CPP disability benefits
When would I be entitled to CPP disability benefits?
You might be entitled to CPP disability benefits if:
- you are younger than 65,
- you have enough pension contributions, and
- you have a severe and prolonged disability.
Pension contributions are based on what you and your employers paid into the CPP while you were working. The government keeps a record of all these contributions.
If you are divorced or separated you may be entitled to a share of the pension contributions of your former spouse or common-law partner. For more information about this, see CLEO's resource Separation and Divorce or Death of a Spouse: Property Division.
Severe usually means that your disability prevents you from earning more than a small amount of income from work. Your disability can be physical, mental, or both.
Prolonged means that your disability is likely to last for a long and unknown amount of time, or to eventually cause death.
Your disability does not have to be caused by your job.