Disability Tax Credits and Benefits
Disability Tax Credit
The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) helps individuals and their caregivers with costs related to having a severe and prolonged disability. It also acts as a gateway to other disability-related credits and benefits. You must file your taxes to receive tax credits associated with the DTC.
The application form is completed by your medical practitioner and sent to Canada Revenue Agency for review. It can be challenging to apply for the Disability Tax Credit, but there are organizations funded by the federal government to provide accessible, individualized disability benefits navigation support on a one-to-one basis. The following are organizations funded to provide disability navigation services to persons with disabilities and their families and caregivers:
Plan Institute
- Region: national
- Language: English, French, or language of your choice
- Email: helpline@planinstitute.ca
- Plan Institute Disability Planning Helpline website
- Accessibility menu provided for each webpage
Indigenous Disability Canada/BCANDS
- Region: national
- Language: English
- Email: dtc@bcands.bc.ca
- Indigenous Disability Canada/BCANDS website
Learn more about the Disability Tax Credit, including eligibility and how to apply.
If you are already getting the Canada Child Benefit for a child who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you will also automatically receive the Child Disability Benefit.
Canada Disability Benefit
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) provides direct financial support to people with disabilities who are between 18 and 64 years old. The program is administered by Service Canada.
Persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64 can apply for the benefit if they have qualified for the disability tax credit (DTC) and meet the benefit’s other eligibility requirements, including having filed their 2024 income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency. For those who have a spouse or common-law partner, their partner must also have filed their 2024 income tax return to be eligible.
The federal government will send letters to eligible Canadians inviting them to apply.
To support individuals with the application process, a number of community-based organizations across Canada will provide accessible, individualized navigation services to disability programs and benefits, including the DTC and CDB. Applicants can also now use the newly launched benefit estimator tool to find out how much they may qualify to receive each month.
Child Disability Benefit (CDB)
The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to families who care for a child under age 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions.
To get the CDB:
- You must be eligible for the Canada child benefit (CCB)
- Your child must be eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC)
If you are already getting the CCB for your child who is eligible for/receiving the DTC, you do not need to apply for the CDB. You will get it automatically.
If this is the first time you’re getting the CDB, the CRA will automatically calculate your payments for the current and two previous benefit years. The benefit year runs from July of one year to June of the following year. For years before that, send a written request to your tax centre.
For more information, or for a copy of the disability tax credit certificate, visit the Government of Canada's Child Disability Benefit page.
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a special account and tool to help people with disabilities to save for long-term financial security. Having the Disability Tax Credit also allows you to open an RDSP and receive money from the federal government.
An RDSP is needed to access these income-boosting grants and bonds:
Canada Disability Savings Bond
Canada Disability Savings Grant
Learn more about the Canada Disability Savings Grant and the Canada Disability Savings Bond.
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