You may be curious about the types of medical conditions that qualify for disability in Canada. Navigating disability benefits in Canada can present complexities, particularly when trying to comprehend the medical conditions which are eligible for support. Whether facing a recent diagnosis or managing a chronic condition, understanding your disability entitlements and available benefits is crucial.

The qualification for disability benefits in Canada is established through government programs, notably the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefit, along with individual provincial and territorial disability support initiatives. These programs typically maintain distinct criteria and procedures for evaluating disability claims. While the precise medical conditions that qualify for disability benefits may vary depending on the program and jurisdiction, there are many similarities in the types of medical
conditions accepted.

Conditions That Qualify for Disability Benefits in Canada

Disability benefits are designed to assist individuals whose medical conditions substantially hinder their ability to work or complete daily tasks. Eligibility for disability benefits is not restricted to physical impairments; it encompasses both physical and mental health conditions.

Below is an overview of the types of conditions that could render an individual eligible for disability benefits:

Physical Disabilities

Chronic Pain and Fatigue: can impair daily functioning, diminish qualify of life, and impact an individual’s overall well-being.

  • Fibromyalgia – described as widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, cognitive, and mood issues.
  • Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) – extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months. Symptoms worsen with physical or mental activity but do not fully improve with rest.
  • Chronic Headaches – occur 15 days or more a month, for longer than three months. These headaches may be short-lasting (less than 4 hours) and long-lasting (more than 4 hours).
  • Chronic Migraines – typically occur in people with a history of episodic migraines. Chronic migraines tend to affect one or both sides of the head, have a pulsating, throbbing sensation, and cause moderate to severe pain. Migraines can cause nausea and/or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

Neurological Disorders: can affect memory, movement, and cognitive functions.

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. MS causes communication problems between the brain and rest of the body and can eventually cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerve fibers.
  • Parkinson’s Disease – a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and parts of the body controlled by nerves. This disease often causes tremors, stiffness, and slowing of movement.
  • Epilepsy – a brain condition that causes recurring seizures.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: can limit physical function and mobility.

  • Arthritis – swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. Arthritis causes joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsens with age.
  • Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – involves damage to the spinal cord and often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation, and other body functions below the injury site.
  • Back Pain/Injuries – back pain can range from muscle aches, to shooting, burning or stabbing sensations. The pain may sometimes radiate down one or both legs. Bending, twisting, lifting, standing, or walking are movements that can aggravate back injuries.

Cardiovascular Diseases: can restrict functioning and physical activity.

  • Heart Failure – occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. When this happens, blood often backs up and fluid can build up in the lungs, causing shortness of breath. Heart failure can be life-threatening and those affected may need a heart transplant or a device to help the heart pump blood.

Mental Health Disorders

Anxiety Disorders: can be incapacitating.

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder – excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that is difficult to control and interferes with day-to-day activities.
  • Social Anxiety Disorder – everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness, and embarrassment from fear of being scrutinized or judged negatively by others.
  • Panic Disorder – often occurs in individuals who’ve experienced recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. Spend long periods in constant fear of another attack.

Mood and Behavioural Disorders: can significantly impact an individual’s daily functioning.

  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) – persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.
  • Bipolar Disorder – causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – a mental health condition that develops after an individual witnesses a traumatic event, which involves symptoms including flashbacks, anxiety, negative thoughts, and nightmares.

Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders: can markedly distort an individual’s perception of reality, hindering their engagement in everyday life.

  • Schizophrenia – affects how people think, feel, and behave. Schizophrenia may result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behaviour.

Chronic Diseases

Autoimmune Diseases: cause intermittent episodes of exacerbation that greatly impact an
individual’s health and abilities.

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease – includes long-standing inflammation of tissues in the digestive tract e.g., Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
  • Lupus – when the immune system attacks tissues and organs. Inflammation can affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.

Respiratory Diseases: can restrict an individual’s physical abilities.

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) –an inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs, leading to breathing difficulty, coughing, mucus production, and wheezing.
  • Asthma – causes airways to narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus. Asthma may make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Diabetes: a disease caused by a lack of insulin which leads to sustained high blood sugar levels. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can qualify for disability if they cause significant complications that limit daily tasks.

Chronic Pain:

  • Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) – a form of chronic pain that typically affects an arm or leg. CRPS typically develops after an injury, surgery, stroke, or a heart attack. The pain is typically out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury.

Other Conditions

Cancer: an individual can qualify for benefits during active treatment and recovery phases (remission) – criteria may vary depending on the stage and severity of an individual’s cancer.

Severe Injuries: typically require prolonged recovery periods.

  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. A mild TBI may affect your brain cells temporarily, while a more serious TBI can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and other physical damage to the brain. These injuries can result in long-term complications or death.
  • Severe Burns – tissue damage that results from heat, overexposure to the sun, or other radiation, or chemical or electrical contact.

The scope of qualifying disabilities is extensive, and this list only covers a fraction of the conditions that may fulfill eligibility criteria. Any medical condition can make an employee qualify for disability benefits. The crucial aspect is how severe the disability is and how it affects the person’s ability to work rather than the specific diagnosis. Applicants must illustrate how their condition hinders them from sustaining employment that provides income. This hinges on having thorough medical records including
detailed assessments from medical professionals, findings from medical examinations, and sometimes evaluations from specialists that clearly outline how your condition affects your capacity to work or carry out daily tasks.

Contact NOVA Injury Law Today for Support on Your Claim

When seeking long-term disability benefits or facing obstacles like a rejected claim, its crucial to seek expert legal counsel. The intricacies of disability claims can be overwhelming, and having a skilled advocate in your corner can greatly influence the outcome of your application. NOVA Injury Law is prepared to help you through your disability claim.