Conditions of payment
Starting date for a disability pension
Payment of a disability pension normally begins 4 months after the month as of which the Régie deems a person to be disabled. This is a statutory waiting period.
However, if the person is receiving an unreduced income replacement indemnity from the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST), a disability pension can be paid as of the month following the one in which payment of the indemnity ends.
An example of a waiting period
| January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
| The Régie deems the applicant to be disabled as of January. |
The waiting period begins in February. |
Second month of the waiting period. |
Third month of the waiting period. |
End of the waiting period. Payment of the disability pension begins. |
Payment frequency
Disability payments are made on the first working day of each month, by Direct Deposit or by cheque.
When payments end
Disability pension payments end when the beneficiary reaches age 65. At that time, the disability pension is automatically replaced by a retirement pension. The beneficiary does not have to apply to the Régie for the change to take effect. The amount of the retirement pension will be reduced by 6% for each year (0,5% for each month) for which the person received a disability pension between the ages of 60 and 65.
Changes to the actuarial adjustment factor for retirement pensions
As of 1 January 2014, the actuarial adjustment factor for retirement pensions will vary between 0,5% and 0,6% for each month in which a person receives a disability pension between age 60 and 65. It will increase progressively between 2014 and 2016. The actuarial adjustment factor will increase proportionally to the amount of the retirement pension, remaining at 0,5% for a person who receives a very low pension, but gradually increasing to 0,6% for a person who receives a maximum pension. Contributors who were born before 1 January 1954 will not be affected by these changes.
Payments may end earlier if the beneficiary:
- ceases to be disabled
- becomes entitled to an unreduced income replacement indemnity from the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail
(CSST)
- returns to work or his or her earnings increase
- is at least 60 years of age and has filed an Application for a Retirement Pension under the Québec Pension Plan.
When a person returns to work, payment of the pension will end if such work is regular and substantially gainful. To maintain entitlement to a disability pension in 2012, total employment earnings must not exceed 3 556,00 $ for a period of 3 consecutive months. The Régie will make the necessary calculations to determine whether the earnings exceed that maximum amount.
Employment earnings are:
- gross pay (before taxes)
- the net income from a business (if you are self-employed)
- taxable benefits (for example: housing, automobile, salary and group insurance premiums, etc.)
- vacation pay and bonuses
- income derived from public office (for example: a city councillor)
- rental income for which you are required to do work
For a self-employed worker, entitlement will be determined on the basis of net income and hours of work.
If the beneficiary's situation changes
A beneficiary must inform the Régie of any change in his or her situation. If not, he or she will have to repay all disability pension benefits received without entitlement.