Retraite Québec’s disability pension
A person is automatically deemed to have severely-limited capacity for employment when he or she is granted a disability pension, a survivor disability pension or an additional amount for disability (MAPI) by Retraite Québec.
Combined pensions
The additional disability amount is paid to persons who have been declared disabled and are already receiving a retirement pension and who have passed the deadline for converting their retirement pension into a disability pension. The amount is added to the retirement pension, which then becomes a combined pension, and is paid until the month the person reaches the age of 65.
The survivor disability pension is also a combined pension. It is paid to persons declared disabled who are already receiving a surviving spouse's pension and is paid until the month the person reaches the age of 65.
Waiting period
Unlike other types of pensions (retirement, surviving spouse), there is a waiting period for the payment of the disability pension, the surviving spouse's disability pension or the Retraite Québec additional amount for disability. Payment begins in the fourth month after the month considered by Retraite Québec as the one in which the disability began.
However, the recipient is eligible for severely-limited capacity for employment benefits the month following that in which he or she is determined to be disabled by Retraite Québec, even if payment begins later because of the waiting period.
Disability pension income
Income paid by Retraite Québec constitutes a realized benefit. Special provisions apply when the person receiving last-resort financial assistance used to receive retirement pension and is now eligible for disability pension, since Retraite Québec recovers the amounts paid as retirement pension.
Supplement for Handicapped Children Requiring Exceptional Care
The Supplement for Handicapped Children Requiring Exceptional Care was introduced to assist families who assume unusual caregiving responsibilities or provide ongoing care for a child with severe and multiple disabilities.
When a child eligible for the supplement reaches the age of 18, Retraite Québec sends the parents a letter informing them they are no longer eligible for the program. The letter also encourages the child, or the parents on the child's behalf, to apply for last-resort financial assistance. Severely-limited capacity for employment is automatically established by providing the above-mentioned letter to the Income Security Program advisor.
Other disability pension
A person is automatically considered to have severely-limited capacity for employment when he or she receives a recognized disability pension, since such a pension demonstrates that he or she has severely-limited capacity for employment.
List of recognized disability pensions, other than those paid by Retraite Québec:
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Pension from a private disability insurance plan (long-term coverage for permanent disability);
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Disability pension from the US social security system;
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Veterans program disability allowance;
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Canada Pension Plan disability benefit or post-Retraite Québec disability benefit.
Back payment of the severely-limited capacity for employment allowance
The severely-limited capacity for employment allowance is granted retroactively to the month following eligibility to disability pension but no earlier than the date of filing an application for financial assistance with the Income Security Program.
When a person applies for the program in the month in which he or she becomes eligible for disability pension, the severely-limited capacity for employment allowance is awarded for that month.
Pending assessment of severely-limited capacity for employment, a person who becomes eligible for a recognized disability pension shall be granted severely-limited capacity for employment benefits retroactively to the month following eligibility for that pension.