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

Glossary

Added Party
A person who is not the Appellant but who is affected by a decision concerning the Appellant's Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits. For example, a former spouse may be involved in CPP credit splitting with the Appellant. This person is considered to be an Added Party to the appeal.

Adjournment
A decision of a Review Tribunal to reschedule the hearing to another date and time. This occurs at the hearing.

Appellant
A person who has received a Reconsideration decision from the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) concerning their application for CPP benefits, and who has filed an appeal to the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals (OCRT).

Client Service Officer (CSO)
A person from the OCRT who advises Appellants about the Review Tribunal process and eligibility requirements for benefits.

Hearing File
The Hearing File has copies of all the papers the OCRT gets from the Appellant, from HRSDC and from any Added Party. These papers include all the information that HRSDC used to make their Reconsideration decision, including application for benefits, decision letters, etc.

Minimum Qualifying Period (MQP)
To be eligible for a benefit, you must have made valid contributions for a certain number of years to the CPP. This is called the Minimum Qualifying Period (MQP). Currently, the MQP for a disability benefit is four (4) years of valid contributions within the last six (6) years.

Postponement
A decision of the Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals to reschedule a hearing to another date and time. This occurs before the hearing takes place.