E. SUCCESSIVE DISABILITIES

Successive periods of disability will be considered as one period of disability if they arise from:

1. the same or related causes and are separated by less than 3 months of continuous active employment with a Contributing Employer; or


2. different and unrelated causes and are not separated by return to active employment with a Contributing Employer, provided that the successive periods of disability commence while you are working in Covered Employment or while you are receiving income benefits from the Plan.

In the event eligibility for benefits is established pursuant to the Limited Benefits Rule in subsection C, benefits may be paid only for the number of months of limited eligibility regardless of whether successive disabilities are considered one period or separate periods of disability.

Only one Waiting Period (see F.5) will be required with respect to successive periods of disability, which are considered as one period of disability.