CPP-D Application - online vs paper

CPP Disability
1

Hello! I am working through my CPP-D application (thank you to David for the very helpful book and workbook!). I really like the idea of the narrative statement to tie the whole application together, but I am wondering how you do that online? I haven’t seen options for uploading documents in the online application but maybe I’m just missing it? Or you can do that after you hit submit?

I assume it’s processed more quickly online but maybe it doesn’t make a huge difference and I may as well just send the paper version

Thanks all

2

Yes, there is a opportunity to upload documents, you just can’t do it while in the middle of filling out the online application. You can always do a online application and then mail other parts in, but I would discourage that. Try to do it all online for the fastest processing time. Thank you for the shout out. Good luck with your application!

David Brannen

Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal

The response posted above is based on the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with a lawyer, fully explain your situation, and allow the lawyer enough time to research the applicable law and facts required to give an adequate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full one-on-one discussion with a lawyer should be done before taking any any action. The information posted on this forum is available to the viewing public and is not intended to create a lawyer client relationship with any person. If you want one-on-one advice, please click here to request a free consultation or call toll free 1-877-917-7050 to speak with a member with our disability claim support team.

3

Thanks so much for confirming, David! If I could ask yet another question … in the age of electronic documents, how strict is Service Canada with having all documents certified?

4

I recently submitted my CPP-D application. I didn’t get my medical file from my family doctor certified but instead I attached a copy of an email showing I asked for it, and the invoice showing I paid. Obviously I don’t know if it is sufficient as I am still waiting to be approved, but I read someone else in this forum did this, and they got approved.

Initially I was planning on submitting it online but ended up mailing it in. Here are the main issues I encountered trying to submit my application online:

-there is a limit size for uploading document files. I can’t remember exactly what the limit was but it was ridiculously small, like 2MB or 10MB. There may have also been a limit for all the files you upload in a session. My medical file alone is over 60MB so I would have to split it up into separate files.

-For the sections where you have to fill in treatments you’ve undergone, tests you’ve done, and medical practitioners you’ve seen, you fill in one row and then add more boxes underneath to fill in another row, and so on. You can’t save what you’ve entered until you finish the entire section. I’ve had so many tests and seen dozens of practitioners, so each section takes time to fill in. I needed to take a break while doing it, but couldn’t save it and kept losing the info I had entered (I can’t remember if it times out, but the portal was also freezing)

-The questions for the paper version and the online version are pretty much identical but there were a few differences. I can’t remember all of the differences but overall I think the overall version was more detailed. For example, for the sections for treatments, tests and practitioners, in the paper version you only have to fill in the year and date (YYYY-MM), while in the online version, you have to give the exact date, month and year (YYYY-MM-DD). I had prepared my information based on the paper version so when I tried to fill out the online version, I had to go back to my medical file to find all the exact dates.

-the MSCA portal kept freezing. I would fill in my information, click the button to continue and it would freeze. Each time I would lose the information I had entered and have to redo it. This was so frustrating, I basically gave up because of this.

I think the online version is better for applicants with a straightforward application. If you have a complex case with lots of information to enter or upload, the MSCA portal may be a pain to deal with.

All the best

1 Like
5

Thank you, this was really helpful!

6

I’ve never had this issue come up personally. However, we are a law firm so Service Canada would have much less concern about us providing false or altered documents because doing so could result i me losing my license to practice law! We do exactly as Sunrise said - along with the medical records we include out letter and the invoice from the doctor. These show that the records were requested, sent and paid for.

David Brannen

Disability Lawyer with Resolute Legal

The response posted above is based on the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with a lawyer, fully explain your situation, and allow the lawyer enough time to research the applicable law and facts required to give an adequate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full one-on-one discussion with a lawyer should be done before taking any any action. The information posted on this forum is available to the viewing public and is not intended to create a lawyer client relationship with any person. If you want one-on-one advice, please click here to request a free consultation or call toll free 1-877-917-7050 to speak with a member with our disability claim support team.