The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) in Canada. Your Guide to the Disability Tax Credit. Learn more about how you can qualify and what you can expect to receive.
Big News! New Support for Canadians with Disabilities!
Canada is rolling out the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) – think of it as a helping hand with direct financial support if you’re a person with a disability.
The Child Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a program provided by the Canadian government for individuals with medical conditions. Its primary goal is to alleviate the financial strain experienced by individuals, their caregivers, and their families.
For many individuals living with medical conditions, the associated costs of specialized equipment, medical care, and support services can be substantial. The DTC aims to address these financial burdens. Caregivers play a crucial role in supporting individuals with disabilities in their daily lives, and the DTC acknowledges the financial challenges they may face in fulfilling this role.
Over the years the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has expanded the list of qualified practitioners who can complete the Disability Tax Credit application. The most notable are specialists being able to complete sections related to their respective fields and nurse practitioners having the same signing power as medical doctors. This is especially helpful considering how difficult it can be to get a doctor in many areas across Canada and in some cases many only have access to a nurse practitioner.
To determine how much you may receive if approved for the disability tax credit, you can use a disability tax calculator. This calculator takes into account factors such as when your condition first began and the province you live in. However, it does not consider your taxable income. Please note that the amounts provided are only approximate estimates of what you may be eligible to receive.
For children under 18, visit our Child Disability Tax Credit Calculator.
Updated April 2025.
If you’re approved for the disability, claiming the credit is relatively straightforward.
You will want to claim the disability amount of $9,872 on line 31600 of your tax return. Line 31600 is found on the Federal Worksheet (T1).
In 2022, the Federal government introduced revisions to the Disability Tax Credit, primarily targeting the ‘Mental Functions Necessary for Everyday Life’ section of the form. The most significant change was the broadening of eligibility criteria to include additional sections, including attention, concentration, perception of reality, regulation of behavior and emotions, as well as verbal and non-verbal communication. Previously, the ‘Mental Functions’ section consisted of three general categories, which have now been further subdivided, a recommendation that experts have long advocated.