Effective April 1, 1995, eligibility for a disability pension under the Quebec Pension Plan has been verified for each person who has been recognized as having a severely limited capacity for employment or who has applied for this recognition.
All clients who may be eligible for such a pension must file an application. Deliberately postponing the start of the pension is regarded as a refusal to make an application. Generally, to be eligible to a disability pension, a person must:
- have made sufficient contributions to the Quebec Pension Plan;
- be less than 65 years of age;
- suffer from a permanent disability recognized by the Régie;
- be unable, due to his or her medical condition, to exercise any type of remunerative employment.
This obligation does not apply to a person:
- who is already receiving a disability pension;
- who has been receiving a retirement pension for more than 18 months;
- who has been receiving a pension for the past 18 months or less and was not recognized as a disabled person within the first 6 months of payment of the pension or
- who has never worked since 1966 (e.g.: person with a profound mental deficiency) and cannot share in the earnings of a former spouse.
- on an exceptional basis, who has not worked since 1966 (e.g. person with a profound mental deficiency) and cannot share in the earnings of a former spouse.
A person who is receiving a surviving spouse's pension may apply for a disability pension and, if found eligible, will receive a combined "disability-survivor's" pension. If the person has been receiving a retirement pension for less than 18 months and has been recognized as being a disabled person within the first 6 months of the payment of the surviving spouse’s pension, he or she may apply for a disability pension since it is more beneficial. The person's application will be analysed in the usual manner by the Régie.
A person may be found eligible for a disability pension prior to making an application if the Régie considers the person to have a serious and prolonged physical or mental disability. However, the maximum period of time for which a disability pension may be awarded is 8 months.