CPP disability is an income replacement benefit program run by Service Canada. It pays monthly benefits to eligible people. To qualify, you must meet age, contribution, and disability requirements. I wrote this guide to explain how CPP disability works. With this, you can figure out if you qualify for benefits, and learn what your next steps should be.
Table of contents
- What is CPP Disability?
- The CPP Disability Benefit
- The CPP Disability Children’s Benefit
- How to Know If You Are Eligible For CPP Disability Benefits
- How Much Are CPP Disability Payments for 2021
- What Medical Conditions Qualify for CPP Disability?
- CPP Disability and Working
- The CPP Disability Application
- CPP Disability Appeal
- After Approval
- Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- CPP Disability Lawyers & Representatives
- CPP Disability Resources
- Free Book Offer
What is CPP Disability?
CPP disability is an income replacement benefit program. It is administered by Service Canada and pays disability benefits to eligible people. To qualify, you must meet age, contribution, and disability requirements. You apply by sending an application to Service Canada. Then, they review your claim and approve or deny it. If approved, you get a monthly payment. These payments can go to age 65.
The CPP Disability Benefit
The CPP disability benefit is a monthly payment from Service Canada. There are two types of payments. First, there’s the regular CPP Disability benefit. This is the most common. Your payment will be $510.85 to $1,413.66 per month. The amount depends on how much you paid into the Canada Pension Plan. Additionally, your payment goes up each year at the rate of inflation.
The second is the post-retirement benefit. However, this benefit is only for those aged 60 and over who already receive the CPP retirement benefit.
| Benefit Name | Age | Requirements | Payment Ranges (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPP Disability Benefit | Under age 65 | Not getting the CPP Retirement Pension | $510.85 to $1,413.66 |
| CPP Disability Post Retirement Benefit | Age 60 to 65 | Already getting the CPP retirement pension. Or, became disabled after starting the CPP retirement pension | $510.85 (fixed amount) |
The CPP Disability Children’s Benefit
The CPP disability children’s benefit is a monthly payment. In other words, Service Canada pays it to the children of people approved for CPP disability. However, eligibility is still based on the parent’s disability. If approved, each child gets $257.58 per month. This benefit is paid to the child’s primary caregiver. If they are between 18 and 25 and enrolled in school, then the child may receive the payment.
How to Know If You Are Eligible For CPP Disability Benefits
Not everyone is eligible for benefits, however. So, we review the requirements for each benefit below. We include criteria for the regular CPP disability benefits. We also share eligibility for the post-retirement benefit and the children’s benefit.
There are four main requirements: Age; contributions; severe disability; and prolonged disability.
Age
The age requirement is very simple. So, for regular CPP disability, you must be under age 65. For the post-retirement benefit, you must be age 60 to 65. Finally, for the children’s benefit, the child must be under age 18, or between 18 and 25 and enrolled in school.
Contributions
On the other hand, the contribution requirement is more difficult to understand. It’s not enough to have paid into the Canada Pension Plan. Your disability onset date must happen when you had recent payments into the CPP. You must have paid in 4 of the last 6 years. Alternatively, if you have 25 years or more of contributions, you must have paid for 3 of the last 5 years. This is called the minimum qualifying period.
Severe Disability
Severe disability has a very specific meaning. That is to say, you have a mental or physical disability that stops you from doing substantially gainful work. In other words, the focus is on your ability to work. So, your personal characteristics like age, education, and work experience, are not taken into account. The ultimate question is whether you are employable. That is, in the “real world,” not just on paper.
Prolonged Disability
Prolonged disability also has a specific definition. It means that your disability must be long and of indefinite duration, or be likely to result in death. So, a severe disability (that isn’t prolonged) will not qualify.
Additional Requirement for the Post-Retirement Benefit
As the name suggests, this is only for people receiving the retirement benefit. And, you can only get it if you have been getting retirement payments for more than 15 months. If you are less than 15 months, then you can ‘convert the CPP retirement pension to the CPP disability benefit’. You should always do this if you can, rather than get the post-retirement benefit. This is because getting the regular disability benefit will raise your retirement payment at age 65.
Additional Requirement for the Children’s Benefit
The children’s benefit is based on the parent’s disability. When a parent is approved for CPP disability, their children may also get benefits. The child must be under age 18, or between 18-25 and enrolled in school.
How Much Are CPP Disability Payments for 2021
Service Canada uses ‘the CPP disability benefit formula’ to calculate your payment. So, your payment is a flat amount — $510.85. You also receive an amount based on how much you contributed. Service Canada estimates what your total benefit would be. You can see it in your My Service Canada Account (MSCA).
| Benefit | Average Monthly Payment (2021) | Maximum Monthly Payment (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Regular CPP disability benefit | $1,031.55 | $1,413.66 |
| CPP disability post retirement benefit | $510.85 | $510.85 |
| CPP disability children’s benefit | $257.58 (per child) | $257.58 (per child) |
The Retroactive CPP Disability Payment
You may wonder if the CPP disability benefits are retroactive. In other words, will Service Canada pay you for the past months? The answer is yes. But, there are limits. For instance, your back pay is a maximum of 12 months before your application date. It also includes the months from your application date to your approval date.
Read more: ‘Top 7 Questions About CPP Disability Retroactive Payments’.
Payment dates for 2021
Service Canada pays benefits once per month. Following are the payment dates for 2021:
- March 29, 2021
- April 28, 2021
- May 27, 2021
- June 28, 2021
- July 28, 2021
- August 27, 2021
- September 28, 2021
- October 27, 2021
- November 26, 2021
- December 22, 2021
Do you want a deep dive into CPP disability payments? Check out our interview with ‘CPP pension expert’, Doug Runchey.
What Medical Conditions Qualify for CPP Disability?
Certainly, any medical condition can qualify for CPP disability. Service Canada focuses on the seriousness of your disability rather than the seriousness of your diagnosis. Sometimes you can have a serious diagnosis. But, you might not suffer serious disability. For example, people with Multiple Sclerosis can continue to work. It’s important to know that Service Canada focuses on the disability you have right now.
However, your diagnosis is still important. Service Canada uses the Medical Adjudication Framework to decide your case. This Framework says your medical condition is a primary indicator of disability.
When assessing your disability, Service Canada must look at the following factors:
- The nature of your condition
- Functional limitations imposed by the condition
- Impact of treatment
- Medical opinions
- Interaction with other conditions, and
- Personal characteristics
CPP Disability and Working
CPP disability is only for people who can’t do gainful work. Specifically, Service Canada defines “gainful work” as the ability to earn $16,963.92 per year. This is written in the regulations.
So, you can do some work and get benefits. Service Canada allows you to earn up to $5,900 per year. You don’t even have to report it to them. However, once you earn $5,900 or more, you must report it.
The more you earn over $5,900, the more likely they are to stop your benefit. But, Service Canada looks at this on a case-by-case basis. For example, we have seen people earn as much as $13,000 and still keep their benefits.
If want to return to work, Service Canada has a vocational rehabilitation program. Once approved for that program, you get to keep your full benefits while trying to return to work. Yes, even if you earn more than $16,936.62 per year. If you aren’t successful, then you keep your benefits.
The CPP Disability Application
You have to apply for CPP disability benefits. To do this, simply complete Service Canada’s application forms. Then, send them to Service Canada. They will call you for more information. They may also write to your doctor or employer to clarify things. Then, they make a decision on your application.
Application Forms
The application includes two forms:
- The Application Form (you fill out)
- The Medical Report Form (your doctor fills out)
Learn more: ‘CPP Disability Medical Report Walkthrough Video’
How to Apply for CPP Disability
Get your doctor’s support
First, speak with your doctor about applying for CPP disability. Make sure they support you. You can’t win CPP disability benefits without support from your doctor.
Prepare and submit your application
You fill out the application form. This can be the paper application form, or you can fill it out online. The online form is in your My Service Canada account. Take your time. We recommend doing a practice application first. After that, when you have all the answers prepared, fill out the final application. Finally, you mail the application to Service Canada or submit it online.
Get your doctor to complete the medical report
Get a paper copy of the medical report form to your doctor. It is best to book an appointment with your doctor only for doing the form. Them, bring the form with you to the appointment. Your doctor will complete the form and mail the original to Service Canada. They can also give a copy to you.
Cooperate with the medical adjudicator
Next, a Service Canada medical adjudicator will call you. This person is usually a registered nurse. Their job is to process your application. In other words, they have the power to approve or deny it. So, they will call with more questions. They may also ask for more information from your doctors or employer. You should always cooperate with them. Above all, help them get the information they need.
Wait for the decision
Finally, be patient and wait. It can take 4 to 7 months to get your decision. But, that usually has more to do with backlogs — not the quality of your application. You can check the status of your application with your MSCA.
Read more:
- ‘CPP Disability Application Guide for 2021’
- ‘7 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for CPP Disability’
- ‘How Long Should It Take to Do My CPP Disability Application?’
- ‘8 CPP Disability Application Tips’
CPP Disability Appeal
If you get denied, then an appeal is how you fight a denial. In fact, Service Canada actually denies around 60% of applications. But, you can still win approval on appeal. So, it is important to know how the appeal process works. Let’s look at it now.
There are three levels of appeal:
- Reconsideration Appeal
- Tribunal Hearing
- Tribunal Appeal
Reconsideration
The first level of appeal is reconsideration. You do this appeal with Service Canada. There is a 90-day deadline. You need to fill out a request form. Then, get the form to Service Canada before the deadline. You must also send new medical information to support your appeal.
Learn more:
- How to do a Reconsideration Appeal [Guide + Sample Letter]
- 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Doing Your Own Reconsideration Appeal
- ‘Are You Making This Mistake With Your CPP Disability Appeal?’
- ‘7 Common Reasons for CPP Disability Denial’
Social Security Tribunal (General Division)
If Service Canada denies the reconsideration appeal, then you can appeal again. This next appeal is with the Social Security Tribunal (General Division). Similarly, you have 90 days to request the appeal. You must use the Notice of Appeal form to request it in writing.
After that, you have up to one year to have a hearing. The hearing is where the judge makes a final decision on your claim. You attend the hearing to give verbal testimony. Also, you’ll answer any questions posed by the judge. So, this is your chance to tell your story.
The tribunal hearing is different from the reconsideration. The judge is independent of Service Canada. You also have the opportunity to give verbal testimony. Because you can tell your story, this appeal is your best chance to win.
Social Security Tribunal (Appeal Division)
If the hearing judge denies your claim, then you have one more appeal. This is with the Social Security Tribunal (Appeals Division). However, this appeal is not like the rest. You can’t submit new evidence, nor can you present your story again. Therefore, the rate of success at this appeal is very low.
Read more:
- ‘CPP Tribunal Hearing: 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Representing Yourself’
- What is the Social Security Tribunal?
- ‘CPP Disability Social Security Tribunal hearing: What to expect’
- What is a hearing file for the Social Security Tribunal?
- The best documents for your Social Security Tribunal hearing
- How to prepare for a Social Security Tribunal hearing
- Day of Social Security Tribunal hearing: How to prepare
Late Appeals
Sometimes people miss a deadline for appeal. Luckily, you can be granted an extension. But, you have to act quickly. Additionally, you must have a good reason for missing the deadline.
Learn more: ‘How to request an extension of time to appeal a CPP Denial’
After Approval
Being approved for CPP disability is great news. But, it can come with a new set of challenges. Following are some common problems you may face:
Getting payments started
Payments don’t start right away. Rather, it can take from one to five months. You can check the status online at My Service Canada. Give them two months. Then start calling to see what is going on. If you feel like they aren’t taking you seriously, then you can file a complaint.
Read More: ‘How to File a Complaint against Service Canada for CPP Disability’
Overpayments
CPP disability overpayments cause a lot of stress. Overpayments happen when you get paid CPP disability and another disability benefit in the same month. The most common is long-term disability benefits. When this happens, the insurance company can decrease what they pay you. If they already paid you in the past, then you have to pay them back.
Learn more: ‘CPP Retroactive Payment and Long-term Disability Overpayment’
Tax problems
CPP disability benefits are taxable as income. This can be a problem when you get a large retroactive payment. You have to pay tax on this payment, also, even if it is paid to your insurance company.
Read more: ‘Paying Taxes on CPP Disability: Your Top Questions Answered’
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
CPP Disability Lawyers & Representatives
The CPP disability is designed for people to apply on their own. Or with help from a friend or family member. However, sometimes it is hard to win on your own. Even if you are legitimately disabled. And should qualify. This can be very frustrating. In difficult cases, it is common for people to work with a representative. This can be a ‘CPP disability lawyer’. Or another person experienced with the process. Many representatives will work on a no-win, no-fee basis. Do your research before hiring any lawyer or advocate.
CPP Disability Resources
Offices by Province and Territory
Service Canada has designated offices for CPP disability. You must send all correspondence to your designated office.
| Province | Address |
|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Service Canada, PO Box 9430 Station A, St. John’s, NL A1A 2Y5 |
| Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island | Service Canada, PO Box 9430 Station A, St. John’s, NL A1A 2Y5 |
| New Brunswick and Quebec | Service Canada, PO Box 250, Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z6 |
| Ontario, | Service Canada, PO Box 2020 Station Main, Chatham, ON N7M 6B2 |
| Manitoba and Saskatchewan | Service Canada, PO Box 818 Station Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2N4 |
| Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut | Service Canada, PO Box 2710 Station Main, Edmonton, AB T5J 2G4 |
| British Columbia and Yukon | Service Canada, PO box 1177 Station CSC Victoria, BC V8W 2V2 |
The phone number for Service Canada is 1-800-277-9914. This is the same number for all provinces.
CPP Disability Forms
Following is a list of all CPP disability forms.
Service Canada
- ‘CPP Benefits Application’
- ‘Medical Report for CPP Disability Benefit’
- ‘Terminal Illness Application for CPP Disability Benefits’
- ‘Terminal Illness Medical Attestation for CPP Disability Benefit’
- Consent to Communicate Information to an Authorized Person
- How to Certify Copies of Documents
- Certificate of Incapability
- Request for Voluntary Federal Income Tax Deduction
Social Security Tribunal
- Notice of Appeal (General Division)
- Application to the Appeal Division for Leave to Appeal
- Appointment of a Representative and Authorization to Disclose
The CPP Disability Channel
To learn more check out ‘the CPP Disability Channel’ on Youtube. We produce this channel and post 1-2 new videos per week.
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