gryphonv
Full Member
- Reaction score
- 24
- Points
- 230
My SISIP Manulife was just terminated after 24 months. Suffice to say I am in full panic mode right now.
Some backround:
I was released for a physical medical condition, but my mental health has deteriorated tremendously over that time.
I started my SISIP LTD two years ago, went to school the first year and ended up medically withdrawing after a couple months due to a massive panic attack/emotional break down. This was recommended by one of my SISIP Manulife contacts at the time. Everything seemed to be supported. I took some time to make new plans, ended up moving to be close with family, and changing my plans for being retrained.
Fast forward to the next year, I started a new program at University which was supported by SISIP, again, after a couple months I found myself in the same situation. Anxiety/Depression with panic attacks caused me to medical withdraw from my program, all supported by SISIP.
Around this time I felt support from my Family Doctor wasn't enough and requested a referral to Psychiatry through the province. This is a long process, after a phone interview in mid January, was told it could take 7+ months before I get an appointed scheduled. Up to today this hasn't happened yet.
Roughly May I had my 18 month review filled out by my Doctor. In it she filled in that she felt I wasn't able to work or continue with training at this time due to my ongoing condition, even though I have a desire to. And ended up sending this off to my case manager.
In april I found out about the mental health program through VAC that is available through telehealth with a clinic in NB (Horizons). I ended up having my first appointment in June with a nurse, with a 2nd one scheduled for August with a psychiatrist.
I informed Manulife of all of this, and they requested documentation and an assessment from Horizons, the assessment cannot be done until after my psychiatrist appointment, and may take some time after that to be complete, so realistically September/October time frame.
So to sum it up, Manulife was requesting documentation that will not be complete until after the 24 month review.
Today I opened a letter saying:
'From the evidence in my file to date, we must conclude that, although you may be suffering a degree of disability from your present condition, you do not qualify as 'totally disabled' under terms of the SISP Plan'
Suffice to say, having this bombshell hit me while dealing with my own Mental Health issues and waiting for support is hard to deal with. My current plan is to try to get ahold of VAC ASAP to explore my options, but I also don't want to let SISIP off the hook that easy and want to fight it.
I currently don't have a VAC case manager, and haven't for the majority of the time Since I moved provinces (lots of excuses from VAC), which only compounded this situation. My mental health condition has been acknowledged and the initial disability award (I hate that term) has been given (it is almost up for review).
Some backround:
I was released for a physical medical condition, but my mental health has deteriorated tremendously over that time.
I started my SISIP LTD two years ago, went to school the first year and ended up medically withdrawing after a couple months due to a massive panic attack/emotional break down. This was recommended by one of my SISIP Manulife contacts at the time. Everything seemed to be supported. I took some time to make new plans, ended up moving to be close with family, and changing my plans for being retrained.
Fast forward to the next year, I started a new program at University which was supported by SISIP, again, after a couple months I found myself in the same situation. Anxiety/Depression with panic attacks caused me to medical withdraw from my program, all supported by SISIP.
Around this time I felt support from my Family Doctor wasn't enough and requested a referral to Psychiatry through the province. This is a long process, after a phone interview in mid January, was told it could take 7+ months before I get an appointed scheduled. Up to today this hasn't happened yet.
Roughly May I had my 18 month review filled out by my Doctor. In it she filled in that she felt I wasn't able to work or continue with training at this time due to my ongoing condition, even though I have a desire to. And ended up sending this off to my case manager.
In april I found out about the mental health program through VAC that is available through telehealth with a clinic in NB (Horizons). I ended up having my first appointment in June with a nurse, with a 2nd one scheduled for August with a psychiatrist.
I informed Manulife of all of this, and they requested documentation and an assessment from Horizons, the assessment cannot be done until after my psychiatrist appointment, and may take some time after that to be complete, so realistically September/October time frame.
So to sum it up, Manulife was requesting documentation that will not be complete until after the 24 month review.
Today I opened a letter saying:
'From the evidence in my file to date, we must conclude that, although you may be suffering a degree of disability from your present condition, you do not qualify as 'totally disabled' under terms of the SISP Plan'
Suffice to say, having this bombshell hit me while dealing with my own Mental Health issues and waiting for support is hard to deal with. My current plan is to try to get ahold of VAC ASAP to explore my options, but I also don't want to let SISIP off the hook that easy and want to fight it.
I currently don't have a VAC case manager, and haven't for the majority of the time Since I moved provinces (lots of excuses from VAC), which only compounded this situation. My mental health condition has been acknowledged and the initial disability award (I hate that term) has been given (it is almost up for review).
