Please help me spread this petition for reforms to the Canadian Disability Pension Plan and get it signed. Disabled people in Canada only have until they are 50 years old to contribute to the CDPP. This is below the typical retirement age. It also overlooks the challenges many disabled people have in maintaining employment, which would make extra time to contribute advantageous. Please read the petition below.
The Issue
Petition Letter to the Canadian Government: Request for Reforms to the Canadian Disability Pension Plan (CDPP)
March 27, 2025
Petition Letter to the Canadian Government: Request for Reforms to the Canadian Disability Pension Plan (CDPP)
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families
Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health
Steven Quilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity
Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development), Representative for Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River
John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
Dear Ministers and MPs,
I am writing to you on behalf of concerned individuals across Canada who are impacted by the current restrictions and limitations placed on the Canadian Disability Pension Plan (CDPP). We, the undersigned, wish to formally petition for two key reforms to the plan:
Raising the Age Limit for Contributions to the CDPP
Allowing Easier Transfer of Pension Funds into the CDPP
1. Raising the Age Limit for Contributions
Currently, individuals are only permitted to contribute to the Canadian Disability Pension Plan until the age of 50. We believe this limit is unjust and does not reflect the reality that many Canadians with disabilities face throughout their working lives. Several compelling reasons exist for extending the contribution period beyond age 50:
A. The Increasing Age of Retirement:
The age of retirement is steadily rising in Canada, with many workers now required to continue working until they are 65, or even later, to secure a sustainable retirement. However, the current age cap of 50 for contributions to the CDPP fails to account for this increased working lifespan. For many Canadians, especially those with disabilities, continuing to contribute to pension plans later in life is crucial for financial stability during retirement.
B. Health Barriers to Employment:
For many individuals with disabilities, the road to stable employment is fraught with significant challenges. Conditions such as Autistic burnout, mental health crises, and chronic illnesses can result in frequent interruptions in work and longer periods of disability-related unemployment. The current contribution deadline does not recognize that many people with disabilities, such as those with autism or other chronic health conditions, may need additional time to fully contribute to their pensions to compensate for the years they lose due to their health conditions. Autistic burnout, for example, can cause significant periods of time where individuals are unable to work due to overwhelming sensory or emotional stress. This limits their ability to contribute fully to the CDPP.
Research within Critical Disability Studies shows that disabled individuals often face systemic barriers in employment that significantly impact their ability to work consistently. Many people with disabilities struggle to meet the current contribution deadlines because of these disruptions, which is an additional inequity that must be addressed.
By raising the age limit for contributions, we would allow Canadians with disabilities the opportunity to build a more equitable pension, ensuring they are not left without support in their later years due to earlier health-related work interruptions.
2. Removing Restrictions on Transferring Pension Funds into the CDPP
Another significant barrier for many Canadians with disabilities is the inability to transfer pension savings from other employment pension plans into the CDPP. For example, individuals who have been part of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation pension plan or other provincial employment pension plans are currently prevented from moving their funds into the CDPP. Paying into more than one pension plan is a challenge for most people. It is particularly problematic for those with disabilities.
A. Financial Strain of Multiple Pension Plans:
Many individuals with disabilities face economic hardship due to the added costs of managing multiple pension plans. The current system creates unnecessary complexity for individuals who are already at a disadvantage in terms of financial security. Having the ability to transfer pension funds into the CDPP would reduce this burden and make it easier for individuals to maximize their savings in one plan that is specifically designed to provide long-term support to people with disabilities.
B. Policy Alignment with Disability Justice:
In line with the principles of disability justice and equity, the current restrictions on pension transfers are an undue barrier to financial security for Canadians with disabilities. Allowing individuals to consolidate their savings into a single plan that is tailored to their needs aligns with the values of accessibility and inclusion. It would ensure that disabled people are not further marginalized by restrictive financial policies that limit their ability to achieve financial independence and stability.
Additional Considerations from Critical Disability Studies
The field of Critical Disability Studies highlights the importance of viewing disability through a social justice lens. By limiting the ability of people with disabilities to contribute to their pensions beyond the age of 50, and by preventing the consolidation of pension funds into the CDPP, the federal government is reinforcing existing systems of inequality. Disability is not just an individual condition but a result of systemic barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society, including in the workforce.
By reforming the CDPP to allow later contributions and to remove barriers to pension transfers, the government would be taking a significant step toward promoting greater economic justice for Canadians with disabilities. It would acknowledge that disabled individuals often face circumstances beyond their control that require a more flexible, compassionate approach to financial planning for retirement.
Conclusion
We respectfully request that you, as the Minister responsible for employment, workforce development, and disability inclusion, advocate for reforms to the Canadian Disability Pension Plan that include raising the age limit for contributions and removing restrictions on the transfer of pension funds into the CDPP. These changes are vital for creating a more inclusive, accessible, and just society for all Canadians.
We thank you for your time and consideration, and we look forward to your support in creating a better future for individuals with disabilities.
Limbic Noodle 
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