Restorative Care Plan (RCP) is a form of short-term disability. Ministry personnel in pastoral charges, lay employees in pastoral charges, and staff in the General Council or Regional Council offices who are actively working and are members of the United Church group benefits plan are eligible for this benefit.
If your absence from work due to illness or injury is certified by medical record and approved by the adjudicator (initially and ongoing), you are entitled to receive full salary paid by your pastoral charge or employer (plus housing allowance, if applicable, or use of the manse, if applicable) for a six-month period. This is considered to be taxable income.
Your pastoral charge or employer is reimbursed 85% of your salary (plus housing allowance, if applicable) through this program.
Be sure to watch this helpful video which outlines the Restorative Care Plan.
To learn about support for leaves longer than two weeks due to an illness or injury, please consult the Restorative Care Plan Roadmap in the document library.
If your absence continues beyond the six months covered by the restorative care plan, your claims adjudicator and the UCC Benefits Centre’s disability team (Disability@united-church.ca) at the General Council Office will assist you in applying for long-term disability benefits.
Long Term Disability (LTD) is an insured benefit with Canada Life. It provides financial assistance when a covered plan member is still unable to work after six months of Restorative Care Plan (RCP). For the first 24 months of LTD benefit, covered plan members must be considered by the adjudicator unable to work in their own occupation. After this 24-month period, LTD benefit will continue only if you are considered by the adjudicator as being unable to perform any occupation for which you may be trained or qualified.
The LTD benefit is 60% of your monthly pre-disability pensionable earnings, to a maximum of $5,000 per month. Payments are made by the adjudicator directly to the insured member upon Canada Life’s approval. LTD payments are tax-free because you pay the full premium for this coverage, so do not report the amount you receive on your tax return.
If you qualify for and receive LTD income payments from the plan, the coverage you have under the group benefits plans and the pension plan as of the last day worked continues until you are no longer disabled, or reach the age of 65, at no cost to you. After age 65, coverage is reduced as it would be if you were not disabled.
Active members under the age of 65 are covered for Life Insurance, each at a rate equal to 150% of the member’s annual pensionable earnings*.
Between ages:
Each eligible dependent is covered for $5,000 of life insurance before your retirement, or before you reach age 75 (whichever is earlier).
At the age of 75, these benefits end and members become covered for the Retired Life Insurance (RTL) benefit of $3,000. Within 60 days of coverage reduction, the difference between salary and RTL can be converted to an individual policy with Canada Life, without evidence of insurability. To utilize the conversion privilege, you must contact a licensed broker and submit an application form within 31 days of the benefit reduction date. Contact the Benefits Centre for more information.
If you wish to improve your benefits coverage, you may choose and pay for additional coverage. Premiums for optional life coverage will depend on the amount of additional life insurance selected, your age, and whether or not you are a smoker. Premiums are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Contact the United Church Benefits Centre for current rates.
The following types of optional coverage are available:
Optional life insurance coverage ends at age 65.
*The 45th General Council passed a proposal to enhance the employer indemnity (EI) benefit which provides salary continuance to the family of eligible ministry personnel who die while actively serving at a community of faith. Effective January 1, 2026, the improved benefit increases core life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) by up to 50% of pensionable earnings (equivalent to six months' earnings) to a maximum of 150% as described above. This benefit improvement is for all covered eligible members.
Active members under the age of 65 are covered for AD&D, each at a rate equal to 150% of the member’s annual pensionable earnings*.
Between ages 65 to 70, the rate decrease to 50% of the member's annual pensionable earnings, and coverage stops when they turn 71.
Optional AD&D coverage ends at age 65.
If you wish to improve your benefits coverage, you may choose and pay for additional coverage. Premiums for optional accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), single and family, will depend on the amount of additional insurance selected. Please note, premiums are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Contact the United Church Benefits Centre for current rates.
A list of scheduled AD&D benefits can be found in the Benefits for Active Members: Summary of Coverage in the Document Library, and a list of exclusions is available on request from the Benefits Centre at Disability@united-church.ca.
*The 45th General Council passed a proposal to enhance the employer indemnity (EI) benefit which provides salary continuance to the family of eligible ministry personnel who die while actively serving at a community of faith. Effective January 1, 2026, the improved benefit increases core life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) by up to 50% of pensionable earnings (equivalent to six months' earnings) to a maximum of 150% as described above. This benefit improvement ensures greater financial security and peace of mind for all eligible members, offering enhanced protection and support for them and their families when it is needed most.
Your beneficiary or executor can obtain a life insurance claim form by contacting the United Church Benefits Centre. Claim cheques will be sent directly to the beneficiary/estate. A claim must be made within six months of date of death.
For claims related to Restorative Care Plan, or Long-Term Disability, please contact the UCC Benefits Centre’s Disability team at Disability@united-church.ca or by calling 1-855-647-8222 ext. 8010.
For claims related to AD&D, please contact the United Church Benefits Centre.
Is there a change in your life that could change your group insurance needs or choices? Consult the documents below to guide you in this matter, or contact the United Church Benefits Centre.
For inquiries about the status of a disability or AD&D claim, please contact the United Church Benefits Centre. Please ensure you have your employee number ready when calling.
The United Church Benefits Centre
Toll-Free Phone: 1-855-647-8222 ext. 8010
E-mail: disability@united-church.ca
Please forward written inquiries and completed forms to:
The United Church of Canada
The Benefits Centre - Disability Team
3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4
For payrolls administered by ADP, confirm insurance information is correct. Check payroll reports to confirm deducted amounts are correct. Report updates and corrections to ADP through the treasurer or payroll administrator’s monthly call. See ADP Payroll Support for further information.
Here is where you can find all the information relating to the Group Benefit Changes:
The 45th General Council passed a proposal to enhance the employer indemnity (EI) benefit which provides salary continuance to the family of eligible ministry personnel who die while actively serving at a community of faith. Effective January 1, 2026, the new benefit will be in the form of an increase in the core life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) to 150% of pensionable earnings.
GC45 WF06: PM05 Salary Continuance for General Council Office Staff and PM06 Denominational Pay Equity for Summer 2025: The decision of General Council 45 in response to the PM05 proposal.
GC45 PM05 Salary Continuance for General Council Office Staff for Summer 2025: This proposal engages in equity of employees of the General Council Office to ensure they receive the same remuneration and benefits (Employer Indemnity) as those in Communities of Faith in the event of unexpected death.
Benefits for Active Members: Summary of Coverage: Describes the main features of group benefits plan for active members.
Benefits for Pensioners: Summary of Coverage: Describes the main features of group benefits plan for pensioners.
