Overview

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit is a monthly payment you can get if you:

are under 65
have made enough contributions into the CPP
have a mental or physical disability that regularly stops you from doing any type of substantially gainful work
have a disability that is long-term and of indefinite duration, or is likely to result in death

Two types of CPP disability benefits

Benefit name	Age	Must be
CPP disability benefit	Under 65	Not receiving the CPP retirement pension
CPP post-retirement disability benefit	From 60 to 65	Already receiving the CPP retirement pension for more than 15 months or become disabled after starting to receive the retirement pension

When you turn 65 your CPP disability benefit is automatically changed to a CPP retirement pension.

Children’s benefit

If you are getting a disability benefit, your dependent children may be able to get a monthly payment.

Benefit name	Age	Must be
CPP Children’s benefit	Under 18 or between the ages of 18 and 25 and in full-time attendance at a recognized school or university	The child of a person receiving a disability benefit

Find out more about the CPP Children’s benefit.

When you should apply

You have to apply for this benefit. You should apply for this benefit as soon as possible.

When payments start

Your decision letter will give you the date and amount of your first payment.

How long for a decision

It can take up to 4 months for a decision to be made. The date your application form is received may affect the date your benefit begins. Do not wait for your completed medical form before sending your completed application form.

However, a decision on your application can only be made when you have sent both of the following:

a complete application form (including questionnaire and signed consent form)
a signed medical report

For eligible disabilities, we aim to make a decision on your eligibility within 120 calendar days (4 months).

If we confirm your condition is grave, we aim to process your application within 30 calendar days.

If we confirm you have a terminal illness, we aim to process your application within 5 business days.

Definitions

Terminal illness

A terminal medical condition is a disease state that cannot be cured or adequately treated and is reasonably expected to result in death within 6 months.

Grave condition

A grave condition is a rapidly progressive medical condition. A list of grave conditions was developed based on extensive research by ESDC. These conditions have a high probability of meeting the CPP disability eligibility criteria.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Adrenocortical Cancer
Alzheimer's Disease: (Early onset, less than age 60)
Amyloidosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Anal Cancer
Appendiceal Cancer
Bladder Cancer (Metastatic, Stage IV)
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer (Metastatic/recurrent)
Cervical Carcinoma
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Chronic Liver Disease
Colorectal Cancer
Endometrial Cancer
Esophagus Cancer
Follicular Lymphoma
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Gallbladder Cancer
Huntington Disease
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer
Lung Cancer
Malignant Melanoma
Malignant Tumours of Small Intestine
Multiple Myeloma
Muscular Dystrophy (Adult onset)
Ovarian Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Parkinson's Disease
Post-inflammatory Pulmonary Fibrosis
Primary Cerebellar Degeneration
Progressive Polyneuropathy
Quadriplegia and Quadriparesis
Schizophrenia
Stomach Cancer
Thymus Cancer
Uterine Sarcoma
Vascular Dementia

Where you can get help

If you have general questions about the disability benefits or specific questions about your application, contact us .

If your medical condition is short-term or temporary

If your medical condition is expected to be short-term or temporary, you will not be eligible for CPP disability benefits. You may be eligible for other benefits such as Employment Insurance sickness.

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Canada Pension Plan disability benefits: Overview