The What and Why of Canadian Pension Plan Disability

Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

Links:

1. Government of Canada webpage for Canadian Pension Plan Disability Benefit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp-disability-benefit.html

Tips:

1. CPP-D is for Canadians who have contributed to The Canadian Pension Plan and have a severe and prolonged disability.
2. As of 2025 you are limited to earning $7100 (gross before tax) before you have to notify CPP of your earnings, at which point they will assess if you are capable of doing regular work. This limit goes up with inflation (2026 it's $7400).
3. Benefits may be impacted once you pass $7100 in income. Once you go over $20 153 it's likely you'll be cut off CPP-D. (2026 it's $20 971).
4. Yes, it's mainly employment income that the CRA is looking at here. From googling we've learned that the CRA of course knows about your investment income anyway, from your taxes.
5. CPP-D does not fully replace your income. It's a small percentage. The average CPP-D income per Canada.com is $1192/month.
6. ⅙ of Canadians with disabilities live below the poverty line.
7. If you're on Long Term Disability that insurance company will likely claw back all of your CPP-D (or will drop what they're paying you by exactly what you get from CPP-D).
8. So why apply for CPP-D?
   1. CPP-D is often the key to getting into other programs and benefits.
   2. CPP-D tells insurance companies that provide LTD that you are recognized as a severely disabled person, making it harder for them to deny you your LTD benefit (this is what's been experienced by doctors and patients, but is not any sort of official rule).
   3. CPP-D tells the government you aren't choosing not to work and therefore the government protects your CPP (the actual pension), allowing you to get the full pension when you retire.
9. CPP-D pays on the third to last day of the month.
10. CPP-D is calculated as: a base amount that everyone gets, plus a portion that's income based ("CPP pensionable earnings").
11. If you had to take time off for child rearing they will adjust the calculation so that it isn't punitive.
12. CPP-D benefit goes up a (very) small amount every year.
13. There's an additional benefit in CPP-D for your children.
14. You will speak to CRA workers during the application process, they will give you time frames and phone numbers to watch for.
15. The application processing will take longer than they say it will.
16. Application requires you and your doctor/primary care provider's input. You will need names of medications, tests, symptoms etc., along with amounts, dates, places etc.
17. Only 40% of applicants to CPP-D are approved the first try. Be thorough when filling in the forms!

A discussion with Laura, who has two points of view on going through the disability process as she is both an insurance executive and currently on disability while fighting cancer.

Guest: Laura, who works as a group benefits account executive for a national broker. Insta:@alilcoffee

Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

Links:

1. Screening mammogram information:
   1. Ontario: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer/screening
   2. B.C.: https://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/health-professionals/breast
2. What is Lymphedema, per The Mayo Clinic:
   1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lymphedema/symptoms-causes/syc-20374682
3. BC Lymphedema Association
   1. http://www.bclymph.org

Tips:

1. Rules around screening mammograms and self referring differ between provinces and territories.
2. In many provinces you can start screening mammograms at age 40.
3. The younger you are when you develop breast cancer, the higher the mortality risk (see SEER, Canadian Studies - Seely et.al, and The Young Women's Breast Cancer Study).
4. Increase in mortality risk at a younger age is due to tumour biology, delayed diagnosis and socioeconomic factors.
5. You may get called back after your mammogram for further follow up. Do not panic as these can often be due to non cancer findings/errors/etc.
6. If there are suspicious findings on your screening mammogram you may then receive further mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, etc.
7. Surgery to remove a tumour may also include removing some or all of your surrounding lymph nodes.
8. Other tests could include CT scans, bone scans and MRIs to look for spread of the cancer.
9. Treatment plans for breast cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone blockers and more.
10. Consider where your best family/community support is, when undergoing cancer treatment.
11. Different surgeons in different provinces may have different surgical techniques.
12. Lyphedema is a known side effect of having lymph nodes removed.
13. Lymphovascular reconstruction helps reduce the risk of lymphedema.
14. If you're planning a move it can be very difficult to coordinate care in the receiving province before you have actually moved.
15. Laura found a BC doctor who she could see virtually to get the referral going before she moved to BC.
16. There is a waiting period to transition to the new province's medical plan. For BC it was 2 months plus the remaining portion of the month you arrived in. Your original province's plan would still be covering you for that time.
17. Immediately apply for the new province's medical plan when you arrive.
18. Delay of care is a risk if you plan to move provinces during any health crisis.
19. A breast cancer diagnosis means so much of your time is taken up with medical calls/appointments/etc. that working was no longer possible.
20. In Laura's case she received sick time for a week, then Medical E.I, then Long Term Disability.
21. Don't forget about waiting periods to qualify for Medical E.I., Long Term Disability etc.
22. Benefits can also overlap, depending on the wording of the policy.
23. CPP Disability is for someone who is anticipated to never return to work.
24. Can your LTD company cut you off? Not as long as you meet the criteria of disability. Most plans go to age 65. The risk is getting cut off of the rest of the plan (health and dental etc.)
25. Most LTD policies have a clause that, at the 1-2 year mark of disability, changes from you being able to work your own occupation to being able to work ANY occupation.
26. Each insurance policy has different rules around extended health benefits plans, and you may be required to pay partially or in full for these benefits when on LTD.
27. CPP Disability may help signal to the insurance company that you are profoundly disabled.
28. When going through breast cancer treatment it is largely scheduled by the care team.
29. From Laura: choose your chemo day of the week carefully as you must get bloodwork done ahead of time. "Tuesday is a bad day for chemotherapy!".

Discussion of dealing with and accessing community resources for housecleaning.

Guest: Linsey, who has worked in Vancouver Coastal Health for over a decade.

Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

Links:

1. Disability Alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/
2. Better at Home: http://www.betterathome.ca
3. Tody (chore app): https://todyapp.com

Tips:

1. From feedback/listener questions: What to do if you're denied STD/LTD/CPP-D? There is usually an established appeal process you must follow. Many services like Disability Alliance of BC has mentors/advocates and lawyers to help. Google the equivalent for your province.
2. There isn't as much MSP/public coverage for help with housekeeping as there is with personal care (episode 5).
3. Better at Home is a United Way administered service that helps seniors with tasks such as driving to appointments, grocery shopping, light house/yard work etc.
4. You'll likely have to private pay for household help for tasks that are not directly health related such as house care, hair/makeup, laundry etc.
5. If you're being discharged from hospital ask the social worker for a list of available private pay services.
6. If you are disabled to a point where you cannot do basic household tasks for yourself, and you cannot afford to pay for help (and you don't have friends/family to help) then you'd be looking at being moved into assisted living/long term care. GP/case manager in community would be link to further assessments for this.
7. Long term care (public government funding) takes 80% of your income, to cover housing and care cost.
8. If a disabled person moves into long term care and leaves a spouse at home this could have serious financial implications for that spouse. Talk to social worker about your financial options.
9. Decide which household tasks are necessities to you and which ones can wait/have corners cut.
10. Use apps, such as Tody, to help keep track of household tasks.
11. Simplify tasks, for example buy socks in all one colour.
12. Look into getting a robot vacuum! They can vacuum and mop, some self empty. Massive energy savings.
13. Buy a rechargeable spinning brush, with multiple attachments. Cleans bathtub, counters, windows etc.
14. Look into how you can use all your vacuum attachments.
15. Get some reacher/grasper tools. Useful for around the house tasks, grocery shopping etc.
16. Look into ways you can just keep things cleaner longer, like placemats, slip covers, RainX etc.
17. Put a cleaning kit in several rooms, reducing the barrier of distance to cleaners when you get the energy to clean.
18. Community is so important when it comes to household tasks. Meanwhile we all live so independently. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Remember to think about how you can participate in/show up for friendships too.

Discussion about community resources to help with personal care such as bathing, self care, wound care etc. as well as general day to day tips for personal care.

Guest: Linsey, who has worked in public health care in Vancouver for over a decade.

Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

Links:

1. Patient Attachment Initiative/Health Connect Registry: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry
2. Vancouver Coastal Health Home Care: https://www.vch.ca/en/service/how-to-access-home-and-community-care-services
3. Fraser Health Home Care: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/home-and-community-care

Tips:

1. Looking for a Family Doctor/GP/Nurse Practitioner? BC's Patient Attachment Initiative's Health Connect Registry can help hook you up with a primary care provider. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry
2. Look online for your town's/region's available GP list.
3. Check your province's College of Physician and Surgeon's online list of GPs accepting new patients.
4. If you're paying someone to come into your home to provide a service, make sure they're insured.
5. Be cautious of anyone coming into your home as you, as a disabled person, might be a target.
6. Paying for activities of daily living can be a qualifying factor for some government disability services and programs such as Person's with Disability and Home Owner's Grant.
7. MSP/Health Authority funded personal care
   1. Requires a home assessment by their team. This would include help with things like bathing/showering, self care, mobilizing around the home, wound care etc.
   2. Frequency of home visits depend on your approved needs. Maybe be once or twice a week, or as much as four times a day.
   3. Home Support Workers are task oriented. They cannot go outside the tasks they are approved to provide. They can do such tasks as: helping get socks on, heating a meal (but not cook), helping get out of bed, helping with meds from a blister pack.
   4. The time that the worker is scheduled to come is an arrival time, not a total length of visit. They will arrive, do the tasks, and leave.
   5. Home Support Workers cannot help with unscheduled medication needs or emergencies.
   6. Home care features an Interdisciplinary Care team which can provide home physiotherapists and occupational therapists. They can assess mobilizing, transfers, bathing etc. and suggest mobility aids or more supports.
   7. Wound care is directed by a community nurse. If you are being discharged from the hospital, the plan will be based on a wound care plan from the hospital team.
   8. Community wound team will decide if you will get care in home or at a clinic, based on many factors.
   9. GP/NP can refer you to all home health care programs. In hospital the social worker helps coordinate.
   10. Some services may have some cost. May need to provide tax info to access the sliding scale.
8. Private Care (paid)
   1. Private care/privately paid companions can help with everything from cooking to personal care to psycho-social support.
   2. Tasks as above but also things like helping with hair/make up, playing video games, watching tv/sports together.
9. Do you really need to shower every day? Do you need to wash everything every time?
10. Watch your ergonomics while doing personal care, and while you're sitting. Does a different position feel better? Do you need tools like pillows for sitting or shower seats for the tub?
11. Can you facilitate doing personal care while sitting? A stool for the bathroom? A caddy to bring your skin care needs to the couch?
12. Look for tools to help make personal care easier. Ex: automatic curling irons.
13. There is a wide variety of walkers, canes etc., which may offer specific features you may need.
14. Use what you have - pillows, towels, stools - to help improve comfort.
15. Advocate for your needs!

Part 2 of Long Term Disability (Part one is Episode 2). Covers qualifying period, pay, taxes etc., plus a recap of the first three episodes.

Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

Links:

1. Canada.ca for EI estimator
2. North Shore Resource Centre https://nsdrc.org
3. Inclusion Alberta https://inclusionalberta.org
4. Centre for Independent Living Toronto https://cilt.ca/
5. Disability Alliance of BC https://disabilityalliancebc.org/

Tips - from this episode:

1. Qualifying period and criteria for Long Term Disability vary by company.
2. Use your allied health professionals (Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists etc.) in applying for Long Term Disability, in cooperation with your doctor.
3. Previous overtime pay likely won't be used in calculating your LTD pay.
4. LTD pay is taxable. Consider having the insurance company take tax off for you so you won't be left with a tax bill at the end of the year. Note that they may take less than necessary. *Note that Meghan says for her the insurance company takes $3000/month in taxes. ERROR! They take off about $300/month in taxes at her request.* Hellooo brain fog.
5. Or, consider using an online tax calculator to figure out how much tax you will owe at the end of the first year on LTD income and put that away throughout the year, so you're not stuck with a huge tax bill you can't pay at the end of the year.
6. If you have extended medical benefits through work you may keep your benefits but you may need to pay some of the premium. Note that your portion is tax deductible.
7. Because your income drops your eligibility for things like GST credits, FairPharmacare and other government programs may change (as in you may qualify for more benefits).

Tips - from summary of first three episodes

Episode 1: Short Term Disability

1. Look on Canada.ca for EI estimator
2. Don't abuse your sick time, you may need it
3. STD and LTD can overlap, bringing your pay way up (temporarily, for as long as STD lasts)

Episode 2: Long Term Disability Part 1

1. Photocopy Dr portion of application and fill in yourself to give Dr a fuller idea of what's going on. They can then fill in their portion better.
2. Keep notes of all interactions with the insurance company, government etc. with names and dates.
3. If you don't have a GP try to stick to one walk in clinic to keep your chart all in one place.

Episode 3: Be the Village

1. Look for local resource groups. Examples:
   1. North Shore Resource Centre (https://nsdrc.org)
   2. Inclusion Alberta (https://inclusionalberta.org)
   3. Centre for Independent Living Toronto (https://cilt.ca/)
   4. Disability Alliance of BC (https://disabilityalliancebc.org/
2. Be mindful of what you post on social media
3. Be part of the community, you can give back in your own way
4. Look into your Buy Nothing Group
5. Remember to respect your/others boundaries

Discussion on how your community can support you and how you can contribute back to the community.

Feedback: Navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

Links Discussed in this Episode

North Shore Disability Resource Centre: https://nsdrc.org

And a few more similar resources from around the country:

Disability alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/

Inclusion Alberta: https://inclusionalberta.org

Centre for Independent Living Toronto: https://cilt.ca/

Tips

1) Google "(My town/region/province etc.) Disabled Benefits" or "(My town etc.) Disability Programs" etc. to find all sorts of programs, benefits, discounts etc.

2) Be part of the community, do what you can, but remember your needs and limitations.

3) Be compassionate and understanding of your friends'/helpers' needs too.

4) Make a trusted, close by, friend an emergency contact for quick help.

5) Look into Facebook groups (and other social media) for both condition specific support and for Buy Nothing etc. groups.

6) But be mindful of what you post on social media - people/insurance companies may get the wrong idea if you post highly active pics.

Welcome to Navigating Disability with Me, with Meghan and Pam! Meghan is a person with lived experience of disability and Pam is an able bodied person who has been a friend and support to several people in her life living with disabilities.

Overview of the short term disability process including sick time, EI qualifications, and working with your employer

Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

Links:

CRA EI estimator calculator: https://estimateurae-eiestimator.service.canada.ca/en

North Shore Disability Resource Centre: https://www.nsdrc.org/

Disability Alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org

Deltassist: https://deltassist.com/

Volunteer Cancer Drivers: https://volunteercancerdrivers.ca/

Wheels of Hope: https://csl.cancer.ca/en/Detail/1a9b6c6c-ea2d-ec11-b6e5-000d3a333c22

Tips:

1) If you have sick days, don't abuse them! You may need them for a disability. Do not treat any insurance payout as a windfall. That is supplementing your income.

2) For 2025: EI maxes out at 55% of your earnings at a cap of $695/week. Generally for a maximum of 45 weeks. This is taxable (confirmed post recording).

3) Read your collective agreement/union book/corporate policies on sick time, special leaves etc. Ask a knowledeable colleague or the union any questions.

4) Contact your union with any questions, search out your union disability rep.

5) Have a trusted friend/family member help with/proofread paperwork, applications etc. Or look for a local disability resource group - be patient!

6) Pace yourself through paperwork, get it done with time to spare. Be patient as everything takes lots of time to be processed.

7) Print out an extra copy of anything your doctor has to fill in. Fill it out yourself, using daily challenges as examples. Take that to the doctor with you so you can discuss and not miss any points when the doctor is filling in the official copy.

8) If forced into an excessive functional assessment (your doctor's documentation isn't enough to satisfy the insurance company) go in to the assessor. But book a GP appointment ahead of time for right after the assessment. At the assessment, the moment you start having symptoms stop, tell them what is happening (if it can't be seen) and why you can't continue, leave. If it's a 2 day assessment do the same the next day. Then go in to your GP appointment to have this all documented in your chart.

9) Check if you can continue to pay out any remaining sick time once you're on long term disability, as a top up. Other option is to save it for if you go back to work.

10) Google multiple variations of "(My town/region/province) Disability Benefits" to see what benefits or programs exist in your area.