Canada Pension Plan – Disability Benefits 

Canada Pension Plan – Disability Benefits 

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefit is a monthly payment that you could receive if you are unable to work because of a disability. 

Eligibility  

• are under 65 

• contributed enough to the Canada Pension Plan 

• have a mental or physical disability that regularly stops you from doing any type of substantially gainful work 

• have a disability that is long-term and of indefinite duration, or is likely to result in death 

CPP post-retirement disability benefit 

If you currently get the monthly CPP retirement pension, you could receive the Canada Pension Plan post-retirement disability benefit if you: 

• are 60 to 65 

• contributed enough to the CPP 

• have a mental or physical disability that regularly stops you from doing any type of substantially gainful work 

• have a disability that is long-term and of indefinite duration, or is likely to result in death 

• have been receiving the CPP retirement pension for more than 15 months or become disabled after starting to receive the retirement pension 

RDSPs 

A registered disability savings plan (RDSP) is a savings plan intended to help an individual who is approved to receive the disability tax credit (DTC) to save for their long-term financial security. 

A long-term savings plan for people with disabilities: 

• Contributions grow tax-free 

• Federal government may contribute grants or bonds 

• Does not affect PWD or CLBC benefits 

• Funds can be used later in life to support independence 

Who can become a beneficiary of an RDSP 

You can designate an individual as beneficiary if the individual meets all of the following criteria: 

• Is approved for the DTC (disability tax credit) (unless transferring from an existing RDSP to a new RDSP).  

• Has a valid SIN 

• Is a residence of Canada when the plan is entered into.  

• Is under the age of 60 (a plan can be opened for an individual until the end of the year in which they turn 59).The age limit does not apply when a beneficiary’s RDSP is opened as a result of a transfer from the beneficiary’s former RDSP. 

A beneficiary can only have one RDSP at any given time, although this RDSP can have several plan holders throughout its existence and it can have more than one plan holder at any given time.