Total disability means a severe physical or mental impairment prevents a person from doing any substantial work, often for an extended period or permanently, qualifying them for benefits like Social Security or insurance; it's assessed by inability to perform past work and adjust to other work due to a condition expected to last over a year or result in death, with common examples being paralysis, blindness, or loss of multiple limbs.
Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) means a severe injury or illness prevents someone from working in any suitable occupation for the rest of their life, often due to conditions like paralysis, loss of limbs/eyes, or severe brain injury, qualifying them for lifelong insurance or government benefits, such as loan forgiveness or VA benefits, as certified by a physician.
If you are unable to work for the rest of your life due to a disability, you would be considered to have a totally disability. Common causes of totally disability include severe injuries, catastrophic illnesses, or chronic conditions. You would also be eligible for Social Security Disability.
You cannot do work at the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level because of your medical condition. You cannot do work you did previously or adjust to other work because of your medical condition. Your condition has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year (12 consecutive months) or to result in death.
Many chronic physical illnesses can qualify you for TPD, including:
You'll need medical reports from your GPs and specialists, functional capacity evaluations, employment records and role descriptions, income history, superannuation statements, and personal statements that describe how your condition affects your daily life.
To receive a 100 percent VA disability rating, a veteran must demonstrate that their service-connected condition or conditions are completely disabling and prevent them from maintaining gainful employment.
Proof of disability documentation includes detailed medical records (diagnoses, test results, treatment plans, doctor's notes), official letters from medical professionals or government agencies (SSA, VA, Vocational Rehab), personal statements detailing functional limitations, and potentially statements from employers/coworkers or educational plans like 504s, all to show a diagnosed condition and its impact on daily life or work.
Different types of disabilities
The four main categories of disabilities generally recognized are Physical, Sensory, Intellectual/Developmental, and Mental Health/Behavioral, encompassing challenges with mobility, senses (sight/hearing), learning/cognitive function, and emotional/thinking processes, respectively, though specific definitions can vary.
You can be disqualified from disability for earning too much income (over the Substantial Gainful Activity limit), not having enough work history (for SSDI), having a condition not severe enough or expected to last less than a year, failing to follow prescribed treatment, insufficient medical evidence, or if your disability stems from drug/alcohol addiction or committing a felony. The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates if your condition prevents any substantial work for at least 12 months, not just your ability to do your previous job.
Usually TPD benefits are equal to two-thirds of your lost wages, subject to your maximum TD rate. Your lost wages are the difference between your average weekly wages and the amount you are earning by working part-time.
The status of your disability is often evaluated against a five-question test regarding your ability to work and the nature of your diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with a medical condition on the SSA's list of disabilities and cannot work at all, your condition might be considered permanent and total.
The ADA Protects People with Disabilities. A person with a disability is someone who: has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or.
Under the Employment Equity Act, a person with a disability is “any person who has a long-term, reoccurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairment and who considers themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment.” According to the Canadian Human Rights Act, a ...
Let's dive into some severe or chronic invisible disabilities that might show no signs on the outside but could still earn you disability benefits.
The tribunal would decide if you have a disability by considering evidence from both parties. It will listen to what you say, but you might also need to show them medical evidence - like a letter from your GP or consultant.
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a federal disability benefit program that provides up to $200 per month to eligible Canadians with disabilities aged 18 to 64. This program launched in July 2025. In order to be eligible for the CDB , applicants must first apply and be approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
Once you have submitted your application for disability benefits, it generally takes 6 to 8 months for an initial decision. You can log in or create a personal my Social Security account to check the status of your pending application.
When applying for disability, avoid saying you're "fine" or "okay," exaggerating symptoms, downplaying limitations, or making vague statements; instead, be honest, specific about your functional limits (e.g., "I can't lift more than 5 lbs because it causes shooting pain"), stick to medically supported issues, and don't say you can't work "at all" or that a job doesn't pay enough, focusing on physical/mental inability to work, not just job logistics.
These benefits are awarded to qualified individuals who are no longer able to work due to a disabling mental or physical condition. But unfortunately, obtaining SSDI benefits is not easy. In fact, it's rather difficult. Approximately 70% of initial SSDI claims are denied every year.
Make a doctor's appointment to get a detailed statement about your work limitations to boost your disability claim. Share a brief list of your limitations with your doctor to ensure the doctor's form reflects what you can and can't do.