FAQ

The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit established by the Canada Revenue Agency to determine eligibility for dedicated credits and benefits for those that experience disabilities and impairments.

Individuals eligible for the DTC have disabilities or impairments in a physical or mental capacity that lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months. A qualified practitioner certifies that the impairments are severe and prolonged. Qualified practitioners are Doctors, Optometrist, Audiologist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Psychologist and Speech-Language Pathologists.

All income levels are eligible for Canadians experiencing disabilities and impairments!

Yes. You can apply for credits/benefits and file retroactive claims for a maximum of 10 years.

Yes. You will be placed in a position to plan for the future using investment vehicles provided by the Canadian Government, designed to assist those with disabilities take advantage of tax benefits and grants they deserve.

Yes. The Disability Tax Credit can be transferred to a family member, caregivers or spouse.

Yes. Not only can parents of children with disabilities apply on behalf of their children, the Canadian government grants additional amounts for children under 18. In many situations we can claim these additional amounts even if the child is now over 18.

Yes. The Disability Tax Credit can be transferred to supporting family members, caregivers or spouse so the child with the disability can claim the DTC.

Not at all. In most cases, we can claim the funds via an immediate family member such as parent, child, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, father/mother in-law or brother/sister in-law. Please contact us for more information.

Yes, and if the person with the disability does not have sufficient income to qualify for the full amounts then you can receive the credits directly. What you do with the money is entirely up to you.

Yes. As long as the person has been deceased for less than ten years you can claim the DTC.

Once your claim has been filed with the CRA it may take up to a maximum of 6 months for the CRA to process the claim, however the average timeframe is 120 days or 4 months.

Generally you will receive your money in 2-3 installments via cheque.

No. The Government of Canada has implemented an instrumental benefit for Canadians with disabilities so they can enjoy a similar lifestyle to those living without disabilities. They recognize that a disability can be financially taxing so they grant these funds to help alleviate the additional expenses. However, what you do with the funds is up to you – you can pay off debt or take that long awaited vacation.

No. The money is non-taxable.

The CRA will first pay off your debts and then send you the balance.

Yes. Any money you receive has no effect on your eligibility.

As long as your student loans are in good standing any funds you receive will have no impact on your loans.

No. This has no effect on your eligibility for ODSP.

Generally no. The WSIB does not consider the Disability Tax Credit in its calculation of net earnings when determining the base amount for which compensation rates apply. Contact WSIB for more information (www.wsib.ca).

Doctors are medical practitioners that focus on your health and well-being. Credits, benefits and grants are not their area of expertise.

Not necessarily. Your doctor may be an expert on diagnostics and medication but he/she is not a disability benefit specialist – we are. Remember, what a doctor may consider a disability can be entirely different from the CRA's rules and regulations.

Not a problem, we can communicate with your doctor on your behalf to ensure he/she understands the process and criteria for eligibility.

Assessments are useful but not mandatory. Please contact us today to speak with one of our qualified Benefit Specialists.

The Canadian Benefits Centre (C.B.C.) treats your information with privacy, respect and competence. You can be confident your information will not be transferred to any third parties without your consent, and not be compromised or mistreated.

The C.B.C. has the experience and specializes in disability claims. Accountants simply do not specialize in disability claims - we do! Let us maximize your claim!

Like many well-intentioned government programs, the process can be extremely challenging and complex to navigate without knowledge and experience on the matter. Applying on your own can result in rejection of your claim for various mistakes and even if approved, the amounts received may be significantly less than what you're actually entitled to.