Video
What to expect at a Canada Pension Plan disability hearing
What to expect at a hearing about your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits - transcript/captions
(The video starts with a grey background featuring circular designs in dark grey, blue, light green, and orange. The text on the screen says, “What to expect at a hearing about your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits.”)
(A senior with grey hair, wearing an orange sweater and blue pants, is seen from behind, facing a road and buildings in a town. This is the appellant.)
[Narrator]: You may not know what to expect at a hearing about your CPP disability benefits. Let’s go through the process together.
(Above their head are icons representing 3 types of hearings: in-person (handshake), teleconference (telephone with someone speaking), and videoconference (computer showing a virtual meeting). A videoconference hearing is chosen.)
(The appellant walks to their computer desk with their service dog. The room has a window with curtains and a clock showing 11:00. The desk has a laptop and chair. Also in the room, there’s a shelf with a desk calendar counting down to the hearing date beside some books, a set of drawers with a lamp on top, and the dog’s food and water bowl on the floor.)
(The appellant sits at the computer and joins the virtual hearing on their monitor, with their service dog sitting beside them.)
- Your hearing is your chance to present your case to a member of the Social Security Tribunal — a decision-maker at the General Division or the Appeal Division. The member will decide whether you qualify for benefits, based on the law and the evidence you and the other parties provide.
(Other individuals who are involved in the appeal process appear on the monitor as they set up for the videoconference. A woman with glasses joins and her cat sits on the desk beside her. Another woman with her hair in a bun also joins. A woman wearing a yellow hijab joins, as does a person with dark curly hair and a yellow sweater.)
(The meeting begins and there’s a split screen on the monitor. The appellant waves at the camera with their dog beside them. The woman with her hair in a bun is identified as Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) representative. She’s sitting at a computer with a window behind her. She also waves.)
(The woman wearing the hijab is in front of a blue background. She’s a Social Security Tribunal (ESDC) member. The appellant’s representative has curly hair and a yellow sweater, and in the background there’s a table with vases, a ceiling light and a painting. The witness is wearing glasses. Behind her, there’s a bookshelf with drawers and a window.)
- Someone from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) may be at the hearing. Like you, they’re a party to the appeal. You can bring a representative, witness, support person, or all 3. An interpreter will be there if you asked for one.
(The hearing has started)
- The member starts the hearing with introductions. They’ll summarize what the appeal is about and explain how the hearing will unfold, including when everyone gets to speak. Everyone giving evidence must promise to tell the truth.
(Once the hearing starts, each person’s box is highlighted to show introductions.)
(The appellant’s box becomes the biggest, indicating they’re speaking. They then put a hand on their heart and raises the other in the air. Their witness also raises her hand, indicating they’re promising to be truthful during the hearing.)
(The video shows a split screen. On the left side, there’s a side view of the appellant and their dog. On the right side, there’s a view of the laptop screen. The laptop screen is also split, showing the appellant’s representative and the appellant taking turns speaking and asking questions, as indicated by speech bubbles.)
(Next, we see a split screen of the ESDC member and ESDC’s representative.)
(The ESDC member sits in front of a blue background. The ESDC representative is sitting in front of a window with blinds. A speech bubble with a question mark switches between them as they take turns asking questions.)
(Next, we see the witness on the split screen with the ESDC member. She’s sitting in front of a bookshelf and a window. The member has a speech bubble with a question mark, while the witness has a speech bubble with 3 periods, indicating she’s answering questions being asked.)
- You’ll get a chance to present evidence and make arguments. If ESDC is there, they will too. The member and ESDC's representative may have questions for you. If there are witnesses, the member and both parties can ask them questions.
(The appellant enters the split screen with the member as their dog looks on. There’s a speech bubble with a symbol of a clock above their head, indicating they’re requesting a break.)
- If you need a break during the hearing, please say so.
- The member may ask questions about your functional limitations what you can and can’t do – as well as your medical treatments. What did your health professionals prescribe, and did it help? If you didn’t follow your treatment plan, why not?
(After the break, the split screen with the member and the appellant is still on display. The member is surrounded by 4 speech bubbles: 1 with a brain symbol, 1 with a doctor symbol, 1 with a medical cross symbol, and 1 with a blank prescription symbol.)
(The appellant now fills the entire screen. They’re surrounded by various symbols: a graduation cap, a construction helmet, a computer monitor, a file folder with documents, and a document with a checkmark.)
- Be ready to answer questions about your work history, education, and anything else that might help you find work despite your limitations.
(The screen changes to include the appellant, the appellant’s representative, ESDC’s representative, and the member, who’s asking questions.)
(The screen shows a close-up of the appellant’s laptop displaying the text “Hearing ended.” They close the laptop lid, grab their dog’s leash and walk out of the room.)
(After the hearing, the ESDC member is typing on her laptop, working on a document.)
- After listening to the evidence, the member will ask the parties for their arguments about the case. You can respond to what the other party says. Then, the member will close the hearing.
- Afterwards, the member will make a decision on your case. We’ll send it to you.
(The appellant is sitting in their living room on a chair looking at their laptop. There’s a small table and lamp next to them. Elsewhere in the room, there’s a floor lamp, pictures on the wall, and a sideboard with books and a picture frame on top.)
(Next, a split screen appears. One side shows a computer with a document on the screen. The other side shows a mailbox with a hand retrieving a letter that is from the ESDC.)
(A checklist appears on a laptop screen with the heading “Before the hearing.” Each item is checked off as the narrator speaks.)
- Now that you know what to expect at your hearing, be sure to prepare. Review the documents. Look at ESDC’s arguments and prepare your response. Put your paperwork in the right order. Make notes so you remember what to say.
(The advanced search page of the ESDC website is displayed, focusing on the box where the user enters their search criteria.)
- You can also look up previous decisions about CPP disability benefits on our website to help you understand how we decided cases like yours.
(In a new split screen, one side shows a hand holding a smartphone with an active phone call. The other side shows a laptop screen with the accommodation request form on the ESDC’s website.)
- If you need an accommodation for the hearing, let us know as soon as possible.
(The video ends with the ESDC’s coat of arms, website address, and contact email address displayed, followed by the Canada logo and flag.)
- We hope you feel prepared for your CPP disability benefits hearing. For more information, please visit our website at www.sst-tss.gc.ca.