Retiree | Former Employee | Future Employee

Home > Benefits & Retirement > Disability

Disability

If you’re unable to work due to an illness or injury that will last more than 10 days, BMO has you covered. Matrix Absence Management administers disability leave plans.

BMO’s Disability Leave benefits, including Short Term and Long Term Disability and Supplemental LTD, provide paid time off when you need to be away from work for an extended period due to an illness or injury.

Here’s a high-level overview of Disability Leave. For details, review the Disability Leave SPD.

Features
Short Term Disability (STD)
  • Replaces 70% to 100% of your base salary, or Benefits Base Rate (BBR) for certain commissioned employees, for 100 business days, depending on your years of service.
  • Generally, STD benefits become payable after 10 consecutive business days of non-work related disability.
  • The 10-day waiting period prior to STD benefits starting is unpaid unless you want to use available paid sick or vacation time.
Long Term Disability (LTD)
  • Replaces 60% of your pre-disability Total Compensation Benefits Base Rate (TCBBR), or applicable Benefits Base Rate for certain commissioned employees, as of the last business day before your disability began.
  • LTD benefits begin after 110 consecutive business day of non-work related disability.
Supplemental LTD
  • You can elect to purchase supplemental LTD coverage that will provide you with a total of 75% of your Total Compensation Benefits Base Rate (TCBBR), or applicable Benefits Base Rate (BBR) for certain commissioned employees, while you are disabled.
  • The maximum payment under the LTD plan is capped at $20,000 per month, which includes basic and supplemental coverage. This means if your TCBBR is $400,000 or more, you will not receive any benefit from electing the Supplemental LTD plan. If your TCBBR is between $320,000 – $399,999, you can still elect coverage, but you will not get the full 15% of supplemental coverage due to the $20,000 per month maximum.

Integration of Disability Pay and Paid State Benefits

BMO offsets your disability pay by the amount you receive from your state. Matrix will assume and apply the maximum state benefit to your offset. Be sure to  submit your state award letter to Matrix to ensure your STD and LTD benefits are offset accurately.
Benefits While on Disability Leave
  • Your benefits coverage will continue during your STD leave and premiums will continue to be deducted from your pay.
  • If your pay doesn’t cover your benefit deductions, your premiums will accumulate in arrears. When you return from leave, your regular deductions will resume and any arrears will be collected at a rate of one additional deduction per pay until your balance is zero.
  • You may be billed directly for missed premiums depending on the amount you owe and expected length of your leave.
  • If you transition to LTD, you may still be eligible to continue your benefits coverage. You will be billed directly for your premiums.
Applying for Disability Leave

To initiate a Disability Leave, notify your supervisor then contact Matrix Absence Management to file a claim:

You’ll receive an Absence Packet within 24 hours of requesting leave. For details, review How to File a Leave of Absence or Disability Claim.

Pre-existing conditions

Special rules apply to disabilities resulting from an illness or injury that began before your disability coverage takes effect.

If you experience a disability in the first six months of employment due to a pre-existing condition for which you received medical care within three months before your coverage effective date, you will not receive LTD benefits for that condition.

If you did not enroll in supplemental LTD coverage when you were first eligible and enrolled as a result of Annual Enrollment or a Qualifying Life Event, and have a disability in the first six months of coverage due to a pre-existing condition for which you received medical care within three months before your supplemental coverage effective date, supplemental LTD benefits will not be paid for that condition.

Related Links

Matrix Absence Management

Important Forms/Docs

Short-Term Disability/Family Medical Leave Checklist

How to File a Leave of Absence or Disability Claim

Employee Rights Under FMLA