Michael Ferguson’s February 2016 report on the $4-billion disability benefits system found that one-third of applicants who were originally denied benefits were later found to be eligible, based on the initial evidence. The figures illustrate what has happened in the year since Canada’s auditor general excoriated the government for its handling of CPP disability appeals, which provides stipends to Canadians who are unable to work because of disability. OTTAWA—Nearly half the Canadians who seek to have decisions denying them access to Canada Pension Plan disability benefits are successfully appealing the rulings, a statistic that is giving experts cause for concern. “That tells me the adjudication process is seriously flawed,” said Allison Schmidt, a Regina-based pension disability case manager and a vocal critic of the system. ESDC promised in the wake of Ferguson’s report to create a quality assurance framework to ensure officials are making decisions based on the same criteria.

Source: thestar June 04, 2017 21:11 UTC