MP Cheryl Gallant Announces Improvements to Canada Pension Plan Disability Eligibility

March 20, 2008

Pembroke, Ontario - Cheryl Gallant, MP (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is pleased to confirm, on behalf of the federal government, announced changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability legislation that will help thousands of Canadians qualify for disability benefits.

"With this change, the Conservative Government of Stephen Harper is helping Canadians who have made a significant contribution to the labour force in their lifetimes to get the benefits they need," said MP Cheryl Gallant. "By 2010, we estimate that an additional 3,700 individuals and 1,000 of their children will receive CPP Disability benefits."

CPP Disability benefits provide a monthly taxable benefit to contributors who are disabled and to their dependent children. For this change, CPP Disability applicants with 25 years or more of CPP contributions will require valid contributions in three of the last six years, instead of the current requirement of four of the last six years. Medical eligibility requirements for CPP disability benefits will remain the same.

“Since I was re-elected in 2006 to form the Government of Canada, this latest announcement is just one in a long list initiatives announced to support Canadians faced with difficult and unique challenges,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP. “Measures from the last federal budget include expanding the list of eligible expenses under the Medical Expense Tax Credit. We are exempting training to help individuals cope with disabilities or disorders from the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST). Our Government has expanded the list of GST/HST-free medical and assistive devices to include, for instance service dogs. We have establishing the Registered Disability Savings Plan, which will help parents and others to save for the long-term financial security of a child with a disability. We are establishing the Working Income Tax Benefit, which provides up to $500 for individuals and up to $1,000 for families and will include an additional supplement for low-income working Canadians with disabilities. And, additionally, our government is providing $223 million to help Canadians with disabilities develop skills and secure meaningful, long-term employment through Labour Market Agreements with provinces for Persons with Disabilities.

“This is just a partial list of what our government has accomplished in two short years, by removing barriers to employment,” remarked MP Gallant. “A working Parliament is what Canadians want,” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.

The CPP Disability program is Canada's largest long-term disability insurance program. Its primary role is to replace a portion of earnings for CPP contributors who cannot work because of a severe and prolonged disability. A second objective is to assist CPP Disability recipients who may be able to return to the work force.