Changes in disability pension clientele from 1970 to 2003
This study (available in French only) looks at historical data related to beneficiaries of the disability pension paid under the Québec Pension Plan. It reveals certain trends over the past decades with respect to:
Number of beneficiaries
The number of disability pension beneficiaries has been increasing since the Québec Pension Plan came into effect, reaching 70 000 beneficiaries in 2003.
The changes in the number of new beneficiaries per year can be grouped into 3 periods:
- From 1970 until 1984 there was a rapid increase in the number of new beneficiaries. The number increased from 1 800 in 1970 to 11 500 in 1984, the year in which changes were made regarding eligibility of persons aged 60 to 64 .
- From 1985 until 1990 there was a decrease in the number of beneficiaries.
- Since 1991 the number of new beneficiaries per year has increased, reaching approximately 10 000 as of 1999. This increase can be explained to a great extent by the fact that the contribution requirements to qualify became less strict as of 1 July 1993.
Since women are more and more present in the labour market, there are also more women becoming eligible for a disability pension. In 2003, 42% of new beneficiaries were women. In 1970, only 10% of beneficiaries were women.
Causes of disability
The illnesses for which disability pensions are granted under the Québec Pension Plan have changed over the period studied. Three categories of diseases are increasing:
- Musculoskeletal diseases
- Mental health
- Cancer
Inversely, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases have decreased considerably, in particular because of advances in medicine.
Incidence rates
The incidence rate is relationship between the number of new beneficiaries in a given year and the population eligible for a disability pension in that year. The eligible population is those persons who have sufficiently contributed with respect to the Plan's eligibility requirements.
The overall incidence rate for disability is higher for men than for women. However, the incidence rate for women between the ages of 30 and 50 has, for the past 10 years, exceeded that of men in the same age group.
The incidence rate generally increases with age and reaches its maximum for those age 60. Less strict eligibility requirements as of age 60 explains to a great extent this situation.
Reasons payment of the pension ends
Payment of a disability pension ends when the beneficiary dies or recovers his or her health, or when it is replaced by a retirement pension at age 65.
Death
Payment of a disability pension ending because of death occurs less often for women than for men. Death is more frequent during the early years of disability and most often where a beneficiary has cancer.
Recovery
The relative frequency of pensions ending because a beneficiary has recovered his or her health is low because in order to become entitled to a pension in the first place, the illness must be severe and prolonged.
Reaching age 65
More and more disabled persons (currently over 60%) reach age 65 as a consequence of the gradual decrease in the mortality rate over time.
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