After you apply

You will get a decision letter from Service Canada to let you know that you have been approved to receive CPP disability benefits. Your decision letter will tell you the date and estimated amount of your first payment. It will also give information about any retroactive lump sum payment.

What you will get from CPP-Disability

The basic payment amount from CPP disability benefits is $558.74 monthly as of 2023. This is the flat rate that everyone who is eligible for CPP-Disability receives. Depending on how much you contributed into the Canada Pension Plan when you worked, you will receive an additional top up to the base rate. As of 2022, the average monthly amount people receive is $1,078.07. The maximum monthly payment amount is $1,538.67 in 2023. For more information, see Canada Pension disability benefits: How much you could receive on the government’s website.

You will receive your first payment about 4 to 6 weeks after your application is approved. Your first payment will consist of a retroactive lump-sum and a monthly benefit payment cheque.

Additional help you may get

CPP-Disability child benefit

For people who are receiving CPP disability benefits, the plan also provides a benefit for each child under the age of 18. In 2023, the amount is $281.72. This benefit is for the child and is paid to the custodial parent. In cases of shared custody, Service Canada will consider paying the child benefit to the person collecting CPP disability benefits. See CPP Benefits for children for more information.

If the child of a CPP disability recipient is between the ages of 18 and 25 and enrolled in full- time school at an accredited institution, the child portion of the CPP disability benefit can continue. The payments go directly to the adult child.

Top-up from the B.C. government

You may find that your monthly CPP-Disability rate is less than the provincial disability assistance rate. If so, you may be eligible for a top-up from the provincial government. For example, in B.C., the maximum amount for a single person with the Persons with Disabilities designation was $1,358 a month in 2021. You can learn more about the Persons with Disabilities designation in the Disability Benefits Compass. Contact your local Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction office for more information about this.

Taxes on CPP disability payments

CPP disability payments are taxable income. This means you will have to pay tax on the payments you receive. If you like, you can ask for income tax to be automatically deducted from your payments. To do this, complete the Request for voluntary Federal Income Tax Deductions CPP/OAS (ISP-3520CPP) form.

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit that can reduce the amount of tax that you need to pay. See the Disability Benefits Compass for more information on how to apply.

Do you need help with preparing your tax return? Contact Tax AID DABC advocates for free help: On-line Appointment booking site on Jane App. You can also call 236 477 1717 or 1 877 940 7797 to book an appointment.

Disability income from other sources

You may be receiving disability income from other sources, such as a private insurer or a provincial or territorial program. The rules for getting income from these other sources may change your payments if you are approved for CPP-Disability. Contact your insurance company or social assistance program for details about your case.

How to maintain your benefits

Service Canada will review cases every so often to make sure only eligible people receive disability benefits. You must keep Service Canada informed if your life circumstances change. If Service Canada reviews your case, you will be asked to provide current information about your medical and life and circumstances. After your case is reviewed, you will get a letter to let you know if your disability benefits will continue.

Going to school: You must notify Service Canada if you complete a school, university, trade, technical training, or rehabilitation program.

Working and earning money: After being approved for CPP-Disability, you can earn up to a certain amount each year without affecting your disability benefits. For 2023, this amount is $6,600 (before taxes). You must contact Canada Pension Plan as soon as you make more than this amount. If you are late in contacting them, you may have to pay money back.

If your earnings are more than the allowed amount, it may trigger a review of your case. You might be asked if there have been changes to your medical condition and you will need to fill out and submit a questionnaire from your employer and your doctor.

Re-starting disability benefits for the same disability

You may try to return to work but find you are unable to keep working because of the same or a related disability. In this case, you can ask to have the benefit automatically restarted. You will not need to go through the usual application process if your benefits stopped less than 2 years ago because you returned to work.

When you turn 65

When you turn 65 the disability benefit will automatically be changed to a CPP retirement pension. Your retirement pension will be less than your disability benefit, but you can also apply for Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

When you die

Your estate must contact Service Canada to cancel your CPP benefits. The estate and survivors may be eligible to receive other CPP benefits such as the Death benefit and Survivor’s pension.

You will get a decision letter from Service Canada. It will explain why your application was denied.

Here are some reasons why your application might be denied:

Your disability may not be considered severe and prolonged

Your condition has to be serious enough to stop you from working at any gainful employment. It also has to be long-term.

You have not made enough contributions

You need to have worked and contributed to CPP for at least 4 out of the 6 years immediately before you became disabled. This is called the minimum qualifying period.

You may want to check your contributions. You can get a statement of your contributions by calling Service Canada. Ask to have the statement mailed to you. Or, if you have a My Service Canada account, you can view or print a copy of your statement of contributions.

Asking for a review of the decision

If you disagree with the decision, you can ask to have the decision reviewed. This is called a Request for Reconsideration. Your application will then be reviewed by a new person at Service Canada. If you want to request this review, act now. You only have 90 days (about 3 months) from the date you received the denial letter to let them know you want a reconsideration.

Read your denial letter carefully to find out why your application was denied. This will help you prepare your request for reconsideration.

Disability Alliance British Columbia has published a CPP-D Self-Help Guide | Appeals: The Reconsideration Request. It gives detailed information on the following steps for making the reconsideration request:

Step 1: Reach out to an advocate

If you need help on the steps to take next, reach out to an advocate as soon as you can.

To contact an advocate in British Columbia:

Disability Alliance BC for British Columbia: Call 604-872-1278 in the Lower Mainland | Toll Free: 1-800-663-1278. The Alliance also has CPP-D help sheets you can read. Or go to the PovNet website and click “Find an Advocate.”

To contact an advocate in other provinces and territories:

Call _Plan Institute toll-free Disability Planning Helpline at 1-844-311-7526 or email info@rdsp.com

To contact an advocate for indigenous people:

BCANDS for Indigenous CPP-Disabilities inquiries across Canada at Toll Free: 1-888-815-5511 (*Please leave message on the general mailbox)

B.C. Capital Region: bcands@bcands.bc.ca or 250-381-7303 (Please leave message on the general mailbox.)

Step 2: Tell Service Canada you want a review

Write back within 90 days of receiving your denial letter. Download the Request for Reconsideration of a Canada Pension Plan Disability Decision form (ISP-1145). You can also get the form by calling 1-800-277-9914 toll-free.

Step 3: Request your file

Once you have informed Service Canada that you would like a reconsideration, you need to ask for your file. Download the Info Source: Personal Information Request form. You can also get the form by calling 1-800-277-9914 toll-free. Fill out the form and return it to your nearest Service Canada office or mail it to: Privacy Coordinator, Service Canada, PO Box 1177, Victoria, BC V8W 2V2.

It will take about 5 to 6 weeks to receive your file.

Step 4: Review your file

Your file includes:

• Your application form
• Your doctor’s medical report
• The disability summary sheet, which tells you why your application was denied in the section called “Rationale”
• Other documents sent to Service Canada related to your application, such as letters from your doctor.

Step 5: Put your case together

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have enough CPP contributions to qualify?
• Do I have a medical condition that prevents me from working?

The answer to these questions needs to be “yes” for you to have a chance of success with your appeal.

Check to see if any of the following apply to you.:

• Splitting CPP credits if you are divorced or separated
• Child-rearing provisions if you took time off work or worked less to look after your young children
• Social security agreement if you have lived or worked in Canada and another country.

If any of these apply to you, complete and send the required forms.

Step 6: Get medical letters or reports

It is important to get good medical evidence to support your reconsideration request. You may have to ask your doctor to write a litter. Doctors will often charge a fee for this. Service Canada will not cover the cost if you are the one requesting the letter.

Talk to or write to your doctor. Clearly explain that you need them to write a letter addressing the specific points on which Service Canada based its denial. Show your doctor the denial letter. Disability Alliance BC’s CPP-D Self-Help Guide | Appeals: The Reconsideration Request has a sample request letter that you can use to help you draft your own letter.

Step 7: Get other supporting documents

Some examples of other supporting documents that may help your case are:

• letters from other health professionals involved in your treatment
• letters from past employers
• letters from vocational rehabilitation personnel
• documents related to other disability benefit programs you have applied for.

Step 8: Compile and send your information for reconsideration

Keep a copy of your request for reconsideration and all the supporting documents you have compiled for your records. Original signatures must be on the reconsideration application and supporting documents can be copies.

The three ways to send back for reconsideration are:

• electronically by signing into My Service Canada account, or
• by mail to the return address on the decision letter, or
• in person at a Service Canada office

If you mail your package, it is a good idea to send by registered mail. Make a note of when you mail the package.

Reconsiderations can take several months to complete, depending on the case. Service Canada will review your application and any new information you submit in support of your request and send you a (new) decision by mail.

What happens after you send in your request for reconsideration

You will have to wait a few months for a decision. You can send additional information during that time, especially if there is any change in your condition. Service Canada may also ask you to see a doctor of their choosing or may ask for updates.

Once the review is complete, Service Canada will send you a letter with its decision.

If your reconsideration request is successful, you can expect to get a retroactive lump sum payment that is backdated to the date of your original application.

If your reconsideration request is not successful, it is not the end. You have the right to appeal to the Social Security Tribunal.

Appealing to the Social Security Tribunal

A Tribunal hearing is a chance to present additional information and state your case for why you disagree with Service Canada’s decision. At your hearing, the Tribunal will review your case and determine if Service Canada’s decision was reasonable.

You have 90 days (about 3 months) to appeal after you receive the reconsideration decision. You will also need to send the tribunal documents to support your case.

You can seek the advice of an advocate or lawyer to find the best way to proceed. The Tribunal has more information on Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability appeals on its website.

Contact support

Employment and Social Development Canada - Canada Pension Plan

The Canada Pension Plan is administered by Service Canada on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada. For CPP disability program information, call:

Canada and the United States Toll-free: 1-800-277-9914
Canada and the United States TTY: 1-800-255-4786

Disability Alliance BC

Contact Disability Alliance BC for CPP-Disability advocacy and information. Local 604-872-1278

Toll Free 1-800-663-1278

The Legal Services Society of BC

The Legal Services Society of BC provides legal aid for people living in BC. It has a range of free services for people living on low incomes. These services include legal information, legal advice, and legal representation (a lawyer to take your case).