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Pensions

How to Apply for CPP Disability Benefits: Step by Step

CPP disability is for people 18 to 65 whose disability stops them from working at any job regularly and is long-term or likely to cause death, and who have enough CPP contributions. Apply online or on paper, and have your doctor or nurse practitioner complete the medical report. The standard decision time is 120 days.

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How long it takes

Standard target: 120 days. Terminal illness: 5 business days. Grave conditions: 30 calendar days. Missing information slows it down.

Step by step

  1. Check the contribution rule.

    Contributions in 4 of the last 6 years, or 3 of the last 6 years if you have contributed for at least 25 years.

  2. Apply online in My Service Canada Account, or on paper (form ISP1151).
  3. Get the medical report completed.

    Fill in sections 1 and 2, then give it to your doctor or nurse practitioner. Don't wait for it before sending your application.

  4. Wait for the decision.

    A decision needs both the full application and the signed medical report.

Phone numbers

CPP and OAS (Canada and U.S.)

1-800-277-9914

Agents: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time. Automated: 24/7.

From outside Canada and the U.S.: 1-613-957-1954 (collect)

Related

Disability Tax Credit (DTC): Who Qualifies and How to Apply The disability tax credit is for people with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, certified by a medical practitioner. Apply with Form T2201: you complete Part A (online, by phone or on paper) and a medical practitioner completes Part B. You can apply any time of year. How to Sign In to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) Go to the official My Service Canada Account page, choose the sign-in option you registered with (Interac Sign-In Partner, GCKey, or B.C./Alberta provincial sign-in), then complete multi-factor authentication. First time? Register once using the Interac verification service or a Personal Access Code (PAC). CPP Phone Number: How to Contact the Canada Pension Plan The Canada Pension Plan phone number is 1-800-277-9914 (Canada and the U.S.). Agents answer Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, and the automated service runs 24/7. From outside Canada and the U.S., call 1-613-957-1954 collect.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.