Can I return to work without losing my CPP disability benefits?

Posted on May 15, 2020June 14, 2024 by Walter Law Group

Experiencing a disabling injury or illness can turn a person’s life upside down. Relationships can change; a person may require assistance in caring for themselves; everyday tasks like driving or going to work can become impossible.

Under these circumstances, finding a sense of stability and normalcy can be a welcome experience. For some, returning to work is one way to accomplish this. However, there are some important things to know about returning to work if you currently receive disability benefits.

Keeping your benefits

You could still collect disability benefits and work. However, the payments will likely be affected, depending on how much you work and how much you earn.

If you receive Canada Pension Plan benefits, you can collect up to $5,800 without losing your benefits. However, if you earn more than that or if you can work on a regular basis, you may stop receiving payments.

One detail that could give you some reassurance is that if you decide to go back to work but become unable to continue because of your disability within two years, you do not have to start the application process over. You can request automatic reinstatement.

It is also worth noting that you can do volunteer work or go back to school without affecting your benefits.

Protecting yourself and your benefits

Note that returning to work in any capacity can trigger a reassessment. As part of the reassessment, CPP can ask you for updated medical information and details about your work. Depending on their examination, the CPP could decide that you no longer fit the criteria for collecting benefits.

Because of this, it is crucial that you talk to your doctor and possibly consult a lawyer before making employment-related decisions while you collect CPP. You want to have an accurate picture of your capabilities as well as a clear understanding of the impact your working may have on your benefits.

Disability benefits, whether they come from CPP or long-term disability insurance, are critical to recipients and their families. As such, you will want to be cautious about actions that could reduce or terminate them.

Burnout and long-term disability

Posted on April 24, 2020June 14, 2024 by Walter Law Group

Workers across Ontario are facing employment challenges that most would have never expected. And as stressful as the job market already is, it can be even more overwhelming to navigate if you suffer from a severe and long-term disability.

In some cases, extended periods of physical and mental anxiety due to work actually cause or contribute to serious health problems. This could be the situation for workers struggling with burnout.

What is burnout?

Workers in some occupations experience immense exhaustion due to high-stakes performance requirements, long hours or exposure to dangerous conditions.

Over time, this environment can take a devastating toll on a person’s mental and physical health. They can become cynical, careless and anxious.

Further, according to the Mayo Clinic, a person suffering from job-related burnout can have several different symptoms of this condition, including:

Depression
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue
Irritability
High blood pressure
Increased risk of becoming sick
Heart disease

Without addressing the work or expectations causing the burnout, these and other serious symptoms can persist and become worse over time.

Is burnout disabling?

Although job burnout can affect workers in several severe ways, it likely would not be considered disabling in the context of disability benefits.

That said, it is possible for burnout to cause or contribute to conditions that do prevent a worker from performing his or her current job or a similar job. If this sounds like your situation, depending on your insurance, your condition could meet the definition of disability.

Seeking support for burnout

If you are experiencing mental or physical exhaustion due to your job, it is crucial that you seek support. Such support can include therapy, medical care, job accommodations or a new job altogether. These options can help you cope with stress and treat your symptoms.

Unfortunately, in some cases, burnout and the illnesses it exacerbates or causes makes it impossible for a person to continue working. And being unable to work and collect an income can only make things more stressful. In these situations, it can be critical to examine the options for pursuing disability benefits to help you through this difficult time.

Symptoms of a brain injury you should not ignore after a crash

Posted on April 13, 2020June 14, 2024 by Walter Law Group

After any car accident, victims can experience a wide range of injuries. And these injuries can change a person’s life in the blink of an eye.

For example, brain injuries are not uncommon in a crash, and they can be particularly catastrophic. However, too many people think that a brain injury has to be severe to be devastating. That is not true: Even a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) has the potential to change a person’s life forever.

Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury

When brain injuries are severe, the symptoms are typically acute and obvious. A severe brain injury resulting in physical damage to a brain can result in:

Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Coma
Slurred speech
Fluid draining from ears or nose

Seemingly minor traumatic brain injuries (MTBI), like concussions, can also have devastating consequences for accident victims. However, the symptoms may be more subtle. It can also take some time for victims to recognize something as a possible sign of a brain injury. Therefore, you should be mindful of the following signs of an MTBI:

Headaches
Changes in mood, behaviour or personality
Trouble sleeping
Vomiting or nausea
Difficulty concentrating
Poor balance

These symptoms could mean that a person’s injury resulted in damage to brain cells or structures.

Impact of MTBIs

These and other symptoms of MTBIs can affect a person’s life in many ways.

MTBI sufferers who experience anxiety, depression or other mental conditions after an accident can require ongoing therapy, medication and possibly professional observation.

Personality changes after a brain injury could strain personal relationships and disrupt familial ties and marriages. Personality changes could affect a person’s lifestyle and well-being if these changes make a person more irritable or less averse to risk-taking.

Symptoms like loss of balance, headaches and difficulty concentrating could make it all but impossible for a person to go back to their job or perform well in school.

Considering the toll MTBIs can take on a person, it is critical to take symptoms of concussions and other brain injuries very seriously. Even if symptoms seem minor, victims should discuss them with their doctor.