ISAC is running a summer website series to promote materials that will help individuals and/or their caregivers, friends, healthcare professionals and other support workers, apply for the Disability Tax Credit. 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.
Check out the resource below for information and supports on applying for the DTC.
Spotlight on: My DTC App
Direct link to the resource: https://mydtc.dabc.ca
Who is it meant for? Individuals, their supporters, and medical practitioners.
Is it available in multiple languages and/or formats? Yes, you can modify some website settings. You can change the font size, font type, and page colours. It does not appear to be available in French or other languages but hopefully it will be in the future.
Why we like it:
This App helps people start their DTC application. It’s clear, easy to follow, and includes helpful tools and info for both individuals and medical professionals.
It includes three sections:
- A “digital handbook” (set of website pages) that has step-by-step information for individuals and medical practitioners;
- A questionnaire that will generate a PDF for your doctor, sharing your perspective on your “limitations” with daily activities. This info helps your doctor meaningfully complete the application using both your experience and their medical opinion.
- A task checklist to keep you on track during the application process. You can choose from a list of general tasks like “Decide if I want to complete the DTC online, over the phone, or with the paper form” and “Book an appointment with my medical practitioner to complete Part B of the DTC” or type up your own and add them to your list.
Medical practitioners will also find helpful information through this App.
They can navigate through the sections of MyDTCApp meant to support them in filling out their section of the DTC form, which will include helpful tips and explanations.
For example, the App provides a clear and detailed guide on how to fill out Part B of the DTC form (Form T2201), including notes on specific restrictions: https://mydtc.dabc.ca/handbook/practitioners-step-2-completing/.
A great feature is that it addresses common misconceptions that medical practitioners might have about the DTC, such as “My patient doesn’t work so would not benefit from the DTC”.
You can check out the list of misconceptions directly here: https://mydtc.dabc.ca/handbook/practitioners-common-misconceptions-about-dtc/ or through the homepage of the App by clicking on “For medical practitioners”.
Additional info for Ontario applicants using this resource:
This App was developed by Disability Alliance BC but there does not appear to be any province-specific information. Since the DTC is a federal program, all the content should also apply to Ontario residents as well.
If you are looking through the App and you encounter anything that mentions provincial supports, provincial grants, or other province-related information, be aware that it may only apply to BC residents, and double check with your local community legal clinic or another trusted source about whether or not the province-specific information you have found is also applicable to Ontario residents.
You can find your local community legal clinic by typing in your postal code on Legal Aid Ontario’s website here.