Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for the CDB opened on June 20, 2025. Find out how you can apply.

As of June 20, 2025, you can apply for the Canada Disability Benefit online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada Centre. You can apply if you are aged 18 to 64, are approved for the disability tax credit and meet the benefit’s other eligibility requirements.

Once you apply and are approved, you will not need to reapply unless you become ineligible, and then regain eligibility.

Find out if you qualify for the CDB.

If you applied for the CDB for yourself, you can expect to receive a decision on your application from Service Canada within 28 days.

If you applied for the CDB on behalf of someone else as their legal representative, it can take up to 49 days to receive a response.

To check the status of your application, you can contact Service Canada on their designated CDB application line at 1-833-486-3007.

If you are approved for the CDB, you will receive your monthly payment on the third Thursday of every month. You can find exact payment dates on the Service Canada website.

If your monthly payment is $20 or less, you will receive a single combined payment.

A legal representative can take the following actions on behalf of a beneficiary (the person receiving the benefit):

• complete the benefit application,

• request a reconsideration of a decision, and

• appeal a decision.

An authorized legal representative, such as a guardian or trustee, is needed to receive benefit payments on behalf of a beneficiary. Payments may only be directed to someone’s authorized legal representative in situations where such a person has already been appointed in accordance with federal, provincial, or territorial law.

You will not be penalized if you have made an unintentional mistake or mistakenly applied for the CDB, believing you were eligible when you were not.

However, you could face financial penalties if you:

• knowingly make false or misleading representations in the application, or

• apply and receive the benefit when you knew that you were not eligible to.

The government has the authority to recover debts and overpayments. This means that if you have received payments to which you were not entitled to, or if you were paid more than you should have been, you must return the payments as soon as possible.

You will need to reapply for the CDB if your circumstances change and you are notified that you no longer meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• eligibility for the DTC,

• residency,

• citizenship/immigration status,

• incarceration status, and

• tax filing requirements.

If you do not agree with the decision made about your CDB application, you can request a reconsideration. Reconsideration requests can be made related to ineligibility for the CDB, the benefit amount, and any monetary penalties. You must submit your reconsideration request within 180 days.

If you disagree with a reconsideration decision, you can appeal it. More information about appeals can be found in the regulations.