Glossary

In Health and Disability, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits

Workers make contributions to the Canada Pension Plan. If you work for an employer, these are deducted from your pay cheques. Employers also make contributions to the Canada Pension Plan on behalf of their employees.

The amount of your retirement pension or disability benefit is based on a few things, including:

• the amount you contributed to your plan,
• how long you contributed for, and
• the age you retire at.

In Health and Disability, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits

A Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension is a monthly payment that many Canadians get when they retire.

To get a CPP retirement pension, you normally have to have:

• worked in Canada
• made contributions to the CPP

You may also get a CPP retirement pension if you didn’t work in Canada or contribute, but have enough contributions because of a divorce or separation. This can happen if you split your pension contributions with your former partner.

You can get a CPP retirement pension when you’re 65 years old. Or, you can start your CPP retirement pension:

• as early as 60, and get less money each month
• as late as 70, and get more money each month

In Debt and Consumer Rights, Income Assistance, Other benefits

A credit score is a number given to you by a consumer reporting agency. Creditors check your score to see how likely you are to pay back your debts. They use it to decide whether to lend you money. Your credit score is based on the information in your credit report.

High credit scores are good, and low credit scores are bad. Usually, the lowest score you can have is around 300, and the highest around 850. Good credit is usually considered 700 or more. Sometimes, credit scores are turned into a letter and number combination. In this system, R9 is the worst credit rating and R1 is the best.