Navigating Disability with Me Podcast Por Meghan & Pam arte de portada

Navigating Disability with Me

Navigating Disability with Me

De: Meghan & Pam
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A conversational podcast that empowers Canadians with disabilities (and those supporting them) by cutting through the complexity of the system. Featuring authentic lived experiences and insights, it brings together essential resources and real voices to guide, inform, and inspire2025
Episodios
  • Episode 10: CPP-D Part 3 - The Appeals Process

    Episode 10: CPP-D Part 3 - The Appeals Process
    Feb 1 2026

    The Appeals - CPP D part 3

    Lots of banter at the start! Episode (on topic information) starts at 7:40 mark.

    Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

    Links:

    1. CPP Benefits - Request a reconsideration: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/request-reconsideration.html
    2. Social Security Tribunal CPP-D Appeals Process at a Glance (this has the algorithm we keep talking about): https://www.sst-tss.gc.ca/en/your-appeal/canada-pension-plan-disability-appeals-process-glance
    3. Disability Alliance of BC: www.disabilityalliancebc.org
    4. North Shore Disability Resource Centre: www.nsdrc.org
    5. My Service Canada sign in: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/my-account.html

    Tips:

    1. Expect to be rejected on your first application as only 40-45% of people are approved for CPP-D on their first try. Don't let this stop you!
    2. With every step of the appeals process a significant percentage of people get approved.
    3. Top reasons for rejection: Disability is not deemed "severe or prolonged", Insufficient medical evidence, Failure to meet CPP contribution requirements, Late application, Incomplete application.
    4. Social Security Tribunal CPP-D Appeals Process at a Glance (link above) walks you through the entire appeals process, with timelines.
    5. First appeal (step 1) is within Service Canada/CPPD itself. 40% of people who are rejected pursue this step. 35% of those who appeal to Service Canada are then approved.
    6. Second appeal must be done within 90 days of Service Canada refusing your first appeal. This is the Appeal to the General Division of the Social Security Tribunal. 45% of people who fail their first appeal will move to this step. This step (step 2) can take over a year. 65% of those who go to the Social Security Tribunal were approved for CPPD. Another 45% are successful after appealing the rejection of the Social Security Tribunal (step 3).
    7. If you're refused CPPD after working through all the steps at the Social Security Tribunal the last step is to take it to court.
    8. Reach out to disability advocates such as The Disability Alliance of BC or The North Shore Resources Centre (or whatever is local to you). Many have mentors who can help walk you through applications and appeals.
    9. My Service Canada (sign in to your account) has a calculator for how much you're likely to be paid on CPPD.
    10. Your CPPD is likely to be clawed back by any long term disability benefit you're receiving. Remember that the protection of your pension, the endorsement by the federal government of canada as a disabled person, and many other benefits still make this worthwhile to pursue.
    11. CPPD is taxable. Ask them to take taxes off (in My Service Canada), or save the money to pay back at tax time.
    12. There are small increases in CPPD annually for inflation (like 2%).
    13. You are expected to stay on CPPD unless a very significant change/improvement happens to your health.
    14. For 2025 you could earn $7600 in extra income (not including LTD).
    15. You must tell the government about any work/schooling/volunteering that goes on for more than 15 hours/week for more than 4 months.
    16. You must inform the government of changes in personal life such as changes with children, as you are likely getting a CPPD benefit for each child.
    17. When you turn 65 CPPD turns automatically into a regular CPP pension. The amount you receive will change.
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    31 m
  • Episode 9: Fun with Forms - The Application (CPP-D Part 2)

    Episode 9: Fun with Forms - The Application (CPP-D Part 2)
    Jan 17 2026
    Fun with Forms: The Application Form CPP-D part 2 where we go page by page through the Canadian Pension Plan Disability application form! Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: Canada.ca - this is where you apply online but it's tricky to find the forms. Go to Pensions/CPP link, not Disability Benefit (that takes you to the Canadian Disability Benefit, the $200/month benefit for very low income Canadians, not to CPP-D). Scroll down to Disability sectionHere you'll end up going in a bit of a loop because if you hit "Apply" it'll loop you back to the main page. So hit "SIgn in to MSCA" button in upper rightSign into (or register) your My Service Canada Account (MSCA). Need SIN/ability to sign in with bank etc. In BC and AB you can sign in with the provincial "card" (BC Services Card) Or can do the paper application. Either: ISP 1151 if disabled https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp-disability-benefit/apply.html or ISP 2530A if terminally ill https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2530A.pdf Doctor/PCP completes separate medical form ISP 2519 if disabled https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2519.pdfISP 2530B if terminally ill https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2530B.pdf Even if doing an online application you must do a paper consent form, link is on the first page of the application website. https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2502.pdf Tips: 3 conditions must be met to qualify for CPP-D: Must be under the age of 65Must have made the minimum contributions to CPPMust have a mental or physical health condition/s that prevents you from regularly working any job. Must be severe and prolonged. Separate forms for terminal illness (see above in Links sections).Patient section (what we're talking about today) and Medical Form (to be filled in by doctor/primary care provider).Service Canada will pay $85 to medical professional filling the medical form in, you're responsible for the balance to the doctor of whatever they charge for the form. Don't wait for the doctor to have completed their form to send in yours.Quebec Pension Plan - separate but similar. Link on application page. This could impact you even if you no longer live there.Save your work as you go! It may disappear on you if you don't save frequently.There are regional offices for sending your paper form/consent form to. Addresses listed in the application form.Even if doing the online application you must do a paper consent form, link is on the first page of application website. https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2502.pdf Pace yourself, this took Meghan 5 weeks with breaks. Paper application is 28 pages. Can add extra pages. Fill in SIN at the top of every page.There's a checklist at the end of the application. Consider following it as you go through.Consider having a friend read through your finished application to make sure it's complete, clear and accurate.Send copies of any documentation you're sending in.Keep copies or screenshots of your completed application for your own records.Consider sending paper application in by registered mail for security and reassurance of receival.Questionaire: Basic personal info, time to callContributions to CPPMarital status questions Foreign work questionsChildren - very important as they seem to prioritize those with kids. Emphasize that you have kids every time you talk to Service Canada.Primary Care giver questions, family allowance questions etc as mentioned in Ep 8Asks about medical and physical status, specific tests, dates, locations, doctors. GP/PCP may be able to help with these details in your chart.Asks about specific meds, doses, treatments, outcomes etc.Asks about disability benefits you're already receiving. You must allow your LTD company (or whoever else is paying you) to communicate with Service Canada or that may impact your application.Allow for authorization for your LTD company to communicate with and send your medical info fto Service Canada.Reimbursement of benefits to insurance company - very important to allow this or you could be left with a big tax bill if Service Canada gives you a big back payment. This money would then include a backpayment to your insurance company. If it doesn't go straight to the insurance company then you will have to pay tax on the giant lump sum!A 4 page quiz (Functional Assessment) about tasks and how well you can do them. Important point - answer these as though it's your worst day. Rated on a scale. Use the essay sections! Look at the examples.Doctor/PCP questions - dates, reasons, other specialists with first and last dates.Asks about working history and employer - job titles, duties, datesEI questionsEducation and job trainingChildren - benefits, parenting time etc. You get a top up on CPPD for each child. Asks for details of each childRules around volunteering, working or attending...
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    42 m
  • Episode 8: CPP Disability Part 1: Why should you apply?

    Episode 8: CPP Disability Part 1: Why should you apply?
    Jan 5 2026

    The What and Why of Canadian Pension Plan Disability

    Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com

    Links:

    1. Government of Canada webpage for Canadian Pension Plan Disability Benefit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp-disability-benefit.html

    Tips:

    1. CPP-D is for Canadians who have contributed to The Canadian Pension Plan and have a severe and prolonged disability.
    2. As of 2025 you are limited to earning $7100 (gross before tax) before you have to notify CPP of your earnings, at which point they will assess if you are capable of doing regular work. This limit goes up with inflation (2026 it's $7400).
    3. Benefits may be impacted once you pass $7100 in income. Once you go over $20 153 it's likely you'll be cut off CPP-D. (2026 it's $20 971).
    4. Yes, it's mainly employment income that the CRA is looking at here. From googling we've learned that the CRA of course knows about your investment income anyway, from your taxes.
    5. CPP-D does not fully replace your income. It's a small percentage. The average CPP-D income per Canada.com is $1192/month.
    6. ⅙ of Canadians with disabilities live below the poverty line.
    7. If you're on Long Term Disability that insurance company will likely claw back all of your CPP-D (or will drop what they're paying you by exactly what you get from CPP-D).
    8. So why apply for CPP-D?
      1. CPP-D is often the key to getting into other programs and benefits.
      2. CPP-D tells insurance companies that provide LTD that you are recognized as a severely disabled person, making it harder for them to deny you your LTD benefit (this is what's been experienced by doctors and patients, but is not any sort of official rule).
      3. CPP-D tells the government you aren't choosing not to work and therefore the government protects your CPP (the actual pension), allowing you to get the full pension when you retire.
    9. CPP-D pays on the third to last day of the month.
    10. CPP-D is calculated as: a base amount that everyone gets, plus a portion that's income based ("CPP pensionable earnings").
    11. If you had to take time off for child rearing they will adjust the calculation so that it isn't punitive.
    12. CPP-D benefit goes up a (very) small amount every year.
    13. There's an additional benefit in CPP-D for your children.
    14. You will speak to CRA workers during the application process, they will give you time frames and phone numbers to watch for.
    15. The application processing will take longer than they say it will.
    16. Application requires you and your doctor/primary care provider's input. You will need names of medications, tests, symptoms etc., along with amounts, dates, places etc.
    17. Only 40% of applicants to CPP-D are approved the first try. Be thorough when filling in the forms!
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    31 m
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