Know what happens if your disability returns

If you return to work but your disability comes back, you can ask the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to start giving you benefits again. If you do this, you don’t have to go through the regular application process.

This is called “restarting” your benefits.

But, if the disability is not the same as your original disability, you will have to apply again.

There’s no limit to how many times you can restart your benefits for the same disability.

When you can restart your benefits

The CPP can restart your disability benefits if all of the following apply:

• your benefits stopped less than 2 years ago because you returned to work
• you can’t keep working because the same disability has returned or you’ve developed a related disability
• you’re younger than 65
• you’re not getting the CPP retirement pension

What you have to do

You must tell the CPP that your disability has returned. And you must do this within one year of the month you stopped working because of your disability.

There are 2 forms that you have to send in. These forms are mailed to you when your benefits stop.

On one form, you ask for your benefits to restart because your disability:

• came back, and
• stops you from working.

Your doctor fills out the other form. This form says that your disability has come back.