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Appealing a Decision to a Review Tribunal Under the Canada Pension Plan

We process your appeal

When you appeal to the OCRT, we have no information about your case.

We get a copy of your file from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).

When we inform HRSDC of your appeal, they must give us, within 20 days, all of the information that they used to make their decision.

This file includes:

• your Canada Pension Plan application
• information you sent with your application
• any other information that HRSDC obtained to help them make their decision such as:
  • medical records
  • independent medical reports
  • reports from Workers’ Compensation
  • your record of earnings and contributions to the Canada Pension Plan
• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s decision letters

We prepare your Hearing File

When we receive the information from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, we prepare a Hearing File, which also includes any other information you or an added party gives us. Before your hearing, we give the Hearing File to you and your representative, if you have one. We also send a copy to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, each member of the Review Tribunal and, if applicable, an added party. An added party is a person who may be directly affected by the Tribunal’s decision.

We let you know where and when your hearing will take place

Three to four months before your hearing we will send you your Hearing File and a letter confirming when and where your hearing will be.

Hearings are held in a meeting room as close to your home as possible and suitable to all parties. Usually, the meeting room is in a hotel. If you have some distance to travel, we will make the necessary arrangements. We will also tell you what travel expenses can be paid by us.