Other Benefits of The Disability Tax Credit (DTC)

Thank you for all your support in spreading awareness about the RDSP this RDSP Awareness Month!

To close out the month, we have updated our infographic on the other benefits of the Disability Tax Credit. The infographic is below, and for accessibility purposes we have described the infographic directly below it.

You can also download a PDF version here: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DTC-other-benefits-infographic.pdf

You may know that being approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) can enable you to open a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). But did you know about the other benefits and credits it can help you access?

Contact DABC’s Access RDSP Staff at Local: 604-872-1278, Toll-free: 1-800-663-1278
or rdsp@disabilityalliancebc.org.

If you’re employed The DTC will allow you to claim: Up to $737 through the supplement to Canada
Workers Benefit (CWB) (Image: A graphic of a person with blonde hair sitting in a wheelchair, flying a banner that says “Hired.”

If you have children the DTC can help you claim:

• The Disability Amount for Children
• The Child Disability Benefit amount of $3,173
• Increased child care deductions
• Age limit extension to Children’s Fitness and Art amount (no longer available after 2016, but may be claimed for the previous year)
  (Image: graphic of a mother sitting cross-legged, holding her baby)

If you own a home you may be eligible for:

• Home Buyer’s Amount of up to $10,000! People with DTC do not have to be first-time home buyers
• The Home Accessibility Tax Credit, which covers certain expenses concerning accessibility-related renovations (Image: Graphic of a standalone house)

If you have medical or caregiver expenses the DTC can allow you to claim:

• Certain medical expenses (can also claim a Disability Supports Deduction) e.g. Attendant Care Services
• Caregiver Credit: People with DTC do not have to provide another supporting document from medical practitioners

If you have a trust the DTC might help you save on the taxes you pay on your earnings through:

• Eligibility for qualified disability trust status
• Preferred beneficiary election option

If you’re a full-time student the DTC can allow you to claim:

• Certain education-related benefits
  (Image: graduation cap and diploma)

Join Our RDSP In-Person Event!

On October 25 from 10:00am – 2:00pm, we will be in front of the BC Legislature, alongside our Access RDSP partners, to celebrate the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).

Come join us to help spread the word and share your stories about what the RDSP means to you. We’ll have snacks, drinks, and more!

DTC Fee Stories

Last October, Access RDSP did a call out for stories about the barriers people with disabilities face when applying for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). We asked to hear from you about fees charged by medical practitioners or application fees or requests for a percentage of your return by a for-profit company. This year, in honour of RDSP Awareness Month, we would like to share these and help raise awareness of these barriers. 

The following are some of the stories we received from clients: 

“I recently renewed [my DTC] and my doctor charged me $40 to fill out her part of the form…which was basically what she had said the first time.” 

“I had to pay 15% to [a for-profit company] five years ago. On my renewal this past year, I had to pay $80 to my doctor for DTC. Very unfair against persons with disabilities!” 

“I was charged $75 by my GP to do the form, and the accountant also charged fees that meant nearly all of the benefit was absorbed. I know that in future tax years I will have that DTC in place, but it was distressing to have hundreds of dollars absorbed by the admin.” 

With stories like these, we can see how important it is to break down these barriers that contribute poverty and hardship to people with disabilities. At DABC, we continue to advocate for the removal of these barriers and urge people to help us raise awareness of these injustices. If you or anyone you know has had to pay fees to access the DTC, send us an email at rdsp@disabilityalliancebc.org.