InfoCapsule 2: Administrative responsibilities - Who does what
From: Employment and Social Development Canada
Disclaimer: RDSP issuers
The information contained on this page is technical in nature. The target audience are issuers of:
- Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
- Canada Disability Savings Grant (CDSG)
- Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB)
For general information, visit the RDSP page.
On this page
Alternate format
A PDF version of the InfoCapsules for RDSP providers is available on the index page.
List of acronyms
- AHA
- Assistance holdback amount
- BPD
- Benefit Programs Directorate
- CDSA
- Canada Disability Savings Act
- CDSB
- Canada Disability Savings Bond
- CDSG
- Canada Disability Savings Grant
- CESP
- Canada Education Savings Program
- CRA
- Canada Revenue Agency
- DAP
- Disability assistance payment
- DTC
- Disability Tax Credit
- ESDC
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- ITA
- Income Tax Act
- ITS
- Interface transaction standards
- LDAP
- Lifetime disability assistance payment
- ODI
- Office for Disability Issues
- RPD
- Registered Plans Directorate
- RDSP
- Registered Disability Savings Plan
- SDSP
- Specified Disability Savings Plan
- SIN
- Social Insurance Number
- SIR
- Social Insurance Registration Office
Who does what
A joint effort between each following organization is necessary to administer Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP). The list below is in alphabetical order, and reflect each organization’s responsibilities, based on governing legislation.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
The CRA administers RDSP rules under section 146.4 and Part XI.01 of the Income Tax Act (ITA).
Registered Plans Directorate (RPD)
- Compliance reviews
- Contribution, rollover and transfer rules
- Payment rules for the disability assistance payment (DAP) and the lifetime disability assistance payment (LDAP)
- Plan registration and closure rules
- Program policy development and amendment proposals
- Qualified investments for an RDSP
- RDSP eligibility criteria for holders and beneficiaries
- Specified Disability Savings Plan (SDSP) election
- Specimen plan conditions
For more information contact the RPD at 1-800-267-3100.
Benefit Program Directorate (BPD)
- Disability Tax Credit (DTC) eligibility
- Family incomes
- Residency
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
ESDC administers the Canada Disability Savings Grant (CDSG) and the Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB) rules under the Canada Disability Savings Act (CDSA) and the Canada Disability Savings Regulations (Regulations).
Canada Education Savings Program (CESP)
- Annual statement of grant entitlement
- Assistance holdback amount (AHA) and repayment rules
- Beneficiary eligibility for the CDSG and the CDSB
- Carry forward rules and calculation for CDSG and CDSB entitlements
- Compliance reviews, system testing and monitoring
- Issuer and agent enrolment
- Payment of the CDSG and CDSB
- Processing of transactions
- Provide historical data to receiving issuer after a successful transfer
- Training and reference material
For more information contact ESDC at 1-866-204-0357.
Office for Disability Issues (ODI)
- Interpretation of the CDSA and the Regulations (amendment proposals)
- Issuer agreement
- Outreach strategies (promotional and communication activities)
- Program policy and forms
Social Insurance Registration Office (SIR)
- Validation of beneficiary and holder Social Insurance Number (SIN) information
Financial organizations
Financial organizations offer and administer RDSPs. They are the first point of contact for Canadians regarding their plan.
Issuer
- Administer contributions, rollovers and transfers
- Certify accuracy of information
- Complete the application form for the CDSG and the CDSB
- Ensure system compliance with the Interface transactions standards (ITS)
- Make payments from RDSP to eligible beneficiaries
- Provide RDSP statement of accounts
- Receive and deposit the CDSG and the CDSB into the RDSP
- Sign the issuer agreement with ESDC
- Submit electronic transactions to ESDC
- Submit the specimen plan to the CRA for approval
- Ultimately responsible for the administration of the RDSP
- Verify the plan registration status
Agent
- Administer the RDSP on behalf of the issuer
- Sign an agreement with the issuer
Service provider
- Sign an agreement with the issuer to provide support services
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