The Income Replacement Plan (IRP) is an employee-funded long-term disability plan that provides monthly income in the event that you are unable to work owing to a medical condition. The IRP kicks in after six months of medical leave and is available even if you are able to return to work part-time.
The plan is administered by the University and Sun Life and governed by a joint committee comprised of members of the UBC FA Executive Committee and UBC Benefit’s team, with assistance from a benefits consultant.
Each year, in advance of the annual renewal, the plan’s assets and liabilities are evaluated by an external Benefits Consulting Firm, HUB International, who assists the Governance Committee in negotiating the best possible rate for our members. We are happy to report that once again, our colleagues at HUB were able to negotiate terms with Sun Life, resulting in an 14% decrease in the renewal rate for 2026.
Starting January 1, 2026, you will see a decrease in the IRP premium from 1.481% to 1.274%. This translates into an annual savings of $311 for faculty making $150,000 and $414 for those earning $200,000.
If you have questions about accessing the plan, medical leave or returning to the workplace, please reach out to the Faculty Association and one of our Labour Relations Officers will the happy to help.
More information about the Income Replacement Plan is available on the UBCFA website.
If you are interested in learning about the return to work and accommodations process, more information is at this link on our site.
