Living with or supporting someone living with a disability? Make sure you’re getting your benefits and credits

Living, or caring for someone, with a physical or mental impairment can come with extra costs. The Government of Canada can help provide financial support through benefits and credit payments, deductions to lower taxes, and various programs.

Benefit and credit payments you could get

• Payment - Child disability benefit
  • How often - Monthly
  • Helps to - support the needs of a child under 18 who is living with a disability and is eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC)
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year and be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)**
• Payment - Advanced Canada workers benefit (includes a disability supplement if you’re eligible for the DTC)
  • How often – July, October and January
  • Helps to - reduce the cost of living for individuals and families who are working and earning a low income
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year and be eligible for the Canada workers benefit
• Payment - Goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit
  • How often - July, October, January, and April
  • Helps to - offset the cost of GST or HST paid on products and services
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year
• Payment - Provincial and territorial benefit and credit payments
  • How often - Varies
  • Helps to - offset certain costs by province and territory (payments calculated based on your tax return)
  • How to get it* - Do your taxes every year

* In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria

** More information on the CCB: canada.ca/canada-child-benefit

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC)

Helps reduce the income tax that people with physical or mental impairments, or their supporting family members, may have to pay. Once approved, it can also help you access other federal programs.

For more information, go to canada.ca/disability-tax-credit

Deductions, credits, and programs

Disability supports deduction

If you have certain medical expenses and an impairment.*

Canada caregiver credit

If you support a spouse, common-law partner or qualifying dependant with an impairment.*

Medical expenses tax credit

For eligible medical expenses that you or your spouse or common-law partner paid during the year.

Multigenerational home renovation tax credit

If you created a secondary unit to allow a qualifying individual to live with a qualifying family member.

Home Buyers’ Plan

Withdraw from your registered retirement savings plans to buy or build a home for you or a related person with a disability.

Registered disability savings plan

Helps parents and others save long-term for a person who is eligible for the DTC.

*Impairment in physical or mental functions.

What you need to do your taxes

Social insurance number (SIN)

To work in Canada or access certain government programs and benefits, you need a SIN. If you do not have a SIN or have lost it, contact Service Canada at 1-866-274-6627 or go to an office near you.

Tax slips

At the beginning of the calendar year, you should receive tax slips with the information you need to do your taxes. If they are missing, get them online in My Account or call the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at 1-800-959-8281.

Do your taxes by April 30 each year to keep getting your payments: If you are married or in a common-law relationship, both you and your partner need to file. In Quebec, you also need to file a separate provincial tax return with Revenu Québec. Find more information at canada.ca/taxes-get-ready

Protect yourself from scams

Beware of scammers pretending to be the CRA. When in doubt, call the CRA. Learn about what to expect if the CRA contacts you, go to canada.ca/taxes-fraud-prevention

Get more information

Online

Before calling, check Canada.ca! You may be able to find what you need at canada.ca/benefits-credits-pd

To order CRA publications in alternate formats, including large print and braille, go to canada.ca/cra-multiple-formats

Free tax help: You may be eligible to get your tax return filed for free by a volunteer. Find out if you are eligible at canada.ca/get-tax-help

By phone

Questions about benefits: 1-800-387-1193

Residents of the territories with an 867 area code: 1-866-426-1527

General questions or to get forms: 1-800-959-8281

TTY (teletypewriter): 1-800-665-0354

Canada Video Relay Service (VRS): 1-800-561-6393

Questions about social insurance numbers (SIN): 1-866-274-6627 (Service Canada)

Questions about doing taxes in Quebec: 1-800-267-6299 (Revenu Québec)