Canada Pension Plan disability benefits: Do you qualify
Do you qualify
To qualify for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits, you must meet all 3 requirements:
Age
You must be between 18 and 65 years old.
If you recently turned 65
We encourage you to apply. You may still qualify for a retroactive payment.
If you already receive your CPP retirement pension
You may still qualify through CPP Post-Retirement Disability Benefits. When you apply for CPP disability benefits, we will automatically consider you for this benefit.
Disability
You must have a mental or physical disability that:
- stops you from working at any job on a regular basis, and
- is long-term and is not expected to get better or is likely to cause death
CPP contributions
If you contributed to the CPP, we strongly encourage you to apply.
We will look at the contributions you made in the 6 years before your disability stopped you from working. You have enough contributions if:
- you contributed in 4 out of those 6 years, or
- you contributed in 3 out of those 6 years, and you made contributions for 25 years more in total
If you don’t meet either requirement, you may still qualify if:
What is a CPP contribution
Each year that you work, you contribute towards the CPP.
If you earn wages from a job, your employer automatically deducts money from each of your paycheques.
If you are self-employed, you contribute when you file your income taxes.
How to check your contributions
The easiest way to view your Statement of Contributions is online, through your My Service Canada Account (MSCA). If you cannot view your Statement of Contributions online, you can request a copy by mail or by phone.
If you don’t have enough CPP contributions
You may still qualify if:
- you worked outside of Canada. If you lived and worked in Canada and in another country, the credits you earned in that country may help you qualify for disability benefits
- you have children. The child-rearing provision could help if you worked less to care for young children
- you're divorced or separated. Any contributions you and your spouse or common-law partner made to the CPP while you lived together may be equally divided after a divorce or a separation
In your application, we will ask about each of these topics. This information can help you qualify or increase the amount you receive each month.
If you didn’t apply when you first became disabled
You may still qualify if you had enough CPP contributions when your disability began. When you apply, we will look at your past CPP contributions to see if you qualify using the late applicant provision.
If you live in Quebec
Apply for the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) instead of CPP disability benefits if:
- you currently live in Quebec and have worked there
- you only worked in Quebec (no other province or territory)
- you live outside of Canada, but the last place you lived in Canada was Quebec
If you contributed to both CPP and QPP, apply to the plan for the province where you live now. Your contributions to one plan will count toward the other when calculating your disability benefits.
Your children could also receive a benefit
If you qualify for the CPP disability benefit, your dependent children could also receive a monthly payment if they are:
- under age 18, or
- between ages 18 to 25 and attending a recognized school or university (part-time or full-time)
To qualify for the CPP children’s benefit, include your children’s information in your application.
For more information
This is a basic summary of what you need to qualify. For a complete explanation, visit the CPP disability benefit toolkit.
Contact us
For all general questions about CPP disability benefits or specific questions about your application, contact us.