In this article, you get to know what conditions qualify for CPP disability, how hard is it to get CPP disability, CPP disability payments for 2023, CPP disability amount, tips for applying for CPP disability and CPP payments dates for 2023 as well as other information you need to know.
Canada Pension Plan disability benefits
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit is a monthly payment you can get if you:
- are under 65
- have made enough contributions to 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
- Find out if you might be eligible.
Two types of CPP disability benefits
- 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.
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
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.
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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.
What conditions qualify for CPP disability
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.
Do you qualify
The information provided below should be used as a guideline. We encourage you to apply for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits and allow a Service Canada representative to determine if you are eligible. Learn how we assess applications for the disability benefit.
Do you qualify for a disability or children’s benefit
CPP disability benefit
The disability benefit is a monthly payment you can get if you:
- are under 65
- contributed enough to the Canada Pension Plan
- 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.
CPP post-retirement disability benefit
If you currently get the monthly CPP retirement pension, you could receive the Canada Pension Plan post-retirement disability benefit if you:
- are 60 to 65
- contributed enough to 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
- have been receiving the CPP retirement pension for more than 15 months or become disabled after starting to receive the retirement pension
CPP Children’s benefit
If you are getting a disability benefit, any of your dependent children can get a monthly payment if they are:
- under 18, or
- between 18 and 25 and attending school full-time.
Other circumstances
If you live in Quebec
If you live in Quebec, you would not apply for the disability benefit under the Canada Pension Plan. You can apply for the Quebec Pension Plan disability benefit if one of the following applies to you:
you have worked only in the province of Quebec
you currently live in Quebec and have worked both in the province of Quebec and in an other province or territory
you have worked in Quebec, currently live outside Canada and your last province of residence was Quebec
How much you could receive
The basic payment amount is $558.78. We add to the basic amount based on how much you paid into the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) while you worked.
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If you are receiving the disability benefit or post-retirement disability benefit, your dependent children may also be eligible for a children’s benefit.
CPP disability amounts
| Type of benefit | Average monthly amount (2022) | Maximum monthly payment amount (2023) |
| CPP Disability benefit | $1,078.07 | $1,538.67 |
| CPP Post-retirement disability benefit | $524.64 | $558.78 |
| CPP children’s benefit | $264.53 | $281.72 |
Note: The disability benefit amounts are reviewed every January to reflect changes in the cost of living. Your monthly benefit amount will not decrease if the cost of living goes down.
Your payment
You can receive your benefit payment by direct deposit to your banking account in Canada, the United States, or other specific countries.
If you are getting other benefits
If you get both a CPP survivor’s pension and a disability benefit, they will be combined into a single monthly payment. The total amount you get cannot be greater than $1,538.67 per month (the maximum amount of the disability pension).
If you are receiving both a retirement and survivor pension, and are then granted a post-retirement disability benefit, you will receive the higher amount of the survivor or post-retirement disability benefit flat rate.
Disability income from other sources
If you are receiving disability income from other sources, such as a private insurer or a provincial/territorial program, you may still be able to receive the CPP disability benefit. However, these other sources may change their payments if you are approved for the disability benefit through the Canada Pension Plan.
Contact your insurance company or social assistance program for details about your case.
Medications and medical devices
The CPP disability benefit does not pay for medications or medical devices. Contact your province or territory if you need financial help for medication or medical devices.
CPP disability payments 2023
January 20, 2023
February 20, 2023
March 20, 2023
April 20, 2023
May 19, 2023
June 20, 2023
July 20, 2023
August 18, 2023
September 20, 2023
October 20, 2023
November 20, 2023
December 13, 2023