DABC Community Update: Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) 10 Year Anniversary

Dear Community Partner,

The following is taken from a Reminder Notice in the Annual Statement of Grant Entitlement for 2018 that RDSP holders will receive. We are sharing this with you to help ensure that people with RDSPs are clear about the rules on taking money out of their Plans.

As 2019 is approaching some people will have had an RDSP for 10 years and may be thinking about taking money out of their Savings Plan.

It’s important to remember that the money the government deposits into an RDSP must remain in it for at least 10 years after the last government contribution was made to the Plan. If money is withdrawn before this time, all or part of the government contribution will have to be repaid to the government.

What this means is that if a person takes money out of their RDSP within 10 years of receiving the last government contribution they will be subject to one of the following repayment rules:

  1. Return $3 of government contributions for every $1 that is withdrawn from the RDSP, or
  2. Return all of the government contributions received in the last 10 years; whichever of these two amounts is less.

Please share this information with your networks. If you have any questions or concerns about this information please call Access RDSP at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278 and ask to speak to an RDSP advocate.

Best regards,

Sam Turcott, Program Director, Advocacy Access

Liberals Loosen Rules that Exclude Immigrants on Medical Grounds

After many decades the Liberal government is loosening the medical inadmissibility rules for immigrants, but is not yet eliminating the policy that many people have called discriminatory.

From the news release:

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said the policy, which has been in place for more than 40 years, is “way out of date” and not in line with Canadian values or government policies of inclusion.

Under the revised policy, newcomers won’t be denied permanent residency if they or any of their children have developmental delays, special education requirements, or a hearing or visual impairment. The anticipated health-care cost threshold will also be increased to about $20,000 a year — about three times the previous threshold.

To read the rest of the news release, please click here.

Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy

                  

Are you disabled and current receiving either AISH, WCB, Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Disability Benefits, or are a teacher receiving Extended Disability Benefits through ASEBP?

We are seeking participants for a study titled “Mapping the Canadian Work Disability Policy System.” We would like to discuss your experience of accessing benefits and the coverage you receive. Your identity will be protected by anonymizing the data. The information you provide will contribute to a clearer understanding of how work disability benefit systems in both Alberta and British Columbia function together, and identify gaps between them.

We anticipate conducting two hour-long confidential interviews with each participant via phone or Skype. An honorarium will be provided for participation. Dr. Sally Kimpson, RN, PhD, who will be conducting the interviews, is also a disabled woman with personal experience of disability income support.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Dr. Kimpson (see contact information below). She will do her best to answer any questions you have about the study and/or your participation, and will return calls promptly.

Email: skimpson@uvic.ca
Phone: 1-250-595-7655 (Victoria, BC/collect)
This research study is a joint SFU/UBC project.