Canada CPP disability Application: How to Apply, Forms Needed & More

This is your Canada CPP disability application guide for 2024. The Canada pension plan disability application is how you request CPP disability payments. However, getting approved for benefits can be hard.

A 2016 audit of CPP disability found that Service Canada denied 57% of initial applications. And of those who appealed that denial, 65% were denied again. Those are tough odds. However, I know that with the right strategy, all legitimate claims can be approved. Choosing the right strategy starts with educating yourself about the application process.

Keep reading to learn how you can pick the right strategy and ultimately submit a successful application for CPP disability benefits.

Table of Contents

Canada CPP disability application guide

I wrote this guide to give you an overview of how to apply for CPP disability. I answer the most common questions. Links to all the forms are included. I also laid out a 7-step process you can use for your application. This article is a shortened version of my book, The CPP Disability Application Workbook. Read to the end of the article to see how you can get your own copy.

How hard is it to get CPP disability?

People always ask me: How hard is it to get a CPP disability? There are many myths about CPP disability. Some people believe it is impossible to get approved. However, others are overconfident and believe that a supportive doctor is all it takes. Both beliefs are wrong.

CPP disability can be hard to get. How hard depends on a number of factors. Your medical condition. Past and future treatment. Work history. Attempts to stay in the workforce. Your attitude and level of self-awareness. I cannot stress the importance of having the right attitude and self-awareness.

You can lose a winnable case. My family learned this the hard way when my grandfather lost his disability claim when I was ten. I believe you can win any legitimate claim if you present it properly. However, some cases are harder to present than others. The good news is that you have opportunities for appeal. This is why we support people in completing their own applications.

What conditions qualify for CPP disability?

Many people call in to ask us what medical conditions qualify for CPP disability. Unfortunately, however, there isn’t an easy answer. Any condition can qualify for CPP disability as long as you can prove your condition is severe and prolonged and prevents you from doing substantially gainful work.

Along with that, you must also have made enough contributions to the CPP and be under the age of 65. But for those who insist on seeing a visual list of conditions that qualify for CPP disability, here you go. But remember, just because your condition is or isn’t on this list doesn’t necessarily mean you will qualify.

Physical impairments

Mental impairments

Disclaimer: The list of eligible impairments for CPP Disability is not exhaustive, and approval for benefits is determined on a case-by-case basis. Even if your condition is on the list, it does not guarantee approval.

CPP disability forms you will need

The CPP disability application includes two forms:

Application Form
Medical Report Form

CPP application form

Service Canada has an official application form for CPP disability. You must use the most current version when applying for benefits. There are two versions of this application form: A paper version and the online version.

The paper application is a 19-page form that you fill out by hand. Then, you have to mail this to Service Canada. You cannot use email or fax.

The online version is new. You fill out a form in your My Service Canada portal. When finished, you click submit, and the form is automatically sent in. To use the online form, you must have a My Service Canada account. We strongly recommend you open this account, even if you plan to submit the paper application.

CPP disability application medical form

The CPP disability medical report is the second part of the application. It’s a form that your doctor or nurse practitioner fills out. Service Canada uses this report to decide if you have a “severe and prolonged” disability. Your doctor must fill out a paper form and then mail it directly to Service Canada on your behalf. You will need to give your doctor a printed copy of the form.

When will my Canada Pension Plan disability application go through?

It takes between 6 to 18 months for your CPP disability application to get approved. This includes the time for you to prepare the application and the initial decision. It also includes any appeals. The time to get CPP disability payments depends on how long it takes you to present your case properly.

If you present your case poorly, then Service Canada will continue to deny it. Then, you have to appeal. These denials and appeals are the biggest sources of delay. However, you can reduce delays by learning about the best strategy for your situation. Knowing how to present your case properly is the best way to get earlier approval.

To learn more, check out our article: How long should it take to do a CPP disability application?

How to apply for CPP disability in 7 steps

How do I apply for CPP disability? The seven steps below on how to apply for CPP disability are from my book ‘The CPP Disability Application Workbook.‘ We will give you a summary of the main points, but the workbook is a more detailed guide. Read to the end of this article to see how you can get your free copy of the Workbook.

1. Make sure it’s the right time to apply

You should only apply when Service Canada has a chance to approve your claim. Therefore, the timing of when you apply is important. So, before you apply, ask yourself the following questions:

Have I worked enough to meet the minimum qualifying period?
Are my medical condition, disability, and treatment documented?
Does my doctor support me?
Have I done everything possible to stay in the workforce?

If you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, then you may have a problem. Let’s look at each in more detail.

Have I worked enough to meet the minimum qualifying period?

You must meet the CPP disability contribution requirements to qualify for benefits. So, before you stop work, you must know if your recent contributions are enough to qualify you for CPP disability. You must have worked 4 of the last six years before you go off on disability. Or 3 of the last five years if you have 25 years or more of contributions. If you don’t meet either of these requirements, then you can’t be approved for benefits, no matter how disabled you are. You may work a bit longer to get enough contributions to qualify for benefits.

Are my medical condition, disability, and treatment documented?

Service Canada expects to see medical records confirming your condition, diagnosis, and treatment. The more comprehensive the records, the better. And not just your recent medical records. If you have a chronic medical condition, then your medical records for the last two years can be very important. Medical records can paint a picture of your life in the year leading up to when you had to stop work.

Ideally, your medical records will say how your medical condition affects your work. They will show the treatment you have undergone and discuss future plans or treatment. You need to show that you cooperated with your doctor. And that you have done everything possible to get better. If you are still struggling at work, then now is the time to make sure your doctor records this in your medical file.

Do you have your doctor’s support?

You need your doctor’s support. Without it, Service Canada will almost never approve your claim. I say almost never because it’s possible to still win (we have done it). I don’t recommend it, however. It is not a strategy for success.

Try to keep working until your doctor recommends you stop. But what if your doctor won’t support you? This is a difficult situation that you need to handle very carefully. Understand that doctors are humans. There is a wide range of attitudes, competence, and bias among individual doctors. So, you have a few options for how to deal with your doctor.

Sometimes, your doctor just needs more convincing. With chronic illness, it’s hard to say when it becomes unreasonable for someone to keep working. It’s hard for a doctor to know when you cross the line from being reasonably able to work in discomfort to it being unreasonable for you to work. Sometimes, you can show the doctor that you did all you could to remain employed. CPP disability lawyers with experience in disability benefits cases can give you examples of how you can show your doctor that you have done all you can do. There is no dishonesty or trickery involved.

Sometimes, your doctor is incompetent or biased. Don’t jump to this as your first conclusion, as many people do. It is more likely that they just need more convincing. But, if this turns out to be the reason, then you need to find a new doctor. This is often easier said than done. And having no doctor can be worse than having a doctor that doesn’t support you.

Have I done everything possible to stay in the workforce?

One of Service Canada’s most common reasons for denial is that you didn’t try hard enough to stay at work. It is also one of the most common reasons you will lose your case at the Tribunal. The younger you are, the more important this is. You have to satisfy Service Canada and the Tribunal Judge that you have done everything possible to try to keep working. You need to have records to show you tried easier jobs. Show them that you reduced your work hours or took on easier job duties. Ultimately, you have to be able to show that you tried. It’s not enough to just say you did.

2. Get the CPP disability application form and medical report

You believe it is the right time to apply. Now, you need to get the application forms. There are two forms:

The Application Form
The Medical Report

You can download them below. You can also pick up printed copies at any Service Canada Centre, or you can use Service Canada’s online form. To use the online form, you need to register for a My Service Canada Account. Once you do that, you can log in and click on Canada Pension Plan. You will see an option for CPP disability and an application form.

Download: ‘CPP Disability Application Form‘ (PDF)
Download: ‘CPP Disability Medical Report Form‘ (PDF)

Note: the forms listed above are for people with non-terminal illnesses. If you have a terminal illness, you will need to complete these forms instead:

Download: ‘CPP Disability Terminal Illness Application Form‘ (PDF)
Download: ‘CPP Disability Terminal Illness Medical Attestation Form‘ (PDF)

3. Fill out the Application Form

Once you have the required forms, you can start filling out the application. This is often the hardest part of the CPP disability application process; however, if you’d like to see a step-by-step guide on how to complete each section of the form, check out our article: how to fill out CPP disability forms.

5. Prepare a Cover Letter

You should write a cover letter to go with your application forms. Technically, a cover letter is not required for your application. But, when it’s done right, it can improve your chances of success.

Your cover letter should be addressed to your local Service Canada Office. It should reference your name and social insurance number. The first paragraph should say that you are attaching the forms to apply for CPP disability benefits. You then list all the forms and information that you have attached or uploaded.

In the main body of the letter, you should give more information about your education, work history, and the impact of your disability over time. When describing your medical conditions and disability, explain how your medical condition and impairments gradually made it harder and harder to work with each passing month. Explain what you did to try and stay in the workforce. Did you try an easier job? Did you reduce your work hours? Talk about why changes didn’t work. Explain how your disability and impairments have restricted your home life, including restrictions on doing housework and other leisure activities.

Don’t overdo it. A big mistake is to write too much information. Also, don’t focus on trying to make legal arguments. This letter is your opportunity to tell your story. And allow the CPP adjudicator a much better understanding of how your disability has affected your life.

6. Assemble your application package

You should now have everything ready to go to apply for CPP disability benefits. Organization is important, so we must gather everything together. You should now have the following completed:

CPP Disability Benefits Application — completed and signed
A Medical Report Form
A signed cover letter

When submitting a paper application, ensure your final version is clean and neat. If you are applying online, use the practice application to fill in the online application. Make sure you include all the information. You can upload an extra sheet if you run out of room using the online form.

7. Mail your application package to Service Canada or submit the online form

You’re almost there! The last step is to mail your complete application documents to Service Canada. Service Canada has designated regional CPP disability application processing centres. So, it is important that you send your application to the right one.

Now, this is important. Do not try to courier your application to the designated Service Canada office. They will not accept it. You can get around this by sending it by Canada Post Express Post. That is like a courier, and it gives you a tracking number so you have proof it was sent. And you get a notice when it arrives. Do not send your application by regular mail!

If you are applying online, you can skip the mailing completely. You submit the online form. You can also upload PDF copies of your medical report and other documents if you run into problems uploading some documents. Or don’t have a way to scan them. You can still mail in documents using Express Post. Just make sure to include a cover letter that references your name and social insurance number. Or reference your CPP disability claim number if Service Canada has assigned it.

Service Canada will confirm receipt of your online form or paper application. Then, they’ll assign your application to a medical adjudicator. This person will review your application and decide to approve or deny it. You may have to wait up to six months to get a decision.

Key takeaways on applying for CPP disability

Applying for CPP disability is no easy task, so please don’t be too hard on yourself if your application doesn’t turn out exactly how you imagined it would. In reality, you don’t need a perfect application. You just need one that clearly shows you meet the program’s requirements.

Here are some key takeaways from the article that you should absolutely follow when preparing your application:

Educate Yourself: Understanding the CPP disability application process is crucial for success. Take the time to learn about the requirements and procedures.
Eligibility Varies: Eligibility for CPP disability benefits depends on factors like your medical condition, work history, and efforts to remain in the workforce. Make sure you meet the requirements before applying.
Medical Evidence: Comprehensive medical documentation is essential. Ensure your medical reports provide a clear picture of your condition, its severity, and its impact on your ability to work.
Child Rearing Provision: If you’ve stopped working to care for young children, be aware of the Child Rearing Provision, which may help you meet contribution requirements.
Appeal Process: If your initial application is denied, don’t lose hope. You have the right to appeal. Be prepared to provide additional evidence and attend appeal hearings if necessary.
Consult with Your Doctor: Your doctor’s support is critical. If your doctor is not initially supportive, consider addressing the issue and, if needed, find a doctor who will provide the necessary documentation.
Application Timing: Apply when you have a strong case. Ensure you’ve met the minimum qualifying period and have comprehensive medical records.
Application Forms: There are two key forms for the CPP disability application: the Application Form and the Medical Report Form. Use the most up-to-date forms and consider using the online version for convenience.
Cover Letter: While not mandatory, a well-written cover letter can provide additional context and information to support your application.
Application Package: Organize all your documents and forms before submission. Ensure that your application is neat and complete.
Submission: Mail your application to the designated regional CPP disability application processing center via Canada Post Express Post. If applying online, follow the submission process and upload documents as needed.
Patient and Persistent: The process may take several months, and you may need to be patient while waiting for a decision. If necessary, be prepared for appeals and additional documentation requests.

Remember that the process may vary depending on your specific circumstances, and it’s important to seek guidance from Service Canada or qualified professionals if you have questions or need assistance.

Free CPP disability application course

We talked about how to apply for CPP disability — but do you want to learn more? Sign up for our FREE CPP Disability Application Workbook Course to get access to the most comprehensive guide to applying for CPP disability.

This course comes with a free copy of our CPP Disability Application Workbook as well as access to 30+ videos covering all aspects of applying for CPP disability benefits. It also includes sample applications and templates. Click on the image below to sign up now.