March 12th, 2025
Canada Disability Benefit and Disability Tax Credit Information
By: Allan Mills, Executive Director
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is finally a reality! It’s hard to believe, but this is moving forward, despite whatever may be happening with parliament prorogued and an upcoming Federal election. That’s the good news.
This is the time to apply for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), if you don’t already have it. The only way to access the Canada Disability Benefit is to be approved for the Disability Tax Credit (and to have filed your Income Tax Return for the previous year).
We are encouraging people to apply NOW for the Disability Tax Credit. There are two parts to the form and one part has to be completed by a healthcare practitioner.
There are helpful resources available here:
Canada Disability Benefit
Do I Qualify for the DTC? — Canada Disability Benefit
News article: Finalization of Canada Disability Benefit bittersweet for Kitchener MP (Waterloo Region Record)
Plan Institute, the not-for-profit organization behind those websites also has a national helpline to assist people with the DTC and the CDB: 1-844-311-7526 or helpline@planinstitute.ca
Here’s the bad news:
- The CDB is capped at $200 per month. While $200 is helpful, it won’t make the profound difference that it promised…. to lift Canadians with disabilities out of poverty. We need to advocate with the Federal Government to increase the amount and to make this an election issue for the parties.
- Ontario has not yet committed to no clawbacks of ODSP. This CDB is intended to supplement or top up provincial or territorial disability benefits. 7 provinces and territories have committed to “no clawbacks”. At this time, the CDB will count as income towards ODSP. We need to urge our Provincial Government to make a commitment to zero clawbacks, ensuring the maximum benefit for the recipient.
For more information, reach out to your Federal Member of Parliament or call the above helpline that Plan Institute has launched to assist Canadians with their application.
If you have questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact me at allan.mills@eafwr.on.ca
Allan Mills, Executive Director of Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region sits down with Edward Faruzel, Executive Director of KW Accessibility; Sue Simpson, Executive Director of Waterloo Region Family Network (WRFN) and Rachael Plant, Director of Grants and Programs to discuss the Canada Disability Benefit and Disability Tax Credit available to Canadians with disabilities.
