CPP DISABILITY BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY

Disability Pension
 To qualify for a CPP disability pension, a person must:
‒ Have contributed to the CPP for at least four of the previous six calendar
years, or for three of the previous six years if the person has contributed for at
least 25 years
‒ Qualify as disabled under the CPP’s definition
‒ Be under age 65

 Disability benefits stop the earliest of:

‒ When the contributor is no longer considered disabled, according to the CPP’s
definition of disability
‒ When the individual reaches 65, when normal retirement benefits begin
‒ Between age 60 and age 64, inclusive, if the individual chooses to receive an
early CPP retirement pension
‒ The month the individual dies
 CPP DISABILITY BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY

Post-Retirement Disability / Children’s Benefit

 Post-retirement disability benefit:
‒ Disabled individuals who have been receiving a CPP retirement
pension for more than 15 months, and who are therefore
ineligible for the disability pension, can receive Post-retirement
disability benefit
‒ Available since January 1, 2019
‒ The eligibility criteria are the same as for the disability pension

 Children’s disability benefits:

‒ The criteria are the same as for the survivor’s pension
 EXAMPLE

Richard, age 30, has been contributing for the CPP plan for 7 years.
Over the past 3 years he was unemployed, due to a downturn in the
oil and gas industry. Recently, he found a job, but shortly after
resuming work, he became disabled under the CPP definition.

Will Richard qualify for CPP Disability benefits? Why?

 EXAMPLE

Richard is under age 65, and he is disabled according to CPP

definition, but he did not contribute for at least four of the previous
six calendar years.

Thus, he will not be eligible for CPP Disability Benefits.

 TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Q U Z
I

Marta is receiving CPP survivor benefits of $532.12 per month. In

2020, she marries Ron, shortly after their marriage Ron dies in a
car accident. Explain what will happen to Marta’s survivor benefits.
 TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING – ANSWER

Q U Z
I

Marta can receive only one survivor benefit income stream at a

time. After Ron’s death, the benefits will be recalculated based on
Ron’s CPP contributions. She will be able to receive only one
survivor’s pension, the highest survivor pension payable.
 ?
ANY QUESTIONS