Disability benefits are not one single program. Workplace or privately purchased insurance is governed by the applicable policy. Short-term and long-term plans can have different waiting periods, definitions of disability and documentation requirements. Request the complete claim package and plan wording from the employer, administrator or insurer.
CPP disability is a federal benefit with its own age, contribution and disability criteria. Service Canada recommends applying as soon as a severe and prolonged disability prevents regular work; the application date can affect when benefits begin. The application and supporting medical information are separate parts of that process.
ODSP is Ontario income support for eligible residents who meet financial requirements and the disability definition, or belong to a prescribed class. It is separate from private insurance and CPP. Do not assume a decision under one program determines another program’s result.
Sources: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Disability insurance · Service Canada: CPP disability eligibility · Service Canada: Apply for CPP disability benefits · Ontario: ODSP eligibility for income support
Prepare a clear job description alongside the requested medical information. Describe the duties affected, restrictions, treatment, relevant side effects and the course of symptoms. Distinguish tasks you cannot do from tasks you can perform only with limits or assistance. Keep the information accurate and avoid relying solely on the name of a diagnosis.
Track the application, supporting documents, requests for further information and the date of each response. Keep copies rather than relying on an employer or provider to retain the complete claim file.
Request the written reasons and identify whether the dispute concerns eligibility, medical evidence, a policy exclusion or a change in the disability definition. Review the policy’s appeal requirements and obtain advice about legal deadlines promptly. Other benefit payments may reduce private disability benefits, so ask for an explanation of any offset or repayment demand.
For a consultation, organize the policy, application, decision letters, relevant medical records and employment information. Ask the firm for a suitable way to provide confidential documents rather than placing detailed medical information in a general website form.
Sources: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Disability insurance
General information for Ontario readers, prepared October 1, 2026. This is not legal advice. The facts, policy wording and applicable deadlines must be reviewed for an individual claim. Contacting the firm does not by itself create a lawyer-client relationship.
Contact Krylov Lam & Company for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case. Call toll-free 1 844 649 0003 or in Toronto 416 649 0000.
