The Canada Pension Plan disability benefit is a monthly payment for Canadians who have contributed to the pension plan through payroll taxes and are unable to work due to a severe and prolonged disability. It is administered by the federal government to ensure disabled Canadians under 65 have a means of monthly financial support when they are unable to earn what the government calls a substantially gainful income.
CPP Disability Benefits Before and After Retirement
CPP disability benefits have traditionally been available to people with disabilities under 65 who were not already receiving CPP retirement benefits. However, if you are over 60 but younger than 65, you may be eligible for CPP Post-Retirement Disability Benefits, even if you receive retirement benefits.
You lose eligibility for CPP disability benefits after receiving retirement benefits for 15 months. However, you may be able to receive the CPP Post-Retirement Disability Benefit in addition to retirement benefits if you meet all other eligibility criteria.
Suppose you become disabled at age 62. The following scenarios demonstrate how CPP disability benefits may be available to you:
- If you were not receiving CPP retirement benefits, you may be eligible for CPP disability benefits.
- If you started receiving retirement benefits when you turned 60, and you are ineligible for CPP disability benefits because you have received retirement benefits for over 15 months, you can apply for CPP Post-Retirement Disability.
- If you started receiving retirement benefits within the last year, you can apply for regular CPP disability benefits because you have received benefits for less than 15 months.
CPP disability benefits and CPP Post-Retirement Disability benefits stop when you turn 65.
Children’s Benefits Under CPP Disability
CPP disability benefits support workers and their families. Your dependent children may be entitled to children’s benefits if you receive CPP disability benefits.
To qualify, a child must be under 18 or aged 18 to 25 and attending a recognized school or university full-time or part-time. The child must be your natural-born or adopted child, or a child who lived with you under your decision-making power while under 21.
Who Is Eligible For CPP Disability Benefits?
To qualify for CPP disability benefits, you must have contributed to the Canada Pension Plan for a certain number of years, have a disability that prevents you from performing substantially gainful employment, and be under 65.
How Much Do You Have To Contribute to the Canada Pension Plan?
To qualify for disability benefits, you must have made valid contributions during at least four of the six years before you became disabled or during three of the last six years if you have at least 25 years of contributions.
If you have low or no earnings because you were the primary caregiver of a child under seven, you may qualify for a child-rearing provision. Service Canada will exclude those months or years to help you qualify or increase your benefits.
What Is a Qualifying Disability?
A qualifying disability is a prolonged mental or physical condition so severe that it prevents you from performing substantially gainful employment regularly. A job is considered substantially gainful employment when earnings reach the set maximum for the calendar year.
The limit is $20,153.09 for 2025, and it is adjusted annually for inflation. If you earn more than $7,100 annually in 2025, Service Canada will analyze how you are earning wages to determine whether you are regularly capable of working. This could affect your eligibility.
A condition is considered prolonged if it is long-term with an indefinite duration or likely to result in death.
How Much Do CPP Disability Benefits Pay?
CPP disability payments vary based on past earnings. For regular benefits, your payment consists of a fixed basic payment amount combined with an amount based on earnings. The basic amount changes annually in response to inflation.
The 2025 basic amount is $598.49. Your Statement of Contributions provides a detailed earnings history with an estimate of your monthly retirement benefits if you or your family started receiving them today. Your monthly CPP disability benefits payment is usually the total of the basic amount and 75% of your retirement benefit.
Suppose your Statement of Contribution estimates that your retirement benefit payment is $1,000. You can estimate your CPP disability payment by doing the following:
- 75% of your estimated retirement benefit: $1,000 * 75% = $750
- Earnings-based amount plus the basic amount: $750 + $598.49 = $1,348.49
- Your monthly benefit: $1,348.49
As of April 2025, the average monthly CPP disability benefits payment was $1,198.66. The maximum combined payment in 2025 is $1,673.24.
How Much Are Children’s Benefits?
The child’s benefit as of 2025 is $301.77 per dependent child if the child is under 18 or between 18 and 25 and attending school full-time. If the child attends school half-time, the benefit is $150.89.
What Is the CPP Post-Retirement Disability Amount?
If you receive CPP Post-Retirement Disability, your past earnings do not calculate into your monthly payment. Your monthly payment is the basic amount, which is $598.49 in 2025.
Dealing with a long-term disability can be overwhelming. We’re here to fight for your rights and help you get the compensation you need to support your future.
How Do You Apply For CPP Disability Benefits?
You can apply for CPP Disability online or by using a paper form. You may be required to use a paper form if:
- You live outside of Canada
- You use a power of attorney or a trustee to manage your account
- You have a complex history with disability or children’s benefits
The instructions below will help you start the application process and avoid common errors.
Gather All of the Required Information and Documentation.
You will need the following to complete the CPP disability benefits application:
- Your Social Insurance Number
- Your dependent children’s names, dates of birth, and Social Insurance Numbers
- Names and contact information of your health care providers
- Details about your medical condition and treatment
- Your medical diagnosis and detailed information about your medical history
- A list of medications
- Names and addresses of your previous employers and details about the types of work you performed
- Dates you, your spouse, or a former spouse or partner received the Family Allowance, if applicable
- Your bank branch, institution, and account number or a voided cheque to an account in your name where you would want your payment directly deposited
Complete the Application Online or On Paper
Download the application form here to apply on paper, and drop the application off at your nearest Service Canada Centre or mail it to the appropriate office on the application. You can apply online through your My Service Canada Account. After you submit the application, you will need to download the consent form, sign it, and return it to Service Canada by uploading it, mailing it, or delivering it to the nearest Service Canada Centre.
When completing the application, answer all questions and write “N/A” or “not applicable” rather than leaving them blank.
Submit the Medical Form
You must send the appropriate medical form after you submit your application. Your doctor will need to complete the form, but you should not wait for the doctor to complete the form before submitting your application.
If you have a terminal illness, use Form ISP-2530B: Terminal Illness Medical Attestation form. For all other conditions, use the Medical Report form, ISP-2519.
Be Ready for Follow-Up Correspondence from Service Canada
Service Canada may contact you to request additional information while your application is being processed. You will need to provide the requested information within any time frames specified in the letter.
How Long Does It Take To Get Approved For CPP Disability Benefits?
It takes an average of four months for a standard CPP disability benefits application to be processed, but your application could be delayed if any of the following conditions are present:
- Inaccuracies in the application
- Incomplete application
- A delay in sending the medical form
- A delay or failure to answer correspondence from Service Canada
- A high volume of applications
- Staffing problems at Service Canada
If you have a terminal illness or a grave condition, your application could receive priority processing. Service Canada defines a terminal illness as a disease that has no cure and is expected to result in death within six months. If Service Canada confirms you have a terminal illness, it will attempt to process your application within five business days.
A grave condition is a rapidly progressive condition with a high probability of meeting eligibility requirements. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has developed a list of common conditions that qualify as grave. If Service Canada determines you have a grave condition, it will attempt to process your application within 30 days.
Common Reasons CPP Disability Applications Are Denied?
It’s important to know that denials are common, even for people who meet the program’s criteria. That doesn’t mean your claim isn’t valid. It just means the process is complex. Some of the most frequent reasons Service Canada may deny an application include:
- Inaccurate or incomplete information on the application
- Failure to submit the medical or consent form
- Insufficient work history
- Discrepancies concerning your contributions
- Lack of medical evidence
- A determination that the medical condition is not severe and prolonged
- Recent work activity that demonstrates you can work regularly
- Failure to comply with medical treatment that could remove the disability
- Failure to answer requests for additional information
Being denied benefits is discouraging, but it does not mean the end of the road. You have the right to appeal, and many applications that were initially denied are overturned on appeal.
At Valent Legal, we help clients understand why their application was denied and guide them through the appeal process with compassionate, down-to-earth support.
Can You Appeal if Your CPP Disability Application Is Denied?
Yes, you can appeal a CPP disability benefits denial, but you must request a reconsideration in writing or through your My Service Canada Account first. You have 90 days to make the request. During a reconsideration, Service Canada staff who were not involved in the original decision will review your application again. If it is denied again, you have up to 90 days to start your appeal through the Social Security Tribunal, as follows:
- General Division Appeal. Complete a Notice of Appeal on paper or through your My Service Canada Account to request a hearing.
- Appeal Division Appeal. You must first obtain approval from the Appeal Division by showing that the General Division acted improperly, or you have evidence that the General Division lacked.
- Judicial Review. If the Appeal Division declines to hear your appeal or denies it, your final option is to request a judicial review from the Federal Court or the Federal Appeal Court.
The appeals process can be complex and overwhelming. Our experienced CPP disability benefits lawyers can help you find new evidence, file your appeal, and present a compelling case without you having to figure it out on your own.
Call Valent Legal for Help With Your CPP Disability Claim
Whether you need to file your initial claim for CPP Disability or appeal a denial, we are here to guide you through every step of the process and provide friendly, compassionate support.
With decades of combined experience, we have a deep understanding of Service Canada’s strict requirements and what it takes to get approved. Even the slightest mistake can cause denials and months or years of delays. Your benefits are too important to jeopardize. Call our dedicated CPP lawyers at (902) 443-4488 or contact us online today for a free consultation.