Receiving your benefit
Receiving your benefit
On this page
- Your payments
- Taxes
- Reviewing your case
- Volunteer and educational activities
- Working and earning money
- When benefits stop
Your payments
Your decision letter will include the date and amount of your first payment.
When your benefit could start
If you qualify, your benefit will start 4 months after your disability was found to be severe and prolonged. You may receive up to 11 months of payments retroactively from the date your application was received.
Direct deposit: You can receive your benefit payments by mail or by direct deposit in your bank account in Canada, the United States or other participating countries. You can sign up for direct deposit at any time.
Cheque: If you didn't choose direct deposit, a cheque will be mailed to you during the last 3 business days of each month.
Payment dates
If you are eligible for the Canada Pension Plan disability benefit, you will receive a payment every month.
2025 payment date schedule
- January 29, 2025
- February 26, 2025
- March 27, 2025
- April 28, 2025
- May 28, 2025
- June 26, 2025
- July 29, 2025
- August 27, 2025
- September 25, 2025
- October 29, 2025
- November 26, 2025
- December 22, 2025
2024 payment date schedule
- January 29, 2024
- February 27, 2024
- March 26, 2024
- April 26, 2024
- May 29, 2024
- June 26, 2024
- July 29, 2024
- August 28, 2024
- September 25, 2024
- October 29, 2024
- November 27, 2024
- December 20, 2024
Taxes
Taxes are not automatically deducted. If you choose not to ask for monthly tax deductions, you may have to pay income tax when you file your tax return.
Learn how to manage your taxes to:
- Get federal tax taken off your payments each month or change your tax deduction amount
- Access your tax slips
Reviewing your case
Service Canada may periodically review your eligibility for benefits
- You may be asked to provide updated medical and other information
- We will inform you in writing if there is a change to your eligibility
Volunteer and education activities
Most people can still receive their benefits while attending school or volunteering. However, in some cases, these activities may show your ability to work and could affect your eligibility.
You must contact us if:
- The combined time you volunteer or attend school/training is more than 15 hours per week for 4 months or longer (you do not need to notify us for activities under 15 hours per week or less than 4 months)
- You complete a school, university, trade, technical training, or rehabilitation program
School can include college, university, trade, or technical training programs - online or in person. Time spent at school or in training includes all related activities like studying, researching, writing papers, and completing assignments.
Examples
Volunteering over 15 hours per week for 4 months or longer
Alex has been receiving a CPP disability benefit for 4 years. Four months ago, they started volunteering as a cashier at a cafeteria. They volunteer 5 days a week, for 5 hours a day. Their duties include pricing, handling money, cooking and cleaning.
Alex must report this activity to Service Canada. Their benefits could be impacted if this shows their capacity to work.
Combination of volunteering and educational activity totaling more than 15 hours a week for more than 4 months
Kai has been receiving a CPP disability benefit for 7 years. Six months ago, they started providing free business advice to the business community. Kai offers their services online for 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. Sometimes Kai also takes mini virtual courses to improve their service offerings.
Kai must report this activity to Service Canada. Their benefits could be impacted if this shows their capacity to work.
Volunteering less than 15 hours a week for more than 4 months
Jordan has been receiving CPP disability benefits for 9 years. Two years ago, they started volunteering at a nearby community centre. They spend 5 to 10 hours per week at the centre. Jordan's duties include shredding old documents, photocopying pamphlets, and putting them out for display.
Jordan does not need to report this activity to Service Canada. Although they participated in volunteer activities for over 4 months, it is still under the reporting threshold of 15 hours per week.
Working and earning money
You must contact us when:
- You return to work and earn over $7,100 (before tax) in 2025
If you delay in contacting Service Canada when you earn more than the allowed amount, you may have to repay some of the CPP disability benefits.
| Earnings (before tax) | Impact on CPP disability benefit |
|---|---|
| Below $7,100 | No impact |
| $7,100-$20,153.09 | May affect benefits (may show capacity to work) |
| $20,153.09 or above | Likely no longer eligible (shows capacity to work regularly) |
If you feel ready to try working again, contact us for information about our work-related supports and services.
Three-month work trial
If you return to work on a regular basis, you may be able to continue to receive your disability benefits for 3 months. This gives you and Service Canada time to evaluate your ability to work regularly. If you are still capable of working after 3 months, your CPP disability benefits will likely stop.
Examples
Reporting a Return to Work
Suna plans to return to work. Suna's benefits can continue while they try working. Suna must contact Service Canada once they earn $7,100 (before tax), at which time they will be eligible for a 3-month work trial. This provides Suna and Service Canada time to evaluate Suna ability to work on a regular basis. If Suna is still working after the end of the work trial, this may show that they are capable of working and it may affect their disability benefits.
Not Reporting a Return to Work
Robert returned to work (30 hrs per week), and did not contact Service Canada. Robert is no longer able to do their job as a roofer, so instead Robert's company offered him light work as an estimator. Since Robert did not report their return to work, they may no longer be eligible for the CPP disability benefit and may be required to repay any benefits they are not entitled to receive.
Self-employment
Cynthia started their own company and has the same responsibilities as other beneficiaries who return to work. They must contact Service Canada once they earn $7,100 (before tax). The gross business earnings of Cynthia's company and their involvement in the day-to-day activities will be considered in the review of their file.
Work Trial
Amina contacted Service Canada to report that they had returned to work. Amina was provided a 3-month work trial to test their ability to work. At the end of the work trial, Amina had earned $8,200, but missed many days of work due to their medical condition. Amina was unable to continue working due to their medical condition. Service Canada determined that Amina's condition remained severe and prolonged, and they remained eligible to receive CPP disability benefits.
Vocational rehabilitation program
If you are thinking of returning to work, a variety of services such as guidance, training, and job placement may be available. Learn more about the vocational rehabilitation program.
Reinstating disability benefits for the same disability
If your benefits stopped due to self-reported work, volunteering, or school activities, and you can't continue because of the same or a related disability, you may qualify for reinstatement.
The Automatic Reinstatement or the Fast Track Re-application process allows Service Canada to quickly restart your benefits without having to go through the usual application process.
Example
Automatic Reinstatement
Raj contacted Service Canada when he returned to work. After a 3-month work trial, his benefits stopped.
Less than 2 years later, his disability got worse, and he couldn't keep working. Since Raj had reported his return to work and his disability reoccurred within 2 years, he was eligible for the automatic reinstatement of his benefits. This means that his benefits restarted without having to go through the usual application process.
When benefits stop
Your disability benefit will stop if:
- You are able to work or participate in educational or volunteer activities on a regular basis
- You no longer meet the criteria for a severe and prolonged disability
- You turn 65
What happens to any related CPP children’s benefit when your disability benefit stops
If your disability benefit stops, any related children's benefit could also stop.
Exception: If you turn 65 and children's benefits are still active when your disability benefit converts to a CPP retirement pension, the benefits may continue if the child remains eligible.
When you turn 65
At age 65:
- Your CPP disability benefit automatically changes to a CPP retirement pension
- If you are receiving the post-retirement disability benefit, it will stop, and you will continue receiving the CPP retirement pension
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 if they're 60 to 64 years old.
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 for other CPP benefits:
Contact us
If you have general questions about CPP disability benefits or specific questions about your application, contact us.