Federal

Severe and Permanent Disability Benefit

Complex application

Tax filing not required

The Severe and Permanent Disability Benefit helps people with a severe permanent disability who can’t repay their Canada Student Loans. This benefit will cancel the debt owed, but it makes you ineligible for future Canada Student Grants or Canada Student Loans.

To be eligible, you must have a “severe permanent disability,” which is a functional limitation caused by a physical or mental impairment that:

  • Prevents you from performing the daily activities necessary to participate in “substantially gainful employment.”
  • Will stay with you for life.

“Substantially gainful employment” is work that pays more than what you can get as a disability pension under the Canada Pension Plan. The disability pension amount is adjusted each year; it is $16,652.00 per year for 2020.

For Ontario student loans to be considered for cancellation, you must reside in Canada.

Eligibility is assessed by medical adjudicators once your application is received.

Social Insurance Number

For example:

  • confirmation of SIN letter
  • plastic SIN card (non-expired)

To apply, you must:

Last updated: October 26, 2021