Pension plans and disability

Have you become disabled? Here is a look at what pension plans provide.

Québec Pension Plan

In the event of a severe and permanent disability, the Québec Pension Plan (QPP) provides for a disability pension for workers under age 65. Workers must have sufficiently contributed to the QPP. The plan also provides for a pension for children of workers who are under age 18.

You must be under age 65 to be entitled to a disability pension. If you are between ages 60 and 65 and we have deemed you to be disabled, you could receive a disability pension in addition to your retirement pension until age 65. The amount of the disability pension is identical for all beneficiaries.

To receive a pension

If you are under age 60, you must have contributed for at least, as the case may be:

• two of the last three years in your contributory period;
• five of the last 10 years in your contributory period;
• half of the years in your contributory period, and for at least two years.

If you are between ages 60 and 65, you must have contributed to the QPP for at least three of the last six years in your contributory period to receive a disability pension.

Your contributory period begins in the month following your 18th birthday and ends the month during which Retraite Québec deems you to be disabled.

We must also deem you to be disabled. Your disability must be severe and permanent:

• if you are under age 60, you must be incapable, due to your state of health, of doing every type of work for which you would earn $20 746 or more gross (before taxes) per year in 2024.
• If you are between ages 60 and 65, your state of health must prevent you from doing your usual work or require you to reduce your working hours for at least three months. For each of the three months, your earnings must not exceed $1728.

Important

• Another agency, such as an insurance company, could deem you to be disabled. This does not guarantee that you will receive a disability pension under the QPP. The requirements to be met may be different.
• On the medical assessment regarding your ability to work, Retraite Québec only takes into account your state of health.
• Have you contributed to the Canada Pension Plan or to a pension plan of a country with which the Government of Canada or the Gouvernement du Québec has a social security agreement? The years accrued could allow you to receive a disability pension.

How much will you receive?

You are under age 60

If you are under age 60, you will receive a disability pension made up of two portions each month:

• an amount of $583.29, which is the same for all beneficiaries;
• another amount that varies based on the employment earnings entered in your file under the Québec Pension Plan.

The disability pension can reach a maximum of $1606.75 per month in 2024.

You are between ages 60 and 65

If you are between ages 60 and 65, each month you will receive:

• a disability pension for which the amount is identical for all beneficiaries. For 2024, the amount is $583.29;
• A retirement pension under the QPP. Your retirement pension is calculated based on the employment earnings you earned since you turned 18. It also varies based on the age at which you begin receiving it.

You will automatically receive it because it will replace the portion of the disability pension that varies based on the employment earnings entered in your file and which you will no longer receive as of age 60.

What you need to know about the pension amount

Consult your Statement of Participation under the QPP in My Account to have an estimate of your disability pension.

The disability pension can be paid as of the fourth month following the month during which we deem you to be disabled.

All QPP pensions are indexed in January of each year. They are therefore ajdusted to the cost of living. They are also taxable. They affect the calculation of the taxes, because they are added to your income.

When you turn 65, you will no longer receive your disability pension. You will only receive your retirement pension. This change will be made automatically. You could also be entitled to the Old Age Security pension  from the government of Canada.

Do you have dependent children under age 18?

If you are receiving a disability pension, your dependent children under age 18 will be entitled to a pension for a disabled contributor's child. The pension, which is added to your disability pension, is $93.39 per month, per child, in 2024. It is part of the child's personal income, even if you are receiving it. It is therefore taxable.

Your child is considered to be:

• your biological child;
• your adoptive child;
• your child who had been living with you for at least one year when we deem you to be disabled. You must fulfil your role as a mother or father.

If children are placed in foster care in your home and you are receiving amounts for that purpose, we cannot deem them to be your children.

Canada Pension Plan

If you are working elsewhere in Canada, you are probably contributing to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The plan also pays a disability pension , but the legislative provisions governing that pension differ from those under the QPP.

Private pension plans

If you are a member of a private pension plan, you could be entitled to a disability pension. Consult your plan administrator to find out whether such a pension is offered.

Other benefits in the event of disability

In addition to disability benefits under pension plans, other benefits are provided by various agencies in the event of disability.

Private insurance companies

You might already be receiving disability benefits from a private insurance company. The benefits could be integrated with the disability pension and the retirement pension under the Québec Pension Plan (QPP). In other words, depending on the date on which we deem you to be disabled, your insurance company could reduce or cancel your benefits. For more information on your insurance contract, contact your insurance company.

The Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)

A person who becomes disabled because of a work-related accident or an occupational disease must contact the CNESST. For more information, contact your employer.

The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)

A person who becomes disabled following a traffic accident must contact the SAAQ .

The Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

The Gouvernement du Québec provides financial assistance to persons without any income . A person who becomes disabled and is not eligible for any disability benefit can obtain financial assistance from the Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.

Assistance for victims of criminal offences

Québec has implemented measures to assist and compensate victims of criminal offences .

Worth knowing about...

• Each plan or program has its own definition of disability. Check the definition of disability with each agency that could pay you an indemnity.
• A disability pension could be paid for a limited time. Make sure you are familiar with all payment conditions from the start.

• Public retirement plans : a guaranteed base income
• How much will you receive from the public programs at retirement?