Financial
Supports
Canada
Pension Plan Disability Benefits (CPPD)
The MS Society has worked for several years to ensure that
individuals affected by MS who have contributed to the Canada
Pension Plan are able to access their disability benefits if
they are unable to continue to work due to their MS.
The MS Society has been working on many fronts to address
concerns related to CPPD:
- The MS Society is a member of the CPPD Roundtable. The
purpose of the Round Table is to provide a forum for an on-going
dialogue with policy staff at CPPD on how best to improve
services provided to clients by the CPP Disability program.
It also serves as a venue for sharing information about CPP
Disability. The expectation is that engaging knowledgeable
and informed individuals in a discussion of how to improve
CPP Disability services will bring forward new ideas and
help CPP Disability incorporate the desired client-centered
perspective. The Roundtable is a significant resource and
identifies measures for CPP Disability as it works to improve
the quality of its service to clients.
- The MS Society participated in the first online Parliamentary
study. The study was conducted by the Sub-Committee on the
Status of Persons with Disabilities. The study recommended
several changes some of which have been completed including
legislative change to remove disincentives to return to work.
- We
have provided information and education to the medical
adjudicators who determine eligibility for CPPD Disability
benefits. The information has assisted them to understand
multiple sclerosis and how if affects an individual’s
ability to remain in the workforce.
To read more about CPPD, click on the plus sign 
- In collaboration with staff at CPPD we host sessions for
clients to learn about the benefits, how to apply and appeal
and opportunities to return to work.
- We
have worked one on one with clients to assist them to apply
for and appeal the denial of benefits – See
Advocacy under Client Services for more information
- The MS Society has tried to persuade Human Resources and
Social Development Canada to develop a fairer definition
of disability that will consider the cyclical nature of some
disabilities including multiple sclerosis and mental illness.
CPPD
Return to Work Legislation - An important and exciting
legislative change was made to the Canada Pension Plan
(CPP) disability benefit program effective January 31,
2005
People
who are CPP disability benefit recipients and who return
to work are now guaranteed that their benefits will be automatically
reinstated if the attempt to return to work doesn’t work
out because their original disabling condition has returned.
Previously, if a CPP disability beneficiary failed at a return
to work, he or she would have to go through the entire application
process again.
With automatic reinstatement, if within two years of the date
when your benefit stopped, you cannot continue working because
the disability has recurred, you can ask to have your benefits
reinstated. You have up to one year from the month you stop
working because of your disability to inform Social Development
Canada that you would like your benefits reinstated.
For reinstatement, you must fill out a simple form confirming
you cannot continue working because your disability has recurred
and asking to have your benefits reinstated. Your doctor must
fill out another form, confirming your disability has recurred.
Your CPP disability benefits are reinstated starting the month
after you become unable to work. If your children are still
eligible, their benefits will also be reinstated. There is
no limit to the number of times you can request a reinstatement
of benefits if you continue to meet the requirements.
For
more information, call Human Resources and Social Development
Canada at 1-800-277-9914 or see the website www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca and
then click on Persons with Disabilities and then CPP Disability
Benefits.
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
The MS Society has been actively involved in influencing positive changes to the AISH program. The MS Society was the Co-Chair of the AISH Public Policy Roundtable and was also a member of the Alberta Disabilities Forum (ADF) Low Income Working Group. Both groups have contributed to improving the program in a number of ways:
- In collaboration with the broader disability community, we developed a policy document that recommended policy changes to improve the AISH program. The AISH Public Policy Roundtable’s new policy framework for AISH was used as a template for the MLA Task force who reviewed the program. Following the review there was several significant changes made to the program to improve the benefits for individuals in receipt of the AISH.
- The ADF Low Income Working group influenced the Alberta Government to extend the improved benefits to individuals who resided in the supportive living or long term care facilities. This particular group of individuals had not been a part of the larger discussion when improving the AISH program.
- The MS Society was a member of the AISH Disability Awareness Training Steering Committee. The committee developed a Disability Awareness Training (DAT) package for the civil servants who worked for Alberta Seniors and Community Supports. The package was developed in response to Recommendation #10 from the 2004 MLA AISH Review.
To read more about AISH, click on the plus sign
- We met with civil servants and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Education and Employment.
- We provided information to staff at AISH about MS and the impact it has on a person’s ability to remain gainfully employed.
For
more information about the AISH program visit www.seniors.gov.ab.ca/aish.
For
more information, contact:
Julie Kelndorfer, Director, Government & Community
Relations
780-440-8756
julie.kelndorfer@mssociety.ca
