This is the last post of our summer website series promoting materials that will help individuals and/or their caregivers, friends, healthcare professionals and other support workers, apply for the Disability Tax Credit and the Canada Disability Benefit. We will only share materials created by trusted sources.
What is the Canada Disability Benefit?
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a new federal government benefit that provides direct income support to people with disabilities who are between 18 and 64 years old and who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). There are other eligibility requirements for the CDB as well, including income-related eligibility requirements. Read more about the CDB on the government’s website at this link.
What is the Disability Tax Credit?
The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit designed to help with costs associated with a disability. The DTC is not a monthly payment. The purpose of the DTC is to reduce the amount of income tax people with disabilities, their families, or their supporters, pay annually. This means that it can help someone pay less tax. If the person with the impairment does not owe taxes, they can transfer the DTC to a spouse or a family member. If no one in their family owes taxes, it is still worthwhile to apply for the DTC because it makes people eligible for other government benefits. Read more about the DTC on the government’s website at this link.
You may be eligible for the DTC if a medical practitioner certifies that you have a severe and prolonged impairment. You will need a medical practitioner to fill out some of the forms, and it will likely take several months for your application to be reviewed and approved. Applications for the DTC go through the Canada Revenue Agency.
How are the CDB and the DTC related?
The DTC serves as a gateway program for other income and tax benefits, including the Canada Disability Benefit.
You have to first qualify for the DTC before you can apply for the Canada Disability Benefit.
Spotlight on: Disability Planning Helpline by Plan Institute
Direct link to the resource: https://planinstitute.ca/rdsp-disability-planning-helpline/
Who is it meant for? Applicants and their supporters.
Is it available in multiple languages and/or formats? Yes! There is an extensive accessibility menu in the top right corner, which can be accessed by clicking on the round button with the figure of a person in the middle of it. You can also click CTRL+U on a desktop to open the accessibility menu. Accessibility options include auto-modifications for dyslexia, ADHD, cognitive and learning, vision impairment, and others.
Why we like it:
The CDB is new and there are a few things about it that make it different than other federal benefits. These differences may be confusing. An applicant may wonder why their monthly benefit is less than $200, or want more information about the formulas and considerations used to determine their benefit amount. Being able to ask questions of a real person in real-time, or ask for the information to be explained in a different way, can be really helpful.
The Disability Planning Helpline by Plan Institute also provides callers with the opportunity to speak with someone about all of the different steps needed before applying for the CDB, and in what order to take them. While Service Canada’s CDB hotline is also available, potential applicants may be worried about bringing their questions to the government and may feel more comfortable talking to someone who works for a disability advocacy organization.
The Disability Planning Helpline can also be used to ask questions about other federal government benefit programs like the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). The staff providing information may also refer callers to other disability organizations that might be more appropriate or more local in order to make sure callers have proper support to access the CDB and other important federal benefits.
Additional info for Ontario applicants using this resource:
Plan Institute is a national organization and through this helpline, they share information about federal benefits as well as other concerns like estate planning. Information about wills, trusts, and estate planning should always be checked against Ontario laws. When in doubt, contact your local community legal clinic. Find your local clinic by typing in your postal code here.