CPP (Canada Pension Plan) Lifetime Disability
I was diagnosed with “manic depression” (bipolar disorder) in 1989. Between 1989-1995, I had 4 full blown manic episodes, and ended up in psychiatric wards every time. Each one was for about 6 weeks. I also lost my job every time this happened. When well enough, I returned to work immediately. Being employed was always my number one goal. Because of stress, most of my jobs didn’t last very long. The longest was for 18 months. For a couple of jobs, it was 2 months or less. I loved my occupation. I was a Canadian PGA golf professional. I worked at golf courses, helping run golf operations, and teaching golf. A dream job for me. Losing these jobs was devastating for me.
In 1996, I was put on a Federal CPP (Canada Pension Plan) Lifetime Disability, and the CPGA (Canadian Professional Golfer’s Association) put me in the “retired” category. I have been on lifetime disability since then. Also in 1996, I was diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in 2007. These 2 additional mental illnesses made things even more difficult.
I kept paying my CPGA annual dues for 10 years, (at least $600.00/year), hoping that some day I would be able to come out of retirement, and work as a golf pro again. In 2006, I made the extremely difficult decision that this wasn’t going to happen. I stopped paying my annual dues , and stopped receiving my “pro card”. This was a very sad time for me.
In 1993 & 1994, I was employed as a Class “A” CPGA Head Golf Professional. My monthly salary was only $2,000.00. But, on my own time, I gave lessons. For group lessons, I was paid $100.00/hour. I was a good teacher, and loved doing it. My plans were to decrease my Pro Shop hours, and to increase my lesson hours.
When I started on CPP lifetime disability in 1996, I was getting paid $520.00/month. I was also getting B.C. (British Columbia) benefits, which was $250.00/month, from the Provincial Government. The B.C. benefits also covered the cost of my medications, including my psych meds. This was at least $1,000.00/month. I was living with my mom at this time.
In 2000, I moved in with Elli. My social worker said we were living in a “common law” relationship, and that our combined income was too high. She immediately cut me off from my B.C. benefits. All of a sudden, my $770.00/month income went down to $520.00/month. And, my medications were no longer covered. I would have to pay for this myself. How was I supposed to do this? Elli makes average money. Our combined income was way below average for B.C. I told my social worker that the government needs to look at the expenses, along with the income. The fact was that my expenses were higher living with Elli, than with my mom.
My mom’s home was paid off. I gave her some money for groceries, and she looked after everything else. Elli and I live in a mobile home. At the time, Elli was paying a mortgage, and monthly pad fee. Then, there was all the other cost of living expenses. My social worker agreed with me, but said that’s the way it was, and she couldn’t do anything about it.
$800.00/month is ridiculous
Fast forward to today. Elli’s been working, and supporting me for the last 25 years. I have mixed feelings. I’m incredibly lucky and grateful to have such an amazing wife, but I wish I was the one working, and supporting her. I’m still on CPP lifetime disability, and currently (2025), I am getting a ridiculous low amount of $800.00/month. This is very close to the same amount that I was getting 30 years ago. Luckily, Elli has a great health care plan with her work, and is able to pay for my medications. Also, Canada has an excellent health care system. I’ve never had to pay anything for all of my hospital stays (psychiatric wards), or for all of my psychiatric appointments.
While I only get $800.00/month, psychiatrists in Canada are being paid an average of about $250,000/year. The CEO of CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) is paid over $200,000/year. There are many other people working in the mental health industry, who are making a lot of money. These people are getting wealthy, while my comrades and I are forced to live a life of poverty. This simply isn’t fair at all.
Minimum wage in B.C. is $17.60. My CPP lifetime disability payment of $800.00/month, based on a 40 hour work week equals $5.00/hour. When I told a judge I know how much I was getting, she said “how can anyone live on that?” I said “you can’t”. My $800.00 goes straight toward paying for groceries and household expenses. In Canada, the average annual salary is $55,000. $23,000 or less is the poverty level (I get $9,600/year). The majority of people with mental illness on CPP lifetime disability in British Columbia also get B.C. benefits. This totals $1,400/month. ($16,800/year). This is almost twice as much as I’m getting, but still way below the poverty level.
I would like to advocate for my comrades and myself. Why should we have to live on such a small amount of money, while others working in the industry are making huge profits from us ?
P.S.
I would like to make a point by saying although everything I’ve stated is true, there are countless people all over the world, who are living a life of poverty that is much worse .
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