If you are unable to work because of injury or illness you may be entitled to as much as $1,264.59 per month in government disability benefits.
Most people know retirement pensions are available, but did you know that the Canada Pension Plan also includes a monthly disability pension? In order to qualify for a disability pension you must be under the age of 65, have made sufficient contributions to the Plan, and have a “severe and prolonged disability”.
The amount you are entitled to receive depends on the contributions you have made to the Plan. The maximum and minimum monthly benefits for 2015 are $1,264.59 and $465.84, respectively. Also, if you have dependent children, you may qualify for an additional payment of up to $234.87 per month, per child.
Benefits are indexed for inflation, calculated and adjusted annually in January. As long as you continue to qualify, disability benefits are payable until you reach age 65, after which you are automatically switched to the regular retirement pension.
Photo by Andrew Malone via CC BY 2.0
Injured persons between the ages of 60 and 64 can apply for both a regular retirement and disability pension, though you can only receive one at a time. Regular retirement pensions process faster but disability pays out more (though only until age 65). Best practice is to apply for your retirement pension to minimize wait time, and apply for disability at the same time to maximize compensation (if you qualify). If you qualify, the retirement pension will simply be converted to a disability pension until age 65.
If you need help applying for a disability pension or you have applied and been denied, our lawyers can assist you. Don’t hesitate, as benefits are calculated from when you apply, not when you’ve become disabled. Call us at 416-800-4378 or 416-533-7133 to book a free consultation and let us put our experience to work for you.
