Employment

Support for individuals

If you're a person with a disability and little or no work experience, the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities can help. It provides support to help you prepare for and find paid work, or to become self-employed.

If you are receiving Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits, there are return to work supports in place to help you stay connected to your community or to the workforce. If you do return to work, but can't continue because of your disability, you can restart your CPP disability benefit without having to reapply. You must do this within a two-year period.

Did you know?

If you receive CPP disability benefits, you can volunteer or attend school and continue to receive benefits. You can work and earn up to $4,200 (in 2006) without having to report these earnings to the CPP. You can also plan a return to work, tailored to your needs, through CPP's vocational rehabilitation services. And, as you start to work regularly, you can try a paid work trial for up to three months before benefits are stopped.

As of January 31, 2005, if you were able to return to work but have to stop because your disability recurs, the CPP's Automatic Reinstatement provision allows your benefits to be quickly restarted.

1 800 277-9914

TTY: 1 800 255-4786

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Visit: Your local Service Canada Centre

Other helpful Government of Canada online services if you're looking for work:

• Check out www.jobbank.gc.ca and surf over 30,000 advertised jobs from across Canada. You can also advertise your skills profile to thousands of employers across the country.
• Visit www.jobsetc.ca for useful resources to help you in your job search or to change your career.
• If you're interested in working for the Government of Canada, go to www.jobs.gc.ca for work experience and employment information.

You can also visit www.workink.com. This site, managed by the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work, is an online career development and employment portal for job seekers with disabilities.

Support for entrepreneurs

Go to Canada Business if you want to build your own business and become self-employed. Information on the site includes advice, how to find training, and how to get financial assistance, including flexible loan programs.

1 888 576-4444

TTY: 1 800 457-8466

www.CanadaBusiness.ca

Visit: Canada Business Network