Federal Benefits for People With a Disability

Are you or a loved one living with a disability?

The Government of Canada offers a variety of benefits to help people living with a disability. In some cases, these benefits are also available to family members.

Each benefit has its own requirements and application process.  Below is an overview of the programs available, including who they are for and how to get more information.

Canada Disability Benefit

The Canada Disability Benefit is a new monthly payment to support people living with disabilities. The amount you receive depends on your family’s income after taxes and certain deductions.

You may qualify if you:

• Are between 18 and 64 years old,
• Are approved for the disability tax credit,
• Have filed your income tax return for the previous tax year (and your spouse or common-law partner has too, if applicable), and
• You are a Canadian resident for income tax filing purposes.

You must also be one of the following:

• A Canadian citizen
• A permanent resident
• Registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act
• A protected person
• A temporary resident who has lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months

For more information including:

• How to apply,
• Who qualifies, and
• How much money you may receive each month,

visit the Government of Canada’s Canada Disability Benefit page.

Disability Tax Credit (DTC)

The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit that helps you or the people who support you by reducing the amount of income tax you may have to pay.

The DTC is often used to help you qualify for other programs and benefits.

You may qualify if a medical practitioner fills out a form to certify that you have a severe and prolonged impairment.

For more information including:

• How to apply,
• Who qualifies, and
• How to claim the disability credit once you’re approved,

visit the Government of Canada’s Disability Tax Credit page.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefit

The Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit is a monthly payment to support people living with disabilities. The amount you receive depends on how much you paid into the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) while you worked.

You may qualify if you:

• Are under 65 years old,
• Have made enough contributions to the CPP,
• Have a mental or physical disability that makes it hard to work, and
• Have a disability that is long term or is likely to result in death.

For more information including:

• How to apply,
• Who qualifies, and
• How much money you may receive each month,

visit the Government of Canada’s Canada Pension Disability Benefit page.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Children’s Benefit

The Canada Pension Plan Children’s Benefit is a monthly payment for children or youth whose parent or guardian lives with a disability.

Children and youth may qualify if:

• Their parent or guardian is receiving the CPP Disability Benefit, and
• They are under 18 years old, or under 26 years old and attend a recognized school or university (full or part-time).

For more information including:

• How to apply,
• Who qualifies, and
• How much money you may receive each month,

visit the Government of Canada’s Benefits for children under 25 page.

Child Disability Benefit

The Child Disability Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment to families who care for a child or youth with a disability.

You may qualify if:

• You are eligible for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), and
• Your child or youth is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.

If you are already getting the Canada Child Benefit for your child or youth and they are also eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you do not need to apply for the Child Disability Benefit. You will get it automatically.

For more information including:

• Who qualifies, and
• How much money you may receive each month,

visit the Government of Canada’s Child Disability Benefit page.

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

Registered Disability Savings Plans help people with disabilities and their families save for the future. If you live in Canada and are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you qualify for an RDSP. If you have an RDSP, you may also qualify for grants from the government to help with your savings.

You may consider starting an RDSP if you’re:

• Eligible for the Disability Tax Credit,
• Under 60 years old (if you are 59, you must apply before the end of the calendar year in which you turned 59),
• A Canadian resident with a Social Insurance Number (SIN); and
• Looking for a long-term savings plan.

For more information including:

• Who can open a RDSP and apply,
• How to make contributions, and
• How much money you could get in grants and bonds,

visit the Government of Canada’s Registered Disability Savings Plan page.

Education funding for people with disabilities

There are programs and resources to help people with disabilities and their families with education costs:

• Get financial assistance for post-secondary education on the Government of Canada’s Student Grant for Students with Disabilities page.
• Learn about help paying for tuition, textbooks, and accommodations on the Government of Canada’s Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities page.
• Learn how student loans may be forgiven if you have a severe and permanent disability that prevents you from continuing post-secondary education or working on the Government of Canada’s Student aid and education planning page.

Disability benefits for veterans

Disability benefits are available for veterans with a diagnosed medical condition or disability that is related to their service.

You may qualify if you are:

• A Canadian Armed Forces member or veteran,
• A current or former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP),
• A Second World War or Korean War veteran (includes Merchant Navy), or
• A civilian who served in the Second World War.

For more information including:

• How to apply,
• Who qualifies, and
• How much money you may receive each month.

visit Veterans Affairs Canada’s Disability benefits page.

Excise Gasoline Tax Refund

The Excise Gasoline Tax Refund is a federal government program that refunds part of the tax paid on gasoline.

You may qualify if:

• You have a permanent mobility disability that prevents you from safely using public transportation, and
• A medical practitioner fills out a form to certify that your impairment.

For more information including:

• How to apply, and
• Who qualifies,

visit the Government of Canada’s Excise gasoline tax refund page.

Other resources

• Learn about tax credits and other supports for people living with a disability on the Government of Canada’s Canada Revenue Agency page.
• Explore federal resources and tools that support accessibility on the Government of Canada’s Accessibility Resource Centre page.