Ask An Expert: The Disability Tax Credit

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) can seem daunting but we’re here to help!

On October 23rd from 10-11 am, join us for a live virtual Q&A with a panel of experts, and ask us anything about the DTC and other tax related benefits.

Register here: https://t.ly/laOJw

Job Posting: Communications/Social Media Assistant

Duration: 15 weeks, 25 hrs/week starting ASAP autumn-winter 2023-24

Rate of pay: $25/hr

This position is fully remote.

Students must be registered in an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution.

Who We Are

Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. We champion issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities through our direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research and publications.

We work to support people with all disabilities to live with dignity, independence and as equal and full participants in the community.

Job Description

The key tasks and responsibilities of the Communications/Social Media Assistant include social media marketing, understanding and monitoring social media analytics; creating, scheduling and distributing multimedia content on behalf of DABC and partner organization ACE-BC; and managing and moderating DABC’s social media communities, particularly on new platforms, but also on existing platforms as needed. Our current networks include over 5,000 subscribers each on Facebook and Twitter, and LinkedIn followers. We hope to grow new subscriber bases on Instagram and TikTok with the help of the Communications/Social Media Assistant. While performing the duties mentioned above, the successful candidate will need to:

• Create branding-consistent templates for the posting of various content formats across multiple platforms
• Grow reach and engagement within DABC’s existing social media networks, including:

– Twitter (5,070 followers)
– Facebook (7.5 k followers)
– LinkedIn (701 followers) 
– Community Groups receiving monthly E-Newsletter (3200 organizations including disability,
seniors and Indigenous groups)
– Transition Magazine subscribers (1,700 recipients)
– Members (approx. 400)
– Donors (approx. 400)
– Google Ads (reach TBA, currently beginning Google Ad Grants program for nonprofits)

• Expand audience and engagement through managing new DABC social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok.
• Consistently use language sensitive to people with disabilities, both in person when communicating directly with clients, as well as public-facing when posting content or engaging dialogue online in a moderating capacity on behalf of DABC.
• Work independently and with various departmental teams in creating and posting regular image, text, audio and video content
• Work with management in building regular reporting tools on performance and social media analytics against the company’s baseline targets for engagement.
• Use blog reader apps to follow the contents and blogs of the company’s key clients, partners, and competitors
• Track key social media web site use analytics regularly
• Use tools to identify and monitor key Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok influencers, journalists and community bloggers
• Use SEO and Engagement Optimization to track and improve key metrics related to engagement
• Other relevant duties as determined by management

DABC is an open and diverse organization that promotes inclusive hiring practices. We encourage applications from qualified applicants who identify as visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. People with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and brief covering letter addressed to Kimberley Payne at kimberley@disabilityalliancebc.org. No phone calls or faxes please.

When to renew your Disability Tax Credit

If you have restrictions that severely impact your daily life, you may qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), a non-refundable tax credit that helps to reduce taxes that you or your caregiver owes. You can read more about it and how to apply in our Helpsheet here. 

Once you submit your application, the CRA will determine whether you’re eligible and and how long your eligibility will last. Some people are indefinitely approved for the DTC; this means you will never have to apply again, unless the CRA asks you to!

However, we find that it’s more common for the CRA to approve applicants for a certain number of years. DTC eligibility can be as little as 1 year, or be in other increments like 3, 5, 10, and so on. If your disability isn’t permanent, this can be helpful. However, this can also be true if your disability is permanent. 

So, what happens when someone is still experiencing restrictions after their DTC eligibility expires?  

When reapplying for the DTC, you will have to reapply with a new application. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use any documents submitted in previous applications. You will have to restart the process again. You can read more about this on the CRA website here. 

But before starting the reapplication process, it is important to know when the DTC will need to be renewed. Because the DTC is applied to your taxes, start reapplying for your DTC in time for tax filing season for the year in question. For example, if you were approved for the years 2010 to 2024, you would need to take action to renew your DTC in 2025.  

Now that the year to renew is understood, what time of year is best to reapply?  

As tax season typically goes from late February to early May, the CRA is busiest during that period. This means that they will take longer to review DTC forms during those months. However, as the CRA can take at least 4 weeks to assess a DTC form in the off-season, it is crucial to start the renewal process well before the end of the year. We recommend starting to renew a form around June or July to account for any delays or unexpected events. It’s also important to note that the DTC can be retroactive up to 10 years previously from the current calendar year, so if there is a gap in between your applications, there’s no need to worry about missing any years. 

Why should someone reapply? 

While reapplying is beneficial for using the DTC on yours or your caretaker’s tax returns, reapplying also ensures you have access to the other benefits related to the DTC. For a lot of people, the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is the biggest related benefit that reapplying is important for. 

If you are under 60 and have an RDSP, losing your eligibility for the DTC would freeze your RDSP until you turn 60 and can access the funds within it, or are reapproved for the DTC. If you are under 50 and eligible for the federal grants and bonds, you will not be able to access them until you are approved for the DTC again. Something good to note is that if you are eligible for the DTC again before or during the year you turn 49, the grants and bonds are retroactive up to 10 years, too. To learn more about the RDSP and maintaining it, you can visit rdsp.com. 

If you would like support in renewing your DTC, we are here to help. Our Access RDSP program provides one-on-one support with the DTC form. For more information, questions, and requests for assistance, please contact Access RDSP at rdsp@disabilityalliancebc.org or 604-872-1278.