Eligibility to a disability pension

To be declared disabled by the Régie, you must: 

• have a severe and permanent disability recognized by the medical advisors at the Régie des rentes du Québec, that is, you are unable, because of your state of health, to do any type of work for which you would earn more than 14 225 $ in 2012
• have made sufficient contributions to the Québec Pension Plan
• be under age 65

You must not be receiving an unreduced income replacement indemnity from the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST) granted after 31 December 1985.

Did you make sufficient contributions to the Québec Pension Plan?

You made sufficient contributions to the Québec Pension Plan if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You contributed for at least 2 of the last 3 years in your contributory period.
• You contributed for at least 5 of the last 10 years in your contributory period.
• You contributed for at least half of the years in your contributory period, but not less than 2 years.

As of 1 January 2013, if you are 60 to 65 years of age, you will be entitled to a disability pension, provided you contributed to the Plan for at least 4 of the last 6 years in your contributory period and the Régie has deemed you to be disabled because you are unable to do your usual work.

Check your Statement of Participation to see whether you have contributed sufficiently.

What is the "contributory period"?

The contributory period begins at age 18 or in 1966 (the date on which the Plan came into effect) and ends in the month as of which the Régie deems you to be disabled. The contributory period begins at the same time for everybody, regardless of whether you are working.

Certain months may be excluded from the contributory period; this could make you eligible for benefits.

What is meant by "any type of gainful work"?

It means any type of work that would pay you more than 14 225 $ in 2012.

Your age: an important factor

• You are under 65 years of age and, because of your state of health, you can no longer do any kind of work that would pay you more than 14 225 $ in 2012.
• You are between 60 and 65 years of age, you stopped working because of your state of health and you can no longer do your usual work on a regular basis.
• You are 65 years of age or over: you can receive your retirement pension under the Québec Pension Plan and your Old Age Security pension. Inquire immediately and apply for them.