Going from "Regular" Employment Insurance (EI) Payments to Disability Payments

I have a bad knee that has slowly been degenerating over the years. I have also been laid off due to work shortage and and have been on and off unemployment for the last year. Recently have gone to doctor and surgeon and need a total knee replacement. My question is do I stay on unemployment now until I receive disability or should I go on CPP retirement benefits until I receive disability. I am 63. Any advice? Thanks

Practically speaking it is very hard to win a disability claim for someone who left work due to layoff, and then received regular employment insurance benefits and not since returned to the workforce. There would need to be very compelling medical information to show that you lost the capacity to work while receiving regular EI.

It’s always better to go on CPP disability payments to age 65, rather then early retirement CPP.