Payment of the disability pension under the Québec Pension Plan

Amount of the pension

For 2023, the maximum monthly amount can reach $1537.13 a month. That amount consists of:

• a fixed amount of $558.71, which is the same for all beneficiaries
• an amount that varies on the basis of the employment earnings entered under your name under the Québec Pension Plan

When payment begins

Payment of your pension will normally begin in the fourth month following the one in which Retraite Québec deems you to have become disabled. This is called the waiting period.

However, if you are receiving an unreduced income replacement indemnity from the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), a disability pension can be paid as of the month following the one in which payment of the indemnity ends.

In certain cases and under certain conditions, you could be eligible for a retirement pension under the Québec Pension Plan while your application for disability benefits is being processed.

In addition, if we deem you to be disabled and you choose to receive a disability pension, you must cancel your retirement pension and repay all amounts you have received since your first retirement pension payment.

How often are payments made?

Your pension is paid on the last working day of the month.

Sign up for direct deposit to receive your payments in your bank account.

The disability pension is taxable

At the beginning of each year, Retraite Québec sends beneficiaries an RL-2 slip that they must enclose with their income tax return. The slip shows the amount that they received during the preceding year as a disability pension beneficiary.

Income tax deductions from a Pension under the Québec Pension Plan

You can ask Retraite Québec to deduct income tax at source by telling us the amount to be deducted.

• If you are receiving an income replacement indemnity from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), certain rules apply to pension payment. To find out more, call Retraite Québec.
• If you are receiving disability benefits from an insurance company, those benefits may be reduced by the amount of the disability pension paid by Retraite Québec. Contact your insurance company for more information.
• Receiving benefits from another country will in no way reduce the amount of your disability pension under the Québec Pension Plan. However, pensions from some countries may be reduced if you are receiving a pension under the Québec Pension Plan.

When payments end

Your disability pension will automatically be replaced by a retirement pension when you reach age 65, which is the normal retirement age. You do not have to notify us or take any additional steps.

Depending on the amount of your retirement pension and the year during which you begin receiving it, the amount will be reduced by 0.5% to 0.6% for each month during which you received a disability pension between the ages of 60 and 65.

However, for the months following December 2021, the amount of your pension will increase by 0.2% for each month during which you received a disability pension between the ages of 60 and 65.

As a result, for the retirement pensions paid as of 1 January 2022 (including those beginning as of that date), the applicable reduction varies from 0.3 to 0.4% for each month in question.

Note that...

If you return to work or your employment earnings increase, payment of your disability pension could be terminated.

What you need to know

• Eligibility for a disability pension under the Québec Pension Plan
• Returning to work
• Filing an application for disability benefits under the Québec Pension Plan