People with disabilities should not have to pay money to access social and financial supports.  

DABC is excited to announce the opening of applications for the DTC Medical Fees Fund to residents of BC from April 17 to May 17! We announced the launch of this Fund last October during RDSP Awareness Month and are sincerely grateful to those who have contributed to the fund thus far. This fund is to help cover charges by medical practitioners for assistance with the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) application for individuals who face financial barriers to applying. The DTC is a crucial financial benefit meant to reduce the taxes someone with a disability or their supporting family members owe, as well as provide access to numerous financial programs such as the Canada Workers Benefit Disability Supplement, Child Disability Benefit, Canada Dental Care Plan, and Registered Disability Savings Plan. There is also the new Canada Disability Benefit that is coming this July, which will be available to low-income individuals with the DTC.  

The paperwork required by medical practitioners can be lengthy and there is no current regulation on the cost that they can charge for this paperwork. For those living in poverty, this added financial burden can prevent them from accessing the benefit. 

Who is Eligible 

This fund is eligible to residents of BC only. You can apply to this fund if you have been charged or expect to be charged a medical fee to apply for the DTC on or after October 1, 2024.  

As the purpose of this fund is to provide those who are low-income with the financial support they need to apply for the DTC, eligibility will be determined by two factors:  

1.  Current income level
2.  Why you need help from this fund  

We encourage all to apply, but preference will be given to those who face financial barriers applying for the DTC. 

Proof of income is accepted in a variety of ways including but not limited to: previous tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, proof of PWD Designation, proof of social assistance. 

Once qualified applicants are selected, we will also request proof that you have paid or will be charged a medical practitioner fee.  As funding is limited, we anticipate we will not be able to fund all those eligible. We will assess and approve applications in the order that they come in.  

How to Apply 

• Applications will be accepted through an online application form.
• Applications will be accepted from April 15, 2025 until May 15, 2025.
• Applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

If it is not possible for you to apply online, or if you need any assistance with the application, you can call (604) 923-8136 or email dtc@dabc.ca for assistance. 

Please note, this fund is rolling, and we are looking to continue to raise more money to support applications. We will accept applications again once there is more funding available. Follow us on social media to keep updated when applications are open again.  

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a key federal disability benefit, but the medical certification needed to apply can be costly. In this article, we discuss why we think it is still important to apply for the DTC, and the actions we are taking to reduce financial barriers to accessing it.  

Why is the DTC important? 

The DTC was first designed as a way to help reduce the strain of the exorbitant costs of living  that people with disabilities often face. As a non-refundable tax credit, it helps people with disabilities and their caregivers reduce the taxes they owe. Over the years, DTC eligibility has been connected to other financial programs like the Canada Workers Benefit Disability Supplement, Child Disability Benefit, Canada Dental Care Plan, and Registered Disability Savings Plan. Altogether, this can mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars to put towards immediate and future needs. It also makes the DTC one of the primary ways the federal government recognizes disabled populations in Canada.  

The DTC can be cost prohibitive 

Despite all its benefits, the DTC is still underutilized, in part because getting the DTC can cost money. While applying for the DTC is free, the application asks people to prove their disability through medical certification, which means medical practitioners have become unwitting gatekeepers to financial supports. The application is long, and medical practitioners can charge for their time.  

DTC medical fees are currently unregulated. At DABC, we hear from our clients that medical fees can cost people anywhere between $100-$250. For anyone living in poverty, the cost of this help can be prohibitive. Put simply, many people are unable to afford the financial support they need.  

The time for action is now.  

DABC has long advocated for better regulations so that compensation for medical certification does not fall on people with disabilities. The time to take action on this issue, however, has become even more urgent.  

In June it was announced that coming July 2025, low-income individuals with the DTC can apply for the Canada Disability Benefit, which can add up to $200/month for those living in poverty. What this means is that a lot more people will need the DTC, and fast.

In this year’s federal Budget 2024, the government announced that they will devote $243 million over 6 years, beginning in 2024-25, to provide coverage for medical certification fees with $41 million each following year. We are happy to hear that the government will provide some financial relief for these costs and know that people will need to receive this relief soon. We have joined our partners at Indigenous Disability Canada, and a coalition of other disability organizations in requesting for immediate release of this funding. Read the letter here. 

DTC Medical Fees Fund for BC Residents 

While we wait for federal funding, we know that the funding allocated may not come as soon as people need and may not be enough to cover all the costs someone might be facing. That’s why we’re launching the DTC Medical Fees Fund to help fund individuals who need support as soon as possible. We envision this fund as a mutual aid hub, where all proceeds will go directly to the people that need it. People with disabilities should not have to pay money to access social and financial supports. Help us raise money by contributing to the fund or by sharing with others who may be able to contribute.  Fundraising begins this month but will continue as long as there is a need.  You can donate to the fund via the donate button here: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/direct-service/dtc-medical-fees-fund.

Stay tuned for more details on how to apply for funding.