The Canadian 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.
What is meant by “disability”?
• To qualify for disability benefits under the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), a disability must be both “severe” and “prolonged,” and it must prevent you from being able to work at any job on a regular basis.
• Severe means that you have a mental or physical disability that regularly interrupts you from doing any type of substantially gainful work.
• Prolonged means that your disability is long-term and of indefinite duration, or is likely to result in death.
• It is important to note that both the “severe” and “prolonged” criteria must be met simultaneously at the time of the application. There is no common definition of “disability” in Canada. Even if you qualify for a disability benefit under other government programs or from private insurers, you may not necessarily qualify for CPP disability benefits.
• The medical adjudicators will determine based on your application and supporting documentation, whether your disability is both severe and prolonged.
• Often, CPP applications can be confusing and difficult to complete. A lawyer can help you understand the application and any letters you may receive in response from the government.
• Further, sometimes even after a CPP application has been filled out with the appropriate information, and your disability is both severe and prolonged, the government may wrongly deny you your CPP benefits. This where its important to contact a lawyer who can you help you obtain your benefits. Please do not hesitate to contact our firm if your CPP benefits have been denied or terminated. It is always important to understand your rights and know what you can do in these types of situations.
