If your application for Canada Pension Plan disability benefits has been denied, you have the right to appeal. 

First Level of Appeal

If you receive a letter from Service Canada denying your application for CPP disability benefits, you can request a reconsideration of the decision within 90 days of receiving the letter. This step can take several months.

Good starting points for information on making a reconsideration request:

• CPP Disability Benefits Appeal Guide, Part 1, from Disability Alliance BC, is a guide to the reconsideration process.
• General information about the reconsideration process, from Service Canada.

Next Level of Appeal

If you then receive a letter denying your reconsideration request, you can appeal to the General Division of the Social Security Tribunal (SST). 

Note: This appeal process is a result of a change in 2013. The former Review Tribunal (RT) and Pension Appeals Board (PAB) have been replaced by the SST. Any appeals filed with the PAB that were not heard by March 31, 2013 have been transferred to the SST which will now hear all CPP appeals.

The SST has two Divisions:

Good starting points for information on filing an appeal with the SST:

• The Social Security Tribunal, from Disability Alliance BC, is a guide for people and advocates who are appealing denial of CPP Disability to the SST. It explains the new process in place since 2013.
• How to appeal a Canada Pension Plan decision: General Division, from the STT, provides information about how to file an appeal.

Need more help?

• CPP Disability Benefits Advocacy Program, from Disability Alliance BC, assists people with disabilities to apply for and appeal the denial of the federal CPP Disability Benefit.
• Community Law Program, from Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS), may be able to help you if you have applied for CPP disability benefits and have lost your appeal to the Social Security Tribunal (SST).
• Find more help near you on Clicklaw HelpMap.

See our related common questions:

• See all common questions about disabilities
• See all common questions about pensions, benefits & welfare

Last reviewed November 2015

tags

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits, reconsideration, appeals, Social Security Tribunal, SST, Service Canada