Physician's Guide - The Application Process
The Application ProcessThe medical information that you provide is critical to the adjudication decision. Please note, however, that CPP does not need your patient's entire medical file. CPP asks that you provide only the medical information requested, especially findings and functional limitations. Please include supporting documents such as consultants' reports, investigative reports and hospital notes. If your patient can still work on a regular basis at any job, he or she is unlikely to qualify for CPP disability benefits.
If your clinical notes address all questions in the medical report, you may send those notes instead of completing the entire medical report. However, you must still complete the prognosis section of the report and sign the form. Sending in your clinical notes is only appropriate for patients you are following closely and for whom you are keeping detailed clinical notes.
Please notify CPP if you are unable to provide the medical information requested. This will help prevent delays in determining eligibility for your patient. CPP may be able to get information from your patient or from other sources, or may decide to send your patient for an independent medical examination.
CPP may ask for information going back to a particular date. This is done because the CPP needs to determine whether your patient was unable to work at that date and continuously to the present time.
Deciding whether a person is eligible for benefits is the responsibility of Social Development Canada.
Determining whether your patient's benefits will continue
As the treating physician, you are important in helping determine whether your patient should continue to receive a disability benefit or might be eligible for a work-related retraining program. It is your patient's responsibility to keep CPP informed if the medical condition changes or he or she wants to return to work. However, CPP may periodically ask you for up-to-date medical information on your patient's condition. The information you provide about your patient's capacity to work is essential, not only at the initial eligibility determination, but also during appeals, follow-up and/or vocational rehabilitation.
What forms do I have to fill out and how much information do I have to provide?
If CPP reviews your patient's continuing eligibility, you will be asked to complete either a short medical report or an impairment evaluation form. It is essential that you answer all the questions on any forms you are asked to fill out. If the information required is not provided (or if you simply write "n/a"), a decision on your patient's application may be delayed while CPP tries to get the medical information needed to make a decision.