CPP Disability Benefits

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides disability benefits to people who have made enough contributions to the CPP and who are disabled and cannot work at any job on a regular basis. Benefits may also be available to their dependent children. The CPP disability benefit is a taxable monthly payment available to people who have contributed to the CPP and who are not able to work regularly because of a disability.

To qualify for CPP disability benefits, a disability must be both "severe" and "prolonged", and it must prevent the person from being able to work at any job on a regular basis. "Severe" means that the person has a mental or physical disability that regularly stops the person from doing any type of substantially gainful work. "Prolonged" means that the disability is long-term and of indefinite duration or is likely to result in death. Both criteria must be met simultaneously at the time of application. There is no common definition of "disability" in Canada — so even if a person qualifies under other programs or from private insurers, they may not necessarily qualify for a CPP disability benefit.

At Wolfe Lawyers we frequently assist clients with the submission of CPP disability benefit applications. We also act for clients who have had their applications denied.