You need financial assistance when struggling with an illness or injury that prevents you from working. CPP disability benefits can be a source of financial security if you’re dealing with a severe, long-term disability. But first, you must gain approval from Service Canada.
CPP disability approval can be difficult to get. People with legitimate physical or mental disabilities are frequently denied, despite their need for financial support. The good news is that there are steps you can take to maximize your chances of getting CPP disability approval. Read on for general advice—or better yet, connect with our CPP disability claim attorney to schedule a free consultation. We can discuss your unique circumstances and ways to strengthen your claim.
Ways to maximize the chances of CPP disability approval
1. Ensure you are eligible.
Having a long-term disability—whether it’s an injury, illness, or medical condition—is not enough on its own to qualify you for monthly CPP disability benefit payments. To be eligible for CPP disability benefits, you must:
Have a severe and prolonged disability;
Be under 65 years of age; and
Have made enough contributions to the Canada Pension Plan.
Before applying, you should take the time to understand and ensure you meet each of the eligibility criteria. If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria, you may need to continue working until you meet the minimum contributory requirements, or look to alternative sources of disability benefits (our LTD lawyer in Alberta and Saskatchewan can help you explore alternate sources such as long-term disability benefits or EI sickness).
2. Work closely with your doctor.
Objective medical evidence is the key to CPP disability approval, and your doctor is the primary source of that evidence. The medical report submitted with your CPP-D application must include a clear and comprehensive medical assessment of your disabling condition, including your functional limitations, impairments, treatments you’ve received, prognosis, etc. Simply stating your diagnosis or their opinion that you can’t work won’t be enough to get approval.
We strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment with the medical professional who will be completing the medical report so you can discuss the level of detail needed for your CPP disability application. If your doctor doesn’t support your claim or doesn’t think you should be off work, your claim will not be approved. You’ll need to consider seeing another doctor or a specialist who is supportive of your CPP-D application.
3. Hire a CPP disability claim attorney.
Consulting with an experienced lawyer at a CPP disability claim law firm is one of the best ways to strengthen your application. Our skilled CPP disability claim attorney can help you understand the eligibility criteria, guide you through the complicated maze of paperwork, and identify potential problems with your claim. We are very familiar with how the CPP-D program works and what supporting documentation you’ll need to boost your chances of success.
4. Gather and submit strong supporting documentation.
As discussed, a successful CPP disability claim requires a medical report form from your doctor. To increase your chances of gaining approval, you should provide additional supporting documentation, which depending on your situation may include:
Reports and/or medical records from other health care providers (e.g., specialists, hospital/emergency room)
Treatment records (e.g., physiotherapist, massage therapist, psychiatrist)
Test results and imaging studies
Prescription records
List of future treatments, upcoming specialist appointments, etc.
Employment records (e.g., to show your work history, unsuccessful returns to work, accommodations made for you in the workplace)
A covering letter that details your work history, your medical condition, how your medical condition prevents you from working, etc.
The right documentation is vital to CPP disability approval. It paints a more detailed picture of your disability and how it impacts your ability to work. Our CPP disability claim attorney can identify the evidence necessary for your claim and then assist with gathering evidence on your behalf in an efficient and effective manner.
5. Be truthful.
Whether you’re communicating with your doctor, your employer, a medical specialist, or a Service Canada representative (such as the medical adjudicator who will review your application and determine if you are approved), keep in mind that honesty is always the best policy. If you overstate your inabilities, exaggerate your symptoms, or withhold relevant information, it can seriously damage your chances of getting CPP disability approval.
Our CPP disability law firm can help you determine what information is relevant. We can work with you to implement strategies to repair your credibility if issues arise (e.g., obtaining updated medical records to support a change in your condition or gathering evidence to explain previous misstatements or inconsistencies).
TRUSTED LEGAL ADVICE FROM OUR CPP DISABILITY CLAIM LAW FIRM
Calgary-based Ludwar Law Firm has over 25 years of experience representing clients with disability claims. Our clients appreciate that we take the time to explain their options, what is required to make a CPP disability claim, and what to expect during the claims process. Our legal expertise has helped get CPP disability approval for all types of claims—even difficult claims involving depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.
The team at our CPP disability claim law firm will help you determine which benefits you are eligible to claim and guide you through the application process. We also provide legal services for matters such as long-term disability claims to clients throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. LTD lawyer James Ludwar has been assisting clients with LTD claims for over 25 years.
If you’re ready to work with a professional CPP disability claim attorney, we welcome you to reach out to us. Your first consultation with our CPP and LTD law firm is free and can be done at your convenience.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with our CPP and LTD lawyer (Alberta and Saskatchewan).
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