Adult Financial Literacy Guide | Page 6

Disability Benefits There can be a major financial impact of living with a disability. You may qualify for programs to help supplement your other sources of income if you are living with a disability. Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefit The Canada Pension Plan Disability benefit is a monthly benefit that is payable to eligible applicants who have severe and prolonged disabilities that prevent them from working at any job on a regular basis. To qualify for the CPP Disability Benefit, you must:    Be between 18 and 65 years of age. Have earned a specified minimum amount and made contributions to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) while working for a minimum number of years. meet the CPP’s definition of having a disability. Note: The application process for benefits can take time. Start investigating your options as soon as possible to minimize financial difficulties. You must have made contributions to CPP in four out of the last six years before you became disabled, or if you have made contributions to CPP for at least 25 years, you can meet the minimum qualifying period with contributions in three out of the last six years before you became unable to work because of a disability. A doctor will need to fill out the medical report portion of the application. The government will pay your doctor a certain amount to complete the medical report for you. Contact Service Canada at: 1-800-277-9914. For more information on the CPP Disability Benefits go to the following link: www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/Eng/ forConsumers/lifeEvents/ livingDisability/Pages/Canadape- Prestati.aspx Photo credit Keoni Cabral via Visual hunt CC BY 6