Overwhelmed and receiving little support?

Have you considered applying for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)?

T.J. Firenze

As parents, it is our innate nature to do all we can to support and nurture our children’s development. There are so many stresses, hurdles, and concerns. Parents with children with disabilities or medical conditions have overwhelming pressure, both emotionally and financially, as they struggle to find support and put in place early interventions.

Getting access to testing, assessments, and therapies takes years to navigate and at every turn the costs take your breath away–everything costs money. In the endless search for resources, don’t overlook the Disability Tax Credit (DTC)—it is a federal benefit that opens the doors to several monetary benefits. Most families’ budgets are stretched so that recommended support services are often out of reach or delayed. Accessing the DTC helps put money back into the family’s pocket, opening doors to making decisions that positively and directly affect their children. Imagine being able to afford to skip the lengthy waitlist and get a child tested privately, actively look for a tutor or occupational therapist, and help set them up for their future. Families are needing relief and validation! The DTC is not necessarily a forever benefit, but a benefit that can help individuals right now is just as important. The federal government has this benefit available for those who are approved.

Who should think about applying?

Any Canadian, young or old who has a disability or a medical condition that affects their daily life can apply. Whether it is a physical disability or a mental disability, individuals who have difficulty with vision, hearing, speaking, walking, eliminating, feeding, dressing, and mental functions necessary for everyday life are all eligible in the eyes of the CRA. Navigating around the word disabil-

Navigating around the word disability

ity is often the first hurdle and can be very difficult for many. Our language, and preexisting biases around many struggles skews our perception of what most consider to be, a ‘disability’. When we are thinking about children, we often don’t categorize struggles like dyslexia, ADHD, ODD, anxiety, sensory processing under the term of disability, but for the Disability Tax Credit it encompasses everything that affects an individual’s everyday life when comparing them to their peers.

How does your child compare to their peers? Do they require extra parent or teacher support? Does it take them longer to complete the same task as their peers? Do they struggle with self-regulation? This is not only about highlighting what your child can’t do, this is about acknowledging the extra steps, time, or care your child requires in order to achieve the same things as their peers.

Is a diagnosis needed to apply?

No, a diagnosis is not necessarily needed to apply for the Disability Tax Credit. You don’t need to wait for an assessment or diagnosis before applying. A diagnosis is helpful, but the daily struggles are the same regardless of if it is diagnosed or not.

What are the benefits of applying for the Disability Tax Credit?

There are several very beneficial reasons to apply. An approval grants you the ability to apply the DTC to your personal yearly income tax filing, therefore reducing the amount of income tax due. It typically is approximately $1500–2000/year. The unbelievable part is not only is the credit for current and future years, but the opportunity to go back up to 10 years and receive those credits back as a lump sum refund!

In addition, an approval opens the door to receiving the Canada Child Disability Ben-