The Disability Tax Credit and Registered Disability Savings Plan are two of the most underutilized programs in Canada. Together they can reduce your tax burden and build meaningful long-term savings — if you know how to access them.
The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit offered by the CRA to Canadians living with a prolonged physical or mental impairment. It is designed to offset the additional costs of living with a disability — costs that are real but rarely fully visible on a tax return.
What most people don't realize is how broad the eligibility criteria actually is. The DTC is not exclusively for those with severe or visible disabilities. If a condition significantly restricts your ability to perform basic daily activities — or significantly slows the time it takes to perform them — you may qualify. Conditions including arthritis, diabetes, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, vision impairment, hearing loss, and many others have all qualified applicants for the DTC.
Maximum Federal Disability Amount for 2024
Supplemental amount for children under 18
Maximum retroactive claim period for eligible applicants
Eligibility is broader than most people expect. The CRA uses two primary criteria.
You face significant restrictions in performing basic activities of daily living such as walking, speaking, hearing, feeding yourself, dressing, or mental functions necessary for everyday life.
You can perform daily activities, but they take you significantly longer than they would for most people — even with therapy, medication, or assistive devices.
This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure whether your condition qualifies, that is exactly the conversation we start with.
The process involves a government form, your medical practitioner, and a submission to the CRA. Simple in theory — but the details matter significantly.
We review your situation and help determine whether pursuing the DTC makes sense for your specific condition, tax situation, and family circumstances.
The T2201 Disability Tax Credit Certificate must be completed by both you and a qualified medical practitioner. How this form is completed matters enormously — insufficient detail is the most common reason for denial.
We work with you to ensure your practitioner understands exactly what the CRA is looking for, reducing the risk of an incomplete or unsuccessful submission.
We submit and follow up on your behalf through our specialized DTC partners, who handle the process from application to approval.
We work with specialist partners who focus exclusively on DTC applications. Their role is to assess your eligibility, guide your medical practitioner through the T2201, and advocate with the CRA on your behalf. Our role is to connect the approved DTC to your broader financial plan — including the RDSP — so the benefit doesn't stop at the tax credit.
Start Your AssessmentThe RDSP is a long-term savings plan designed specifically for Canadians who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. It is one of the most generous savings programs the government offers — combining tax-deferred growth with Canada Disability Savings Grants and Canada Disability Savings Bonds that can add thousands of dollars to the plan each year, regardless of how much you contribute.
Contributions to an RDSP are not tax deductible, but all growth inside the plan — interest, dividends, capital gains — accumulates tax-deferred. When withdrawn, only the government grants, bonds, and growth are taxable. Your original contributions come back to you tax-free.
The government matches your contributions based on your family net income. For families with income below approximately $106,717 (2024), the government contributes $3 for every $1 you contribute on the first $500, and $2 for every $1 on the next $1,000 — up to $3,500 per year. For higher incomes, a flat $1 for $1 match applies up to $1,000 per year. Lifetime grant maximum is $70,000.
For lower-income families, the government contributes up to $1,000 per year in bonds — with no contribution required from you. You don't need to put in a single dollar to receive the bond. Lifetime bond maximum is $20,000. Eligibility phases out as family net income rises above approximately $32,797 (2024).
$200,000 total in contributions over the life of the plan. No annual contribution limit beyond this.
Government grants and bonds must remain in the plan for at least 10 years before withdrawal. Withdrawals before this may trigger repayment.
If you haven't been contributing, unused grant and bond room can be carried forward up to 10 years. This means late starters can catch up significantly.
RRSP or RRIF assets can be rolled into an RDSP on a tax-deferred basis under certain conditions — a meaningful planning opportunity for families.
Adjust the inputs below to project your plan's growth based on your contributions, government support, and time horizon.
This illustrator is for educational purposes only and uses simplified assumptions. Actual grant and bond amounts depend on CRA assessment of net family income. Carry-forward room and catch-up grants are not included in this simplified projection. Speak with us before making contribution decisions.
Opening an RDSP as soon as possible maximizes your grant and bond entitlements. Every year without a plan is a year of government money left unclaimed.
The RDSP is one of the most powerful tools available for long-term financial security for a child with a disability. Grants and bonds accumulate through childhood and compound for decades.
If you qualified for the DTC years ago but never opened an RDSP, you may have significant accumulated grant and bond entitlement available immediately.
The DTC is the key that unlocks the RDSP. Once approved, we help you open the plan, structure contributions to maximize government support, select appropriate investments inside the plan, and integrate the RDSP into your broader financial picture.
We also coordinate with our DTC partners to ensure the application and the financial planning happen together — not in separate silos.
Through our specialist partners, we determine eligibility and manage the application.
We open the plan, structure annual contributions to maximize grants and bonds, and select investments aligned with the beneficiary's timeline.
We review the plan annually, adjust contributions as income changes, and integrate the RDSP with the family's overall financial strategy.