Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit – What you need before you start

If you are aged 60 to 64

If you are aged 60 to 64 and you think you might qualify for a CPP disability benefit, you may also want to apply for a CPP retirement pension. While you cannot receive both at the same time, you may qualify to begin receiving a retirement pension while you wait for your CPP disability benefit application to be assessed, which usually takes longer.

If you are already receiving a CPP retirement pension when your application for a disability benefit is approved, we will switch your retirement pension to a disability benefit if:

• you are still under the age of 65
• you were deemed to be disabled, as defined by the CPP legislation, before the effective date of your retirement
• you have been receiving your CPP retirement pension for less than 15 months at the time you applied for your disability benefit
• you meet the minimum contributory requirements.

Helping someone apply for disability benefits or appeal a decision

It is possible to help or advocate for a person who wants to apply for a Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit or appeal a decision. You can help simply by explaining the contents of an application form or by locating specific information.

As an individual who helps or advocates for someone, you should also seek the support of others who may help you, such as family, friends, physicians, other advocates, and other people with disabilities or groups representing them. They may be able to provide you with support and helpful resources.

Locating specific information

You may be able to help your family member or friend locate important information. For example, if the applicant was born in Canada but cannot find his or her birth certificate, you can contact the government office of the province or territory where the applicant was born.

If you are unable to obtain a birth or baptismal certificate, contact us. We may be able to accept other documents.

Contacting Service Canada on behalf of a CPP disability recipient

If you want to authorize a person to give and receive information to Service Canada on your behalf, you will need to print the Consent to Communicate Information to an Authorized Person form (ISP1603CPP), complete it, and mail it to us at the Service Canada office mentioned on the page Returning the form. This form does not provide authority for the person to apply for benefits on your behalf, change your payment address, or request/change the withholding of tax.

If an individual is incapable of managing his/her own affairs, another person or agency (a Trustee or someone with a Power of Attorney) may be appointed to act on the individual's behalf. Contact us for the appropriate documentation.

Record keeping

When you are helping someone fill out forms from the CPP disability benefit application kit, make sure they keep photocopies of everything they submit. If you talk to someone from Service Canada, write down the name of the person and the date and time that you spoke to them. Keep all the information in one place. Always have the Social Insurance Number of the applicant when you call us.

Administrating CPP disability benefits

If the CPP disability recipient is incapable of managing their own affairs because they are suffering from a severe mental impairment caused by a mental or a physical illness, you will need to print the Certificate of Incapability form (ISP-3505CPP), have their medical professional complete it, and mail it to us at the Service Canada office indicated on their correspondence letter.

More information on CPP disability benefits

Learn more about how to apply for a CPP disability benefit or request a reconsideration of a decision.

Find out what else you need to know on behalf of someone receiving a Canada Pension Plan pension or benefit.