Notice #471 – Revised Canada Disability Savings Program application and transfer forms and unlocked versions

On this page

• Information bulletin
• Purpose
• Background
• Changes to forms
• Mandatory use
• Use of the unlocked forms
• Form version control
• Contact us

Information bulletin

Number: CDSP/PCEI-2022/23-003-471
Date: January 12, 2023
Subject: Revised Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) application and transfer forms and unlocked versions available upon request

Purpose

The purpose of this information bulletin is to inform issuers/agents that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has launched revised and updated Canada Disability Savings Program (CDSP) application and transfer forms. It also provides information on new unlocked versions of the program application and transfer forms that are available by request.

Background

ESDC is committed to supporting Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) issuers in making the Canada Disability Savings Bond (the Bond) and Canada Disability Savings Grant (the Grant) application and transfer processes more efficient for both the issuer and for current and potential RDSP beneficiaries and holders. For that reason, since June 10, 2022, RDSP issuers may accept alternative forms of consent and authorization (example: e‑signatures, voice recordings of telephone conversations with clients, etc.) for CDSP application and transfer forms (refer to information bulletin notice #457). ESDC has also updated its CDSP application and transfer forms and will provide unlocked versions of these forms by request. The unlocked versions can be used to pre‑populate specific, predetermined fields.

There is no impact on other published ESDC forms.

Changes to forms

ESDC provides application forms for the Bond and the Grant, and related aspects of the CDSP. However, the Canada Revenue Agency is responsible for the RDSP application form.

ESDC has revised and updated the following CDSP application and transfer forms:

• Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (EMP5608)
• Annex A: Joint holder to the Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (EMP5609)
• Annex B: Primary Caregiver to the Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (EMP5610)
• Revocation of Request for Canada Disability Savings Grants and/or Canada Disability Savings Bonds (EMP5490)
• Registered Disability Savings Plan Transfer (EMP5611)
• Holder Consent to a Registered Disability Savings Plan Transfer (EMP5612)

The information and associated fields required by ESDC remain the same. However, some introductory and explanatory content has been modified to provide more consistent, and user‑friendly language. Information in sections, including "Declaration and consent of the holder" and "Your privacy rights" have been revised.

RDSP Transfer forms now include sections on "Definitions," "General information," "Transfer policies," and "Transfer eligibility information." In addition, the Revocation of Request for Canada Disability Savings Grants and/or Canada Disability Savings Bonds form (EMP5490) must now be used to opt out of receiving payment of Grant(s) and/or Bond(s), rather than the Application for Canada Disability Savings Grant and/or Canada Disability Savings Bond (EMP5608).

Mandatory use

Use of the updated and revised forms will be mandatory as of July 14, 2023. The forms can be found under the "Forms" tab in the Resources for RDSP, grant and bond issuers section of the ESDC website at canada.ca/rdsp.

Use of the unlocked forms

Issuers may contact ESDC to request unlocked versions of the CDSP application and transfer forms to pre-populate the following predetermined fields:

• RDSP issuer information (such as: name, address, postal code, telephone number, specimen plan number)
• RDSP contract number
• holder or agency information (such as: names, SIN/BN, address, postal code, telephone number)
• beneficiary information (such as: names, date of birth, SIN)
• primary caregiver information (such as: names and SIN or agency names and BN)

Fields that require a client decision, a signature or a signature date must not be pre‑populated.

To assist with properly completing information and to reduce errors, issuers may also add logic to fillable fields of the forms.

In order to receive the unlocked forms, the following conditions will also apply:

• completed unlocked forms shall not be available to clients electronically, and
• text, content, format and layout must remain identical to the approved published version(s) on ESDC’s website

As the RDSP provider user guide does not currently provide guidance on the pre‑population of CDSP forms, please retain a copy of this information bulletin until it is updated. ESDC will update the User Guide over the coming months and a notice of the updates will follow under separate cover.

Proper use of ESDC forms may be verified during a compliance review conducted by the Canada Education Savings Program (CESP).

Form version control

The updated CDSP application form has the same form number "ESDC EMP5608". However, the version date in the lower left corner of each page has been updated to "(2022‑11‑002)". RDSP issuers are encouraged to verify version dates to ensure that they are using the updated form.

For example, the main part of the form uses the following code:

• ESDC EMP5608 (2022‑11‑002)

Contact us

If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact us:

• by using our online contact page
• by phone at 1-866-204-0357
• by e-mail at rdsp-reei@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Our business hours are from 8 am to 5 pm, Eastern Time.