There are two new updates from the Government of Canada that provide more supports for people with disabilities.
Canadian Dental Care Plan
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help cover a wide range of oral health care services that:
- keep your teeth and gums healthy
- prevent and treat oral health care issues and diseases
Right now seniors can enrol. In June 2024, adults with a Disability Tax Credit certificate can enrol. If adults with disabilities do not have a Disability Tax Credit certificate, they can enrol in January 2025.
More information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html .
A recent update from the Government now allows dentists to bill the government directly, without having to register for the program. This removes one of the barriers that dentists had identified with this new plan. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dental-plan-mark-holland-1.7176565
Canada Disability Benefit
In the Federal Budget announced last week, the government has committed to funding a new Canada Disability Benefit, beginning in July 2025. This benefit was announced a number of years ago and the past three years have been focused on advocating for a benefit that would lift people with disabilities out of poverty. There is a national advocacy campaign called Disability Without Poverty that has been led by people with disabilities, providing input to government about what is required to make the benefit an actual improvement to the lives of people with disabilities.
The announcement last week was disappointing though, for a number of reasons. First, the benefit is limited to a maximum of $2,400 per year, or $200 per month. Second, the benefit will only be offered to people who have the Disability Tax Credit certificate. There is a difficult and expensive process to get the Disability Tax Credit certificate from the Federal Government. Finally, there is more work to do to convince the Provincial Government that this benefit should not be clawed back from the existing Provincial Persons With Disabilities benefit. Here is the press release from the Disability Without Poverty coalition:
https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/press-release-dwp-recognizes-historic-federal-disability-benefit-in-the-budgetpress-release/
Getting the Disability Tax Credit Certificate (DTC)
There are a number of federal tax benefits that are only accessible to people who have the Disability Tax Credit, but many of the people we support do not have this certificate. Here is a link to the Canadian Government site on how to apply for the Disability Tax Credit:
There is a form that the person with a disability completes, and there is a form for a health professional to fill out. Here is a page of helpful guidance for health professionals regarding the Disability Tax Credit application:
https://www.rdsp.com/supports-and-services/dtcguides/
The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is one of those benefits that is only accessible with the Disability Tax Credit Certificate.
What is the RDSP?
The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a Canada-wide registered matched savings plan specifically for people with disabilities. Here are some basics:
- For every $1 put in an RDSP account, the federal government can (if your family income is below $111,733) match with up to $3! This is the Canada Disability Savings Grant.
- For people living on a low-income (less than $36,502), the federal government will put in $1000 each year for 20 years! This is the Canada Disability Savings Bond.
- People living on an income between $36,502 and $55,867 can still receive a partial bond.
- Anyone can contribute to an RDSP- family, friends, neighbours… it gives people who want to help a way to do so!
- The money can be invested to grow- we have heard that it is the best Return on Investment available. Depending on someone’s income, any money saved immediately triples in value. Once investment decisions are made, it can really start to grow!
- The RDSP is exempt from most provincial disability and income assistance benefits. It does not get clawed back and it does not reduce disability benefits payments. Click here to find out how your province treats the RDSP.
- People with disabilities can choose what to do with the money when it comes out. There are no restrictions on how the money can be spent!