A CPP Disability lawyer can help if your Canada Pension Plan Disability claim has been denied, delayed, or challenged by Service Canada.
CPP Disability benefits, also called CPPD, are meant to provide monthly income if a serious medical condition prevents you from working. However, many valid claims are denied because the application or medical evidence does not clearly explain why the person can’t work regularly.
At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our disability lawyers help people across Canada with CPP Disability applications, reconsiderations, CPP Disability appeals, tribunal hearings, and disputes involving long-term disability insurers.
👉 For a full overview of the program, see our guide to CPP Disability benefits in Canada.
When Should You Contact A CPP Disability Lawyer?
You should consider speaking with a CPP Disability lawyer if:
- Your CPP Disability application was denied
- You are looking for a CPP Disability appeal lawyer
- You need help with a CPP Disability reconsideration
- You have a Social Security Tribunal hearing
- Service Canada says you can still work
- Your doctor supports your claim, but CPP Disability was still denied
- Your long-term disability insurer told you to apply for CPPD
- You were approved for CPP Disability and now have questions about LTD offsets or retroactive payments
- You are overwhelmed by the application or appeal process
⚠️ A denied CPP Disability claim does not always mean you are not eligible. It often means Service Canada did not receive enough clear medical and functional evidence to approve the claim.
How A CPP Disability Lawyer Can Help
A CPP Disability lawyer can help identify why your claim was denied and what evidence is needed to strengthen your case.
Our lawyers can help you:
- Review your CPP Disability decision letter
- Identify weaknesses in your application or appeal
- Gather stronger medical evidence
- Explain your work restrictions and limitations clearly
- Prepare written submissions for Service Canada or the tribunal
- Prepare for a Social Security Tribunal hearing
- Deal with CPP Disability issues that overlap with long-term disability benefits
The goal is to show, in plain terms, why your condition is both severe and prolonged under the CPP Disability rules.
CPP Disability Claims Can Be Difficult To Prove
To qualify for CPP Disability, you must show that your medical condition is both:
- Severe — it regularly prevents you from doing substantially gainful work
- Prolonged — it is long-term, indefinite, or likely to result in death
Service Canada does not approve CPP Disability benefits based on diagnosis alone. The key issue is how your condition affects your ability to work in a regular, reliable, and sustainable way.
For example, a person with chronic pain, depression, cancer, Long COVID, a neurological condition, or a serious injury might qualify if the evidence shows that the condition prevents them from working. But the same diagnosis might be denied if the medical records do not clearly explain the person’s restrictions and limitations.
👉 Learn more about CPP Disability eligibility and how hard it can be to get approved.
Help With CPP Disability Applications
If you are applying for CPP Disability for the first time, the application must clearly explain your medical condition, symptoms, treatment, work history, and limitations.
Many applications are denied because they focus too much on the diagnosis and not enough on how the condition affects the person’s ability to work.
Our lawyers can help with the application stage by:
- Reviewing whether you appear to meet the CPP Disability test
- Identifying what medical evidence may be needed
- Helping you explain your restrictions and limitations
- Reviewing the medical report and supporting documents
- Helping avoid common mistakes that lead to denials
Strong medical evidence is important, but it must also be connected to your ability to work. A doctor’s note saying you are “disabled” may not be enough if it does not explain why you can’t work regularly.
👉 Learn how to complete a CPP Disability application.
Help After CPP Disability Is Denied
If your CPP Disability claim was denied, Service Canada should send you a decision letter explaining why. Common reasons for denial include:
- Not enough medical evidence
- Medical records that do not explain work limitations
- Service Canada believing you can still do some type of work
- Incomplete or inconsistent information
- A lack of evidence showing your condition is long-term
- Gaps in treatment or missing specialist reports
A lawyer can review the denial letter and help determine what evidence is missing. This is especially important before you submit a reconsideration request or appeal.
👉 Learn more about why CPP Disability claims are denied and what to do next.
CPP Disability Appeal Lawyer
If your CPP Disability claim was denied, a CPP Disability appeal lawyer can help you understand why Service Canada refused your claim and what evidence may be needed to challenge the decision.
A CPP Disability appeal can involve a reconsideration request, a Social Security Tribunal appeal, or both. The right next step depends on the reason your claim was denied and the strength of your medical evidence.
Our lawyers can review your denial letter, gather stronger medical evidence, prepare written submissions, and represent you if your CPP Disability appeal proceeds to a tribunal hearing.
If your LTD insurer is also involved, a CPP Disability appeal lawyer can help you understand how the appeal may affect offsets, repayments, or pressure from the insurance company.
👉 Learn more about CPP Disability reconsideration and what to expect at a CPP Disability tribunal hearing.
CPP Disability Reconsideration
If Service Canada denies your CPP Disability claim, the first step is usually a request for reconsideration.
You must request reconsideration in writing within 90 days of receiving your decision letter.
At this stage, our lawyers can help by:
- Reviewing the denial reasons
- Gathering stronger medical evidence
- Preparing written submissions
- Explaining why you meet the severe and prolonged test
- Addressing Service Canada’s concerns about your ability to work
A reconsideration is not just a second chance to send the same information again. It is an opportunity to strengthen the claim and respond directly to the reasons Service Canada denied it.
👉 Learn more about CPP Disability reconsideration.
CPP Disability Tribunal Appeals
If your reconsideration is denied, you may be able to appeal to the Social Security Tribunal of Canada.
A tribunal hearing gives you the chance to explain your condition, your work limitations, and why you believe you qualify for CPP Disability benefits.
Our lawyers can help by:
- Filing the appeal
- Preparing written arguments
- Organizing medical evidence
- Preparing you for questions at the hearing
- Representing you before the tribunal
Tribunal appeals can be stressful. Having a lawyer can help ensure your case is presented clearly and that the tribunal understands how your disability affects your ability to work.
👉 Learn what to expect at a CPP Disability tribunal hearing.
CPP Disability And Long-Term Disability Benefits
Many people who apply for CPP Disability also receive long-term disability benefits through a private insurance policy.
In many LTD claims, the insurer can require you to apply for CPP Disability. If your CPP Disability claim is approved, the insurer may reduce your LTD payments by the amount you receive from CPPD. This is often called an offset.
There can also be issues with retroactive CPP Disability payments. If CPPD pays a lump sum for a period when you were also receiving LTD, the insurer may ask you to repay some of the LTD benefits it already paid.
Our lawyers can help you understand how CPP Disability and LTD benefits work together, especially if your insurer is pressuring you to apply, appeal, or repay benefits.
👉 Learn more about CPP Disability and long-term disability benefits.
CPP Disability Payments, Back Pay, And Offsets
For 2026, the maximum CPP Disability payment is $1,741.20 per month. The average monthly amount for new beneficiaries as of April 2026 is $1,234.68.
If your claim is approved, your actual payment depends on your CPP contribution history. You may also be eligible for retroactive payments if your disability began before your claim was approved.
If you also receive LTD benefits, CPP Disability payments can affect how much your insurer pays. Before spending a CPP Disability lump-sum payment, it is important to understand whether your insurer may claim an offset or repayment.
👉 Learn more about how much CPP Disability pays.
Can You Work While Applying For Or Receiving CPP Disability?
CPP Disability is for people whose medical condition regularly prevents them from doing substantially gainful work. However, limited work may be allowed in some situations.
In 2026, you must contact Service Canada once you earn $7,400 before tax while receiving CPP Disability. A substantially gainful occupation is work that pays $20,971.45 or more before tax in 2026.
If you return to regular work, earn too much, or your medical condition improves, your CPP Disability benefits could be affected.
👉 Learn more about whether you can work while on CPP Disability.
How Long Does A CPP Disability Claim Take?
Service Canada aims to make a decision on CPP Disability applications within 120 calendar days. A claim can take longer if more medical evidence is needed, the application is incomplete, or the case is complex.
If your claim is denied, the process can take longer because of reconsideration or a tribunal appeal.
👉 Learn more about how long CPP Disability takes.
Our Fee Structure For CPP Disability Claims
At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our fees depend on the stage at which we become involved in your CPP Disability claim.
You do not pay us unless we are successful in helping you obtain CPP Disability benefits.
Application Stage Fee
Our application stage fee is a flat fee, plus tax and disbursements, payable only if your claim is approved.
Reconsideration Or Appeal Stage Fee
For reconsiderations or appeals, our fee is 33.33% of any retroactive lump-sum payment and 33.33% of monthly benefits for up to two years, plus tax and disbursements, payable only if we are successful.
During your consultation, we will explain the fee structure clearly and answer your questions before you decide whether to move forward.
Why Choose Samfiru Tumarkin LLP?
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP is one of Canada’s leading law firms for disability claims and insurance disputes.
Our disability lawyers regularly help clients with:
- CPP Disability applications
- CPP Disability reconsiderations
- CPP Disability tribunal appeals
- Long-term disability denials
- Disputes involving LTD offsets and CPP Disability payments
- Employment issues connected to disability and medical leave
We understand how Service Canada reviews CPP Disability claims and how private insurers use CPPD approvals, denials, and offsets in long-term disability cases.
Our team can explain your options in plain language and help you take the next step with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About CPP Disability Lawyers
Do I need a lawyer to apply for CPP Disability?
You are not required to use a lawyer to apply for CPP Disability. However, a lawyer can help if your claim is complicated, your medical evidence is weak, your LTD insurer is involved, or you are worried the application may be denied.
Can a CPP Disability appeal lawyer help if my claim was denied?
Yes. A CPP Disability appeal lawyer can review your denial letter, identify missing evidence, prepare stronger written submissions, and help with reconsideration or a Social Security Tribunal appeal.
Should I contact a lawyer after CPP Disability is denied?
Yes. If your CPP Disability claim was denied, it is a good idea to get legal advice before submitting a reconsideration request. A lawyer can review the denial reasons and help determine what evidence may be needed to strengthen your claim.
How long do I have to request CPP Disability reconsideration?
You must request reconsideration in writing within 90 days of receiving your CPP Disability decision letter.
Can a CPP Disability lawyer help with a tribunal hearing?
Yes. A CPP Disability lawyer can help prepare your evidence, written arguments, and testimony for a Social Security Tribunal hearing.
Can I receive CPP Disability and long-term disability benefits at the same time?
Yes, but your LTD insurer may reduce your LTD payments by the amount you receive from CPP Disability. Your insurer may also seek repayment if CPP Disability pays retroactive benefits for the same period covered by LTD.
Does CPP Disability approval help an LTD claim?
It can help, but it does not automatically force an LTD insurer to approve or continue benefits. CPP Disability and LTD claims use different rules, but a CPPD approval can be useful evidence in an LTD dispute.
Speak With A CPP Disability Lawyer Today
If your CPP Disability claim was denied, delayed, or affected by your long-term disability benefits, speak with a disability lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.
We can review your situation, explain your options, and help you understand the next step.
➡️ Need help with a CPP Disability appeal? Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP for a free consultation with a CPP Disability appeal lawyer.