Canada Pension Plan disability benefits: After you apply

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

COVID-19

Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, there are changes to this program.

If you disagree with the decision

If you disagree with the decision, you may ask to have the decision reviewed. You must request this review in writing within 90 days of receiving your decision letter.

Your application will be reviewed by Service Canada staff who were not involved in making the original decision on your application.

More information on how to request a review of the decision

There are 3 ways you can make your request for reconsideration:

submit your request online using My Service Canada Account (MSCA), or
complete and submit the Request for Reconsideration of a Canada Pension Plan Disability Decision form (ISP-1145), or
prepare and submit a written request to review the decision and include:

your name
your address
your telephone number
your Social Insurance Number or Client Identification Number
a detailed explanation of why you do not agree with the decision
any new information that could affect the decision
your signature and the date

If you complete your request on paper

Sign and date your written request and submit it:

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

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.

If you disagree with the new decision

If you disagree with the new decision, you can contact the Social Security Tribunal to appeal.

Your first payment

Your decision letter will give you the date and amount of your first payment.

CPP disability payments are taxable income

Taxes are not automatically deducted each month. You can ask that federal income tax be deducted from your monthly payment by:

signing into your My Service Canada Account, or
completing the Request for voluntary Federal Income tax Deductions CPP/OAS (ISP-3520CPP) form and mailing it to us or dropping it off at a Service Canada office

If you do not ask for monthly tax deductions, you may have to pay your income tax each quarter.

While on CPP disability benefits

Reviewing your case

From time to time, cases are reviewed to ensure that only eligible people receive disability benefits.

If your case is being reviewed, you may be asked to provide current medical and other information. Because everyone's medical condition and capacity to work is unique, each case is looked at individually.

Once all the necessary information has been collected, a decision to continue or stop disability benefits is made. We will inform you of this decision in writing.

Going to school

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

Working and earning money

You can earn up to a certain amount per year without losing your disability benefits. For 2021, this amount is $6,100 (before taxes). You must contact Canada Pension Plan as soon as you make more than $6,100 (before taxes).

If you delay in contacting us when you start making over the allowed amount, you might have to pay some money back.

We may be able to help you return to work through the CPP Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Re-starting disability benefits for the same disability

If you return to work but are unable to continue working because of the same or a related disability, you can ask to have the benefit automatically restarted without going through the usual reapplication process.

Examples

Working part-time while on CPP disability

Joseph returned to work on a part time basis in March 2021. He earned $6,170 (before taxes) by June 2021. Joseph must call Service Canada to let them know he has earned $6,100.

Additionally, he needs to tell them:

the date he returned to work
the hours he worked per week/month
his hourly wages
if the job is full time, part time, seasonal or self employed

Service Canada staff will contact Joseph to see how he is doing.

Working while receiving CPP disability and making less than $6,100 a year

Jean works 2 hours a day 3 days a week at the information desk of the local library. She is paid $15.00 per hour. She likes to interact with people and to feel a part of the community. She earns $4,680 per year. It is all the work she can tolerate with her medical condition. She does not need to report this work activity to Service Canada.

Working while on CPP disability and making more than $6,100 a year

Robert would like to try to return to the workforce. He is no longer able to do his job as a roofer but his company has offered him light work as an estimator. He returned to work in March working 30 hours/week at $25.00 per hour. Robert needs to contact CPP once he reaches $6,100. Earning more than $6,100 may affect his benefits.

When your benefit could stop

The disability benefit is meant to replace some of your employment income for as long as your disability stops you from working at any job on a regular basis.

Your disability benefit will stop if you:

you are capable of working on a regular basis
you are no longer disabled
you turn 65
you die

When a disability benefit is cancelled, any related children's benefits are also cancelled.

When you turn 65

When you turn 65 the disability benefit will automatically be changed to a Canada Pension Plan retirement pension. If you are getting the post-retirement disability benefit, it will stop.

Your retirement pension will be less than your disability benefit. However, you can also apply for Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Your spouse or common-law partner may also be eligible for the Allowance benefit if they are 60 to 64 (up to and including the month of their 65th birthday).

When someone dies

If you're reading this following the loss of a loved one, please accept our condolences.

When someone dies, please inform us as soon as possible to avoid overpayment. Find out how to cancel CPP benefits on behalf of a deceased person.

The estate and survivors may be eligible to receive other CPP benefits:

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