the termination of your RBP in 2024, inclusive as long as you continue to meet the definition of totally disabled from your own occupation as a Flight Attendant. If you remain disabled and continue to qualify for benefits beyond the termination of the RBP, and if you opted to top-up, based on the calculation below, your disability payments would go from 36 hours to 71 hours per month.

The top-up for the RBP is 35 hours, and is based on your hourly rate x 3.80% plus the Employer’s cost of 1.07% as well as applicable taxes.

If you have inquiries do not hesitate to reach out.

On Behalf of The Board of Trust,

Patricia Eberley
Administrative Consultant

NOTE:  All Policy Booklet information can be accessed on the Air Canada Component of CUPE web site www.accomponent.ca.

Manion, Wilkins & Associates
Plan Administration
626-21 Four Seasons Place
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9B 0A6

Switchboard: 416-234-5044
Toll Free Line:  1-800-663-7849
Fax: 416-234-0127
Contact Centre: 1-866-532-8999

It has come to our attention that there was a technical issue with the application package that was attached to yesterday’s bulletin.

Please find attached HERE an updated English application package.

Please find attached ICI an updated French application package.

On Behalf of The Board of Trust,

Patricia Eberley
Administrative Consultant

NOTE:  All Policy Booklet information can be accessed on the Air Canada Component of CUPE web site www.accomponent.ca.

Manion, Wilkins & Associates
Plan Administration
626-21 Four Seasons Place
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9B 0A6

Switchboard: 416-234-5044
Toll Free Line:  1-800-663-7849
Fax: 416-234-0127
Contact Centre: 1-866-532-8999

The Wage indemnity Plan (WIP) Board of Trust would like to advise you of some changes made to the application for the Wage Indemnity Plan. There is a new application package available. We believe the new documents will assist Medical Professionals to clearly provide the information necessary for your application to the Wage Indemnity Plan.

Additionally, we have expanded the medical signatories eligible for your application.

Effective immediately Members may have their Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) signed by a, Physician/MD, *Nurse Practitioner,*Psychiatrist or an *Ophthalmologist.

*Claim applications for 14 days or less may now be signed by a *Midwife and *Dentist.

If the illness or injury lasts longer than 14 days the Member must see a Physician/MD, Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist or Ophthalmologist to further substantiate the illness.

Members that utilized the AC’s Maple App and have had a telemedicine Dr. appt  for absences greater than 7 days and not exceeding 14 days, should request and consent that the note provide;

• The reason for your absence/condition preventing you from being at work
• Treatment during that time off
• Return to work date
• Any supporting documents/reports

If this will not be provided, it can be found in your clinical notes and clinical interactions on the Maple App.

For the application to WIP you may send copies of; the note, in addition to the clinical information found on the app,  form 1 the Members application, banking information and  disclosure (optional).

* If the time off exceeds 14 days the member must have a Physician/MD, Nurse practitioner, Psychiatrist or Ophthalmologist fill the medical or psychological,  APS attending physicians statements.

The new forms and completed package for application are available by clicking HERE for English or HERE for French.

The summary of the approved 2022 Wage Indemnity Plan financials, are now available for review by clicking HERE. The increase in the Member contribution to 4.3% that took place in April 2022 and the steady increase in population have achieved the goal of stabilizing the Plan.

After monitoring the Plan quarterly, the Board of Trust approved a decrease to the Member contribution rate, to 3.8% which was effective in the May 2023, block month. The plan is now, 1 week elimination, followed by 15 weeks of STD 1 (Short Term Disability), 26 weeks of EI SICKNESS INSURANCE CARVE OUT, then 35 weeks STD 2. If a Member, denied EI Sickness Insurance benefits due to insufficient eligible hours, notifies Manion and provides the EI denial letter, the Member will then be considered for continued coverage under the new clause.

EI Ineligibility Due to Insufficient Hours
If you are Totally Disabled but do not satisfy the EI eligibility requirements due to hours, you may be eligible for disability benefits from this Plan for a maximum of twenty-six (26) weeks at 55% of your pre-disability weekly earnings, subject to the maximum payable by EI, provided you submit proof that you are not eligible due to insufficient insurable hours. You must submit your EI denial letter with your claim for WIP benefits to Manion.

During the first 18 months of Short-Term Disability coverage, STD payments may be made if an individual is unable to perform duties of a Flight Attendant due to medically determinable mental or physical impairment. To be eligible for Long Term Disability payments after 18 month of disability an individual must satisfy the change of definition and be incapable of engaging in any gainful occupation for which they are reasonably fitted by education, training or experience.

Reminders:
1) For the WIP application, a medical appointment must be within 14 days of the first flight missed, or shift if on special assignment or Union Officer duties, or first reserve day missed if on reserve.

2) It is your responsibility to submit proof of disability within:

(a) 30 days of your first flight missed, first day missed on special assignment or Union duties, or first
reserve day missed, if on reserve;

(b) 30 days of the termination of your disability benefits under the Employment Insurance Act of Canada in order to reinstate your claim under this Wage Indemnity Plan; and

(c) 30 days of the recurrence of a disability.

LATE CLAIMS WILL BE PROCESSED WHEN YOU CAN SHOW SUFFICIENT REASON IN WRITING FOR NOT APPLYING EARLIER.

3) Prepayment of premiums is not required for an absence from the payroll of 15 calendar days or less. Prepayment of premiums is required for an absence from the payroll of 16 or more calendar days for one of the following reasons. You must prepay the required premium in full within 30 days in order to be eligible for benefit consideration following the end of any of these periods:

Leaves of absence granted LOA(such as personal, educational, maternity, child care, bereavement, or jury duty) other than inability to meet medical standards (IMMS): your coverage may be continued for a maximum duration of up to 24 months.

*NOTE This includes requests for leaves from pairings = LOA’s and if you have 2 requests in a month with no flight or reserve days in between it can create a 16-day personal leave of absence.

Suspension: your coverage may be continued for the duration of your suspension. If you have elected to keep your coverage in force and should you become totally disabled during a suspension, the elimination period will commence on the date you are scheduled to return to work.

If your leave of absence of 16 or more calendar days precedes your vacation and you have not prepaid the premium for that leave of absence, coverage will not be reinstated until you return to active work.

No prepayment of premiums is required when you are absent from work due to vacation or a personal leave of absence of 15 calendar days or less.

On Behalf of The Board of Trust,

Patricia Eberley
Administrative Consultant

NOTE:  All Policy Booklet information can be accessed on the Air Canada Component of CUPE web site www.accomponent.ca.

Manion, Wilkins & Associates
Plan Administration
626-21 Four Seasons Place
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9B 0A6

Switchboard: 416-234-5044
Toll Free Line:  1-800-663-7849
Fax: 416-234-0127
Contact Centre: 1-866-532-8999

Effective May 1st, there will be changes to the Wage indemnity Plan.

The CUPE AC Wage Indemnity Plan Board of Trustees, wishes to inform the members that their Contribution of 4.3% will be reduced by .5% effective for the May block month (May 1, 2023).  A 3.8% contribution calculation will be used on the May 2023 payroll, remitted to Manion for June of 2023. Members will see the deduction on their June 17, 2023, pay summary.

The Board will be incorporating, effective May 1, 2023, an extension of an additional 11 weeks to the EI sick insurance carve out, for a total of 26 weeks. This means, the plan will be 15 weeks of STD 1, then 26 weeks EI sick insurance carve out, and then 35 weeks of STD 2. The Board will also be instituting the below clause that may cover members who are ineligible for EI disability due to insufficient insurable hours. This will take effect for any new WIP disability claims commencing May 1, 2023, or later.

Clause: EI Ineligibility due to Insufficient Insurable Hours
If you are Totally Disabled but do not satisfy the El eligibility requirements due to hours, you may be eligible for disability benefits from this Plan for a maximum of twenty-six (26) weeks at 55% of your pre-disability weekly earnings, subject to the maximum payable by EI, provided you submit proof that you are not eligible due to insufficient insurable hours. You must submit your EI denial letter with your claim for WIP benefits to Manion.

Please note: Overpayment of benefits
If a participant has received an overpayment of disability benefits, s/he is responsible for repayment of the overpaid amount within 6-months of the date s/he is notified of the overpayment, or within a longer period if so agreed to by SSQ. If the participant fails to do so, further disability benefits payable to the participant from the current and any future claim will be reduced until the overpayment is recovered. If there are no further benefits to withhold, SSQ has the right to recover overpayments by any other available legal means, including the use of a collection agency.

If your date of disability is prior to May 1st and you are presently on the plan at any stage you will follow the old plan policy of 15 weeks STD 1, then 15 weeks EI sick insurance carve out, and 46 weeks STD 2.

Manion will be operating with a new phone system. If you are inquiring into a new claim you will call the general line if you have been appointed a Disability Claims Manager you will be able to leave messages directly on your Disability Manager’s line.

Continuation of Coverage During Absence From Work
Prepayment of premiums is not required for an absence from the payroll of 15 calendar days or less. Prepayment of premiums is required for an absence from the payroll of 16 or more calendar days for one of the following reasons. You must prepay the required premium in full within 30 days in order to be eligible for benefit consideration following the end of any of these periods:

(1) Leave of absence granted (such as personal, educational, maternity, child care, bereavement, or jury duty) other than inability to meet medical standards (IMMS): your coverage may be continued for a maximum duration of up to 24 months.

If you have elected to keep your coverage in force and you become totally disabled during the 24-month period, the elimination period will commence on the date you are scheduled to return to work.

On Behalf of your AC CUPE Wage Indemnity Board of Trust,

Patricia Eberley
Administrative Consultant

Manion, Wilkins & Associates Ltd. (MANION)
Plan Administration
21 Four Seasons Place, Suite 500
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9B 0A6

For Claims Inquiries: 416-234-3513 Toll Free: 1-800-663-7849
For Prepayment of Premiums: 416-234-3511 Toll Free: 1-866-532-8999
EMAIL: acclaims@manionwilkins.com
FAX: 416-234-0127