We have updated our CPP-D self-help guides and they are now available in Chinese and Punjabi, as well as English. This project was made possible through the generous support of the Notary Foundation of BC and the Law Foundation of BC.

Our four CPP-D guides are:

1. Benefits Checklist
2. Application Guide
3. Appeal Guide: Part 1 – The Reconsideration Request
4. Appeal Guide: Part 2 – Appealing to theCanada Pension Review Tribunal

These resources are designed to help people apply for or appeal the denial of CPP-D. The checklist explains what other programs CPP-D recipients may be eligible for. All the guides can be accessed from at http://bccpd.bc.ca/money.htm.

Order Hard Copies

If you would like hard copies of the guides, we will mail them to you free of charge. Please contact Val at 604-875-0188 or at feedback@bccpd.bc.ca to place your order.

If you have any questions about CPP-D, please contact our Advocacy Access Program at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278 and ask to speak to a CPP-D advocate.

We have been advised by Canada Pension Plan (CPP) that it has determined the Third Party Administration Act is not being properly applied.

Lawyers advising CPP have said that a third party cannot make a Reconsideration Request of a CPP denial on behalf of someone unless they have a Power of Attorney or some other type of legal authority from that person.

Even if a client signs the CPP Authorization to Communicate, they still have to provide a written request.

This means that if an advocate assists someone with a Reconsideration Request, they need to provide a letter signed by their client stating the client wishes to request a reconsideration of their CPP disability benefits denial, and that they authorize the advocate to represent them.

If you have any questions about this change, please contact the BCCPD’s Peter Beaudin at peter@bccpd.bc.ca

We recently updated two of our Help Sheets:

• Help Sheet 7: Health Supplements for People with Disabilities. The update reflects changes the government has made to its policy on orthotics
• Help Sheet 12: Income Assistance Application Process for People with Disabilities. The update focuses on the Ministry of Social Development’s practise of asking new applicants to complete the first part of the application process online.

To access our Help Sheets, visit our Library/Money & Income Supports page. Contact Valerie at feedback@bccpd.bc.ca or call her at 604-875-0188 if you’d like any Help Sheets mailed to you.