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Staying in Touch – Newsletter No. 7 February 2008
A newsletter for people receiving a Canada Pension Plan Disability benefit
Welcome to your annual Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) newsletter, Staying in Touch.
In this Issue
Alternate Formats
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Benefits and services for you and your family
The Government of Canada offers several benefits and provisions that you or your family could be eligible for:
CPPD Children’s Benefit – While you are receiving your CPPD benefit, your dependent child under 18 (or your child who is between 18 and 25 and who is attending school full-time), is eligible for a benefit of $208.77 (for 2008) per month. These benefits are not automatic—you or your children must apply.
Child Rearing Provision – If you had low or zero earnings during the time you were raising children who were under the age of seven and born after December 31, 1958, the Child Rearing Provision could help you qualify for a benefit or have your amount increased.
Survivor’s Benefit – If you are the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor, you may be eligible for the survivor’s benefit. If you are eligible, the survivor’s benefit will be combined with your CPPD benefit into a single monthly payment. The CPP also offers a lump-sum death benefit to the estate of the contributor to help with funeral expenses.
For more information about these benefits, please contact Service Canada at 1–800–277–9914 or visit servicecanada.gc.ca.
Canada Child Tax Benefit – If you have a child under the age of 18, you could be eligible for this tax-free benefit. For more information on benefit programs, contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1–800–387–1193 or visit cra.gc.ca.
Compassionate Care Benefit – When someone must take time off work to care for a gravely ill family member who is at risk of dying, he or she may be eligible for the Employment Insurance compassionate care benefit. Compassionate care benefits may be paid up to a maximum of six weeks.
For more information on the compassionate care benefit, please call 1–800–206–7218 or visit servicecanada.gc.ca.
Participating in paid employment
How much can I earn before I need to contact CPPD?
You can earn up to $4,400 per year (gross income before taxes in 2008) before you need to contact us. This is not a point at which benefits are stopped; it is an opportunity to talk with CPPD staff who will provide support and services to help you continue working.
A financial safety net if you return to regular work
Did you know that you can have your CPPD benefits automatically restarted if you go back to work, but cannot continue working because your disability returns? You do not have to reapply; you and your doctor just need to each complete a simple one-page form to notify CPPD that you want to restart your benefits.
Over 650 clients have used Automatic Reinstatement since its launch three years ago. Most importantly, clients with cyclical or recurring medical conditions can now switch back and forth easily between periods of regular employment and periods when income support is required.
For more information about CPPD’s return-to-work supports and services, contact us at 1–800–277–9914 and ask to speak to a Vocational Rehabilitation Case Manager.
How Automatic Reinstatement works
- When you return to regular work, your benefits will be stopped. You will receive an information package explaining how to have your benefits restarted if needed.
- If within two years of the date your benefits stopped, you cannot continue working because of your disability, you can ask to have your benefits started again.
- You have up to one year from the month you stopped working to ask for your benefits to be reinstated.
- There is no limit to the number of times you can use Automatic Reinstatement.
- If your children are still eligible, their benefits will be reinstated too.
Participating in your community
Don’t feel ready to go back to work? You can volunteer, attend school, participate in training or upgrade your skills without affecting your CPPD benefits.
Volunteering
Volunteers give freely of their time and expertise in order to make a difference. Through volunteering you can:
- learn new skills
- gain work experience
- improve health
- meet new people
- contribute to your community
Jenna’s story
Jenna has been receiving CPPD benefits for almost five years. She had often thought about volunteering as a way of giving back to her community. With the encouragement of her daughter, Jenna contacted an adult literacy program about volunteer opportunities.
As a result of that phone call, Jenna now volunteers at her local library one day per week as her health permits. She is helping adults improve their reading skills, and she enjoys the social aspects of the library community.
Returning to school
Students of any age with a permanent disability who qualify for a Canada Student Loan may also be eligible to receive grants that they do not have to repay. To learn more, contact the National Student Loans Service Centre at 1–888–815–4514 or visit canlearn.ca.
Finances and taxes
Have you applied for the Disability Tax Credit?
Many people who receive the CPPD benefit may also be eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. The Disability Tax Credit reduces the amount of income tax that a person pays.
The Canada Revenue Agency guide RC4064, Medical and Disability-Related Information, describes the Disability Tax Credit and other tax deductions and credits that you may be able to claim. For a copy of this guide and the application form, call the Canada Revenue Agency at 1–800–959–2221 or visit cra.gc.ca/disability.
A new tax measure for people with disabilities
The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) is a new refundable tax credit that can be claimed by eligible low-income individuals and families beginning with their 2007 income tax returns. A disability supplement to the WITB is also available for individuals (other than a dependant) who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, meet the eligibility criteria for the WITB, and have earned income over a certain level.
For more information on the Working Income Tax Benefit, contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1–800–959–8281 ( TTY users contact 1-800-665-0354) or visit cra.gc.ca.
Planning for your future
What happens to my CPPD benefit when I turn 65?
Once you turn 65, your CPPD benefit will automatically change to a CPP retirement pension. You will not need to apply.
Your CPP retirement pension will likely be less than your disability benefit. However, you can also apply for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and, depending on your income, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Further, your spouse may also be eligible for the Allowance benefit. You will receive an application form for OAS at least six months before you turn 65.
Making it easier to apply for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
As of May 2007, eligible seniors only have to make a one-time application for the GIS. As long as they file income tax returns every year, they will never have to reapply.
Staying in touch with CPPD
Let us know if:
- you are returning to work or your return to work was unsuccessful;
- your medical condition has improved;
- a child enters or leaves your care and custody (by birth, adoption, marriage, common-law relationship, death, etc.);
- your address, telephone number or direct deposit information changes.
By reporting these changes, you will avoid any disruptions to your disability payments and receive all benefits to which you are entitled. You will also avoid having to repay any amount you were not entitled to receive.
Online services
Speed up transactions online!
By getting your Personal Access Code (PAC) for Service Canada’s online services, you can view your CPP and OAS tax slips earlier, rather than waiting for them to arrive in the mail. You can also change your address and direct deposit information, view your most recent payment amounts, and view your CPP Statement of Contributions.
To apply for your PAC and to use these online services, visit servicecanada.gc.ca and select “Access My Service Canada Account.”
Contact Service Canada
For more information on OAS or CPP benefits:
Call
1–800–277–9914 for service in English
1–800–277–9915 for service in French
1–613–957–1954 (outside Canada and the U.S.)
1–800–255–4786 ( TTY)
Click servicecanada.gc.ca
Visit a Service Canada Centre
By Mail PO Box 8522, Ottawa, ON K1G 3H9
Please remember, if you contact us by telephone or mail, we will need your Social Insurance Number.
Contact the Canada Revenue Agency
Call
For information on the Canada Child Tax Benefit:
1–800–387–1193 for service in English
1–800–387–1194 for service in French
For a copy of the Disability Tax Credit application form:
1–800–959–2221 for service in English or French
For information about the WITB:
1–800–959–8281 for service in English
1–800–959–7383 for service in French
Click cra-arc.gc.ca
Service Canada delivers the Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan programs on behalf of Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
Note:
This publication is also available in alternative formats (Braille, CD, large print, computer diskette or audiocassette) by calling 1 800 O–Canada (1–800–622–6232). TTY users should call 1–800–926–9105.